08/05/2026 (Agence Europe) – There were 508,746 prisoners in the European Union in 2024, an increase of 2% over one year, according to data updated by Eurostat on Thursday 7 May. This trend confirms an increase of almost 10% since the all-time low in 2020, and breaks with the decline seen between 2012 and the pandemic. The average incarceration rate is now 113 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants, but major disparities remain: Hungary (193) and Poland (191) have the highest densities, while Finland (57) has the lowest. The statistical agency also warns of a structural crisis, with 14 Member States facing prison overcrowding. Cyprus has the highest occupancy rate (227.6%), followed by Slovenia and France (129.3%). In contrast, Estonia has a minimum occupancy rate of 49.9%. Consult 2024 prison data: https://aeur.eu/f/lue (JM)