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Locked Up

These are the countries that imprison the most foreigners

There are around 1,200 Irish nationals imprisoned abroad.

IN THE UNITED Arab Emirates, a whopping 92.2% of the prison population is made up of foreigners.

Figures from the Institute for Criminal Policy Research show the UAE has the highest share of foreign prisoners in the world. As the chart below shows, it is closely followed by Monaco and Qatar.

Statista Statista

By contrast, just 5.5% of the US prison population is foreign.

In Irish prisons, non-Irish EU nationals account for 11.5% of prisoners, or 1,540. There are 281 African nationals. 1.5% are Asian and 52 are from central or southern America.

The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas estimates there are around 1,200 Irish nationals imprisoned in foreign countries. Most are in UK prisons, but the council works with families of prisoners in more than 30 countries around the world.

Read: Search continues for inmates who made ‘sophisticated’ and daring prison escape>

Read: Two men charged over prisoner’s violent escape from Tallaght Hospital>

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