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Prison population. By age group and type of crime

Prison population. By sex, age groups and type of offence. Total Catalonia Total
18-20 21-25 26-40 41-60 61 and over Total
2021 219 768 3,394 2,997 368 7,746
2020 215 710 3,597 2,985 377 7,884
2019 192 807 3,890 3,121 381 8,391
2018 158 793 3,944 3,122 350 8,367
2017 107 774 3,980 3,165 341 8,367
2016 114 822 4,206 3,105 319 8,566
2015 134 884 4,383 3,081 328 8,810
Source: Ministry of Justice.
Note: (1) Includes attacks on authorities, agents and government employees, resistance, disobedience, contempt, insults, slander and threats.
Prison population. By sex, age groups and type of offence. Men Catalonia Total
18-20 21-25 26-40 41-60 61 and more Total
2021 212 723 3,185 2,769 346 7,235
2020 208 655 3,367 2,781 360 7,371
2019 186 742 3,620 2,919 361 7,828
2018 146 725 3,678 2,899 331 7,779
2017 100 708 3,749 2,916 321 7,794
2016 106 767 3,923 2,873 305 7,974
2015 127 843 4,073 2,849 309 8,201
Source: Departament de Justícia. Direcció General de Règim Penitenciari i Recursos.
Note: (1) Includes attacks on authorities, agents and government employees, resistance, disobedience, contempt, insults, slander and threats.
Prison population. By sex, age groups and type of offence. Women Catalonia Total
18-20 21-25 26-40 41-60 61 and over Total
2021 8 45 210 226 22 511
2020 7 55 230 204 17 513
2019 6 65 270 202 20 563
2018 12 68 266 223 19 588
2017 7 66 231 249 20 573
2016 8 55 283 232 14 592
2015 7 41 310 232 19 609
Source: Departament de Justícia. Direcció General de Règim Penitenciari i Recursos.
Note: (1) Includes attacks on authorities, agents and government employees, resistance, disobedience, contempt, insults, slander and threats.

Last update: May 5, 2022.

Methodological note

Definition of concepts

Prision population
Set of people detained in penitentiary centres in compliance with custodial sentences in the Penal code and that are in any of the following procedural situations: accused criminals, convicts or detained on preventative grounds, if the cause is processed.

Methodological aspects

The introduction of the new penal Code, on January 1, 1996, led to the classification of convicts on the basis of a new typology of offences, which will coexist alongside the classification used in the previous Penal Code. For statistical purposes it should be noted, however, that each convict is only classified for one offence, always the one for which the convict has received the toughest sentence.

Data is provided on the penal courts that were created to take responsibility for judging and sentencing less serious offences. This also includes the activity of provincial audiences. The information is completed with data on the prison population on December 31.