Significant Decrease in Inmate Numbers
Morocco's prison system has witnessed a notable decrease in its inmate population, with a reported decline of 5.45% from 2024 to 2025, according to the latest annual report issued by the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration. This reduction is significant as it indicates a rare moment of relief for the country's historically overcrowded correctional facilities. As of December 31, 2025, the prison population was recorded at 99,366 inmates, translating to approximately 280 prisoners for every 100,000 inhabitants. Within this demographic, the report identified 1,112 juveniles, 2,456 women, 2,339 elderly inmates, and 1,696 foreign nationals, alongside 8,785 detainees. The average age of inmates was noted to be 33.62 years, reflecting a broad spectrum of societal backgrounds.
Shifts in Incarceration Trends and Social Dynamics
The report outlines a decrease in the rate of new incarcerations coupled with an increase in the number of releases, illustrating a shift in the dynamics of the prison system. In 2025, the total number of new admissions was 98,446, a decline from 101,157 in the previous year, while the number of inmates released jumped to 104,485, up from 98,673 in 2024. Young individuals aged under 30 make up the largest segment of the prison population, representing over 45% of inmates. Furthermore, single individuals constitute 63.38% of the total inmate count, with married inmates at 29.44%. Women continue to represent a small yet steady proportion, accounting for 2.47% of the total prison population.
Educational statistics provided in the report paint a concerning picture of the social backgrounds of many inmates, revealing that over 74% possess only primary or middle school education. The illiteracy rate among prisoners stands at 8.82%, while a mere 4.14% have achieved a university education. Geographically, the regions with the highest prison populations include Casablanca-Settat, which accounts for 19.76% of inmates, followed by Rabat-Salé-Kénitra at 17.92% and Fès-Meknès at 15.34%.
Despite the observed decline in inmate numbers, the issue of overcrowding continues to pose a significant challenge. By the end of 2025, Moroccan prisons provided 178,413 square meters of accommodation space, with a total of 64,812 beds available. The national overcrowding rate was reported at 153%, a decrease from 161% the previous year. The prison administration attributes this improvement to the reduction of 5,689 inmates, while the capacity of the prisons remained relatively unchanged, marking 2025 as a year with the lowest overcrowding rate recorded in recent history.
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
