Azerbaijan's prisons rank second in Europe for overcrowding and harsh sentences

Azerbaijan holds the second-highest prison population rate in Europe, with 270 inmates for every 100,000 residents. New data also reveals that the country’s average sentence length far exceeds the continental norm. Meanwhile, neighbouring Georgia and Turkey feature prominently in the latest prison statistics across the Council of Europe. Turkey leads Europe’s prison rankings, with 458 inmates per 100,000 people—the highest rate on the continent. Azerbaijan follows in second place, while Georgia sits fourth, recording 232 prisoners for every 100,000 inhabitants.

Azerbaijan’s prisons operate at near-full capacity, housing 98 inmates per 100 available spaces. Georgia’s system is similarly crowded, with a density of 90 prisoners per 100 places. Both countries face significant pressure on their detention facilities.

Sentences in Azerbaijan also stand out as unusually long. The average prison term there lasts 36 months—four times longer than the European average. Additionally, 16.8% of detainees remain in pre-trial detention centres, awaiting trial or sentencing.

Women make up a small fraction of the prison population in both nations. In Azerbaijan, just 3.1% of inmates are female, totalling 863 prisoners. Georgia’s proportion is slightly higher at 4.4%, but the number of women behind bars is lower, at 377.

Across the Council of Europe, the total prison population exceeds 1.1 million as of 31 January. The figures highlight Azerbaijan’s position as one of Europe’s most crowded and punitive prison systems. With lengthy sentences, high occupancy rates, and a low share of female inmates, the country’s detention trends differ sharply from broader European patterns. Georgia and Turkey also maintain some of the continent’s highest incarceration rates.