Average age of prisoners in Moldova is just 30 years
The Republic of Moldova has one of the highest incarceration rates in Europe. According to a Council of Europe report, there were 245 prisoners for every 100,000 inhabitants in the country's prisons in 2025.
Turkey has the highest incarceration rate ahead of the Republic of Moldova, with 458 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Azerbaijan at 271 prisoners.
Next in the rankings are Georgia with 232 prisoners, Hungary with 206, and Montenegro with 200.
The report indicates that the Republic of Moldova has one of the youngest prison populations in Europe, with an average age of 30 years, making it the youngest among the analyzed countries. Additionally, 4.2 percent of the prison population is over 65 years old.
The document also reveals that drug-related crimes are the primary cause of prison sentences in Europe, accounting for over 17 percent of all convictions. This is followed by theft and violent crimes, which include murder, assault, and sexual offenses.
Currently, more than 5,000 individuals are incarcerated in prisons across the Republic of Moldova.
