Hungary leads the inglorious ranking. Poland is right behind them. Terrible Eurostat data

According to the latest data from the EU statistical agency Eurostat, there were 200 people per 100,000 people in Hungarian prisons in 2022. inhabitants. Poland ranks second in this ranking (190 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants).

“Hungary is becoming a prison country.” But Poland is right behind them

This is followed by the Czech Republic and Slovakia (181), Lithuania (177), Latvia (172) and Estonia (156). However, at the end of this list are Slovenia (65 people in prison per 100,000 inhabitants), the Netherlands (64) and Finland (52). Across the EU in 2022, there were 483,593 prisoners (108 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants). “Hungary is becoming a prison country of the European Union,” commented the Hungarian portal.

The situation has changed within two years. A significant increase in the number of people imprisoned was recorded in Hungary (in 2020, there were 171 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants) and Poland (180). There was only a slight increase in the Czech Republic (from 180 in 2020), while a decrease occurred in Slovakia (from 193), Lithuania (from 190) and Estonia (from 177). In Latvia, the rate increased from 162 in 2020 to 172 in 2022.

In the report, the authors indicated that the number of new prison sentences exceeds the number of releases. “Following an increase in serious crimes followed by longer sentences, prison numbers may remain higher for some time even if crime rates decline,” it says.

Overcrowded prisons. The problem occurs in 11 EU countries

Eurostat data also shows that prisons were overcrowded in 11 EU countries in 2022. The greatest overcrowding problems occurred in Cyprus, France, Belgium, Romania and Italy, and the least in Malta, Estonia and Latvia. Poland took 20th place in this ranking out of 27 European Union countries.