Foreign Nationals Account for Almost Half of Germany’s Prison Population

Data from the newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung show that, as of March 2026, 44.8 percent of inmates in German prisons were non‑German citizens – more than 27,000 people out of a total of 60,408 prisoners. The share has risen from around 30 percent in 2015. The highest proportions are found in Berlin (58.9 percent) and Hamburg (≈58 percent), with Bavaria, Baden‑Württemberg and Hesse also above the half‑mark.

Union spokesman René Müller of the prison workers’ union warned that the growing share of foreign inmates strains the system: language barriers hinder rehabilitation, staff are nearing their capacity limits and there is a risk of prison sub‑cultures and radicalisation. He called for more personnel to supervise inmates and improve resocialisation.

Eastern states show even sharper increases. In the Görlitz prison, 68.9 percent of the 167 inmates in June 2025 lacked a German passport – the highest share among East German facilities. Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony‑Anhalt, Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and Thuringia have all seen foreign‑inmate ratios climb to around 30‑48 percent.

Separately, German prison capacity is under pressure, with roughly 70 000 places for about 59 000 prisoners, an occupancy rate near 80 percent, and an estimated 150 000 individuals with outstanding arrest warrants who cannot be accommodated. Officials stress the need for additional staff and resources to manage the growing and increasingly diverse prison population.