Turkish prison population rises by nearly 50,000 in six months

The number of inmates in Turkish prisons has increased by nearly 50,000 over the past six months, reaching a total of 392,456 as of Feb. 3, 2025, according to official data published by the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses.

Sharp increase in Turkish prison population

As of July 1, 2024, Türkiye‘s 403 correctional facilities housed 295,064 convicted prisoners and 47,462 pretrial detainees, totaling 342,526. By February 3, 2025, this number had surged to 335,799 convicted prisoners and 56,657 detainees, bringing the total prison population to 392,456.

The data reveals a significant rise in incarceration rates, with nearly 50,000 additional individuals being imprisoned within six months.

The rapid increase in the prison population has reignited concerns regarding prison overcrowding, as Türkiye’s total correctional facility capacity was reported at 295,328 in mid-2024.

Growing budget for prisons

The rise in incarceration rates has resulted in a sharp increase in government expenditures on the prison system.

According to pro-opposition media outlet Sozcu’s report, in 2024, the Turkish government allocated ₺98.7 billion ($2.71 billion) to prison operations. Monthly expenditures also rose significantly, with spending in January 2025 reaching ₺10.9 billion ($300.1 million), up from ₺7.3 billion ($200.9 million) in January 2024.

Analysts predict that by the end of 2025, Türkiye’s prison management budget may approach ₺150 billion ($4.13B).

Healthcare expenditures for inmates have also surged, rising 3.3 times to 233 million ($6.4M) Officials attribute the increase to the growing prison population and rising costs of medical care.

Demographics of inmates

According to the latest figures, Türkiye’s prison population consists of 371,435 men, 17,131 women, and 3,890 minors. Of the incarcerated children, 1,155 have been convicted, while 2,735 remain in pretrial detention.

Additionally, Türkiye’s prisons house a significant number of educated individuals. Around 25,000 inmates hold university degrees, 1,841 have completed postgraduate studies, and 286 hold doctoral degrees.

New prisons under construction

In response to the increasing number of inmates, the Ministry of Justice has initiated the construction of 11 new prisons across various provinces.

The government plans to invest ₺1.2 billion ($33 million) in these projects in 2025, with an overall budget of ₺23.5 billion ($647 million) allocated through 2027.

The expansion of correctional facilities follows reports of significant cost overruns in previous projects. The Kutahya Domanic Prison, for instance, has seen its budget increase eightfold, while the cost of the Giresun Sebinkarahisar Prison has risen elevenfold.