Croatia prison system faces overcrowding with 4,947 inmates

prison overcrowding Croatia incarceration rates prison infrastructure foreign nationals

The Croatian prison system is facing significant overcrowding, according to the 2025 report on the prison system. By the end of the year, there were 4,947 people in custody, exceeding the total legal capacity of 4,052 places by nearly 900 individuals. This represents an occupancy rate of approximately 122 percent.

Of the total incarcerated population at the end of 2025, approximately 19 percent, or 940 individuals, were foreign nationals. The largest groups of newly admitted foreign citizens came from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, and Serbia.

Beyond capacity issues, the report highlights critical challenges including staff shortages and a lack of specialized psychiatric accommodation. In response, the state has announced plans to expand prison infrastructure, with a goal of adding 700 new places.

Entities

Croatian Parliament · Government of Croatia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Foreign nationals accounted for approximately 19 percent of the total incarcerated population at the end of 2025. www.poslovni.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The Croatian prison system ended 2025 with 4,947 people in custody. prigorski.hr · www.poslovni.hr · www.index.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] The state plans to add 700 new places to the prison infrastructure. prigorski.hr · www.index.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The total legal capacity of prisons and detention centers is 4,052 places. prigorski.hr · www.poslovni.hr · www.index.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] The prison system is operating at approximately 122 percent capacity. www.poslovni.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] The prison system faces challenges including staff shortages and a lack of psychiatric accommodation. prigorski.hr · www.index.hr