The reduction of the number of incarcerated people is a trend that has been identified across Europe over the last decade and not just in Luxembourg. That was the case for the grand duchy’s neighbours France (-16%), Germany (-19%)  and Belgium (-16%). While Luxembourg has had 30% fewer prisoners in 2021 than in 2011, Monaco registered the biggest decrease with -61%. Turkey was the only country with a noticeable increase (+89%) except for San Marino which saw its prisoners grow from 6 in 2011 to 26 ten years later, marking a 321% rise.

During the pandemic there have been fewer incarcerations caused to a reduction in certain types of crimes due to movement restrictions, but also a slowing down of the judicial system as well as release schemes some countries implemented to prevent the spread of covid-19 in jail. Luxembourg saw a 7.5% decrease in its prison population from 2020 to 2021.

The grand duchy has the highest percentage of foreigners behind bars (73%). Around half of Luxembourg’s prison population is comprised of non-nationals, which certainly has an effect on those numbers.

Luxembourg also recorded a relatively high portion of female prisoners (5.2%), while for example Montenegro which has a similar number of inhabitants (620,000) had 3.2% of its prison population comprised of women.