Georgia's prisons near full capacity as inmate population hits record high

Georgia's prison population has reached a record level, leaving the country's penitentiary system with almost no remaining capacity, according to data cited by Sputnik Georgia.

Figures from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Sakstat) show that as of July 1, 2026, the country's prisons held approximately 12,334 inmates, equivalent to 0.31% of Georgia's population.

Only 12 places remain available across the country's 14 operational prisons, while three correctional facilities have already exceeded their capacity.

The prison population includes 168 juveniles, 84 inmates over the age of 70, and 202 women.

According to the data, 77.2% of inmates have already been convicted, while the remainder are awaiting trial or sentencing. Foreign nationals from 74 countries account for 14.8% of the total prison population.

By Jeyhun Aghazada