Foreign nationals make up nearly a third of inmates in Norwegian prisons
Each month, the Norwegian Directorate of Correctional Services publishes key figures from correctional facilities nationwide. How many foreign nationals are currently in Norwegian prisons? Which nationals make up the largest share?
Each month, the Norwegian Directorate of Correctional Services publishes key figures from correctional facilities nationwide. How many foreign nationals are currently in Norwegian prisons? Which nationals make up the largest share?
The latest figures from the Directorate (KDI) show that at the end of October 2026, 952 foreign citizens were serving time or held in custody in Norwegian prisons, accounting for the 31 percent of the country’s total prison population of 3,071 inmates. This marks a clear increase from October last year, when 841 foreign nationals made up 28 percent of inmates.
Among foreign prisoners, Polish nationals form the largest group with 111 individuals, followed by Lithuanian (101), Romanian (90), Swedish (86), and Syrian citizens (63).
As reported by the authorities, Norwegian prisons are under severe strain, with an occupancy rate of 91 percent. " The prison queue has increased throughout 2026, and the Norwegian Correctional Service has implemented several measures to meet the capacity challenges," said Lise Sannerud, Director of the Norwegian Correctional Service.
Among convicted offenders, the most common crimes are related to narcotics and intoxication (25.3 percent), followed by sexual offences (22.5 percent) and violent crime (20.3 percent).
