France: crime and justice

How many people are in prison in France?

90,020 people were detained in French prisons on 1 September 2026, up from 84,311 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Justice's monthly measure of incarceration. Of these, 24,539 were remand prisoners awaiting trial or a final judgment (27.3% of detainees). A further 17,680 people were under a prison order but not detained, mostly under electronic monitoring at home (16,729).

The ministry publishes the figures monthly on its prison statistics page, with breakdowns by establishment. 'Écroués' covers everyone registered by the prison service, while 'détenus' are those physically held in prison.

Official sources: Ministry of Justice: monthly measure of incarceration, 1 September 2026 (PDF) · Ministry of Justice: monthly prison statistics

How overcrowded are French prisons?

French prisons held 90,020 detainees for 63,348 operational places on 1 September 2026, an overall occupancy rate of 142.1%, up from 134.7% a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Justice's monthly measure of incarceration. In remand prisons and remand wings the rate was 176.1%. 8,347 prisoners were sleeping on mattresses on the floor, against 5,500 a year earlier.

53,609 detainees were in establishments with occupancy above 150%. Only 32.0% of prisoners had a cell to themselves. The occupancy rate compares the number of detainees with the number of places in service, so it varies widely between establishments.

Official sources: Ministry of Justice: monthly measure of incarceration, 1 September 2026 (PDF)

How many people are convicted of crimes in France?

French courts handed down 544,000 convictions against individuals in 2023, 3% more than in 2022, according to INSEE's justice overview in France, portrait social (November 2025), based on Ministry of Justice data. 41% were for road traffic and transport offences, 23% for offences against the person and 16% for offences against property.

The same source reports that prosecutors handled 4.2 million cases in 2024, of which more than seven in ten could not be prosecuted, most often because no suspect was identified.

Official sources: INSEE: justice overview

What is the murder rate in France?

France recorded 1.34 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2023, up from 1.24 in 2022 and 1.11 in 2021, according to UNODC figures published in the World Bank's intentional homicides indicator. That is roughly 900 victims a year.

UNODC counts victims of unlawful killing intended to cause death or serious injury, using data supplied by national authorities. France's own figures on homicides recorded by police and gendarmerie are published by the interior ministry's statistical service (SSMSI) on its Interstats site, which could not be read for this answer on 14 October 2026. Definitions differ, so the two sources will not match exactly.

Official sources: World Bank: intentional homicides per 100,000 people, France

How many criminal cases do French prosecutors handle?

French prosecutors handled 4.2 million cases in 2024, according to INSEE's justice overview (November 2025), based on Ministry of Justice data. More than seven in ten were considered impossible to prosecute: in 67% of those the offender was not identified, in 24% there was a legal reason such as no offence or insufficient evidence. That left 1.2 million prosecutable cases, 28% of the total.

1.9 million suspects were named in cases recorded by prosecutors. The figures come from the Cassiopée case management system.

Official sources: INSEE: justice overview

How many murders are there in France?

1.3 per 100,000: that is the intentional homicide rate in France for 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.0 per 100,000 (2020) to 1.6 per 100,000 (2008). It is 10th highest of 35 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 1.0 per 100,000. Worldwide: 45th of 79.

What is the female homicide rate in France?

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the homicide rate for women in France was 0.8 per 100,000 in 2023. Since 2015 it has ranged from 0.6 per 100,000 (2020) to 1.1 per 100,000 (2015). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 0.7 per 100,000, and France placed 16th highest of 36. Worldwide: 49th of 78.

How many men are killed in France?

In 2023, the homicide rate for men in France was 1.9 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2015 it has ranged from 1.4 per 100,000 (2017) to 2.0 per 100,000 (2015). It is 12th highest of 36 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 1.3 per 100,000. Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 45th highest.

How many battle deaths has France had?

The Uppsala Conflict Data Program puts battle-related deaths in France at 4 in 2018. It is 5th highest of 6 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 41. Of 37 countries with 2018 data, 35th highest.