French Prisons Reach Record Overcrowding with 86,645 Inmates as of February 2026

As of February 1, 2026, French prisons have reached a historic peak in population with 86,645 detainees occupying facilities designed for only 63,289 inmates, resulting in a density rate of 136.9%, according to government statistics. This severe overcrowding has forced 6,596 prisoners to sleep on mattresses on the floor, a sharp rise from 4,490 the previous year. Remand prisons, which hold individuals awaiting trial and those serving short sentences, are most affected, with a staggering density rate of 167%, and some institutions exceeding 200% capacity.

The Council of Europe has strongly criticized France’s penitentiary conditions, cautioning that the current situation risks turning prisons into “human warehouses.” Only Slovenia and Cyprus report worse conditions in Europe. Chronic understaffing and unsanitary environments have pushed the penitentiary system to the brink of collapse.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has pledged to tackle the crisis by constructing three thousand modular prison places within the next 18 months. However, progress has been slow, with only 4,500 new places added out of 15,000 planned since 2018. There have been calls for regulating prison admissions or facilitating releases to ease overcrowding, but such measures face substantial political resistance.

This unprecedented crowding highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reform to improve prison living conditions and manage France’s rising inmate population effectively.