Of the 9,297 new incarcerations in Swiss prisons last year, almost 7 in 10 incarcerated individuals (67%) were foreigners—a significant statistic reflecting Switzerland’s prison demographics.
Men continued to dominate the prison population, making up 90.6% of new incarcerations in 2023, according to data released by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office. Women, representing 9.4% of cases, showed a slowly rising trend over time.
Foreign nationals have maintained a significant presence in Swiss prisons over the past decade, with the share of non-Swiss inmates tripling since the 1980s. Despite this, Swiss nationals were still in the majority when it came to measures like rehabilitative or corrective programs, representing 64% of these cases in 2023.
The most common penalties carried out last year were custodial sentences (38%) and alternatives for unpaid fines (42%). In serious cases, 31 individuals—including 28 men—received life sentences in 2023.
Alternative sentencing in the form of general interest work comprised 23% of all sentences, with 2,823 cases. Women, particularly Swiss women, made up a larger share in this category (27% and 61%, respectively) compared to their representation in detention. Additionally, in 83% of these cases, unpaid fines were worked off through such community service.
Electronic monitoring played a relatively minor role in sentence execution, accounting for just 3% of cases. This method primarily involved men (82%) and Swiss citizens (61%).
These statistics highlight Switzerland’s evolving approach to incarceration, with a growing reliance on alternative measures, yet also reflect persistent patterns regarding nationality and gender within the prison system.
