A new survey shows that nearly half of all prisoners in Germany are foreign nationals—almost three times their share in the general population.
Out of nearly 60,000 inmates, including those in pre-trial detention, 45% are now foreign nationals. This marks a sharp rise over recent years: in 2017, foreigners made up just 30% of sentenced inmates; by 2024, that figure had climbed to 37%.
The impact is being felt across the country. In five states—including Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland—Syrians now make up the largest share of foreign prisoners. In eastern border states like Brandenburg and Saxony, it’s mostly Polish nationals. Turks top the list in four states, including Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. In Hesse, North Africans dominate, particularly in the Frankfurt area, where they play a central role in the region’s drug trade.
The rising number of foreign inmates is creating serious challenges for Germany’s 38,000 prison staff. René Müller, a spokesperson for the prison officers’ union, pointed to cultural tensions with some prisoners: “Many inmates from the Arab world follow instructions from female staff only reluctantly, not at all, or react aggressively. It is not in keeping with their culture to be told what to do by a woman.”
The official statistics may even understate the real extent of the issue. Inmates with dual nationality are classified as Germans, which distorts the data. If they were counted as foreigners, Berlin’s foreign inmate share would rise from 56% to 60%, and North Rhine-Westphalia’s from 41% to 48%. There is also no data on inmates with German citizenship who come from migrant backgrounds.
