French prisons are facing a severe overcrowding crisis, with the number of inmates rising by 6.5% over the past year. As of August 1, 2026, there were 63,303 operational prison places, representing a modest 1.5% increase. However, the number of inmates sleeping on the floor due to a lack of beds has surged by 43.5%, reaching 7,956. This trend highlights the growing gap between the number of prisoners and the available space in the system. The problem of prison density — defined as the ratio of inmates to available places — has become particularly acute in certain facilities. According to data analyzed by BFM from the Ministry of Justice, the most affected prisons are often located near medium-sized cities. For instance, the detention center in Puy-en-Velay has the highest prison density in France, with an occupancy rate of 247.2%, meaning it holds 53 more inmates than its capacity. The detention center in Carcassonne follows closely with a density of 245.3%, and the facility in Nîmes rounds out the top three with a density of 235.5%. Even overseas, the penitentiary center in Faa'a, French Polynesia, ranks 12th with a density of 218.8%. Despite the overcrowding being most severe in smaller cities, large urban areas are also significantly impacted. In the Paris region, the Fleury-Mérogis facility houses 5,082 inmates for just 2,824 operational places — the highest number of prisoners in the country. Similarly, the Lyon-Corbas prison holds 1,322 inmates in 678 spaces, and the Aix-Luynes prison near Aix-en-Provence and Marseille has 2,050 inmates for 1,365 available spots. This alarming situation has drawn international attention. The Council of Europe warned earlier this year that French prisons risk becoming a “human warehouse” due to overcrowding. In July, Dominique Simonnot, the general inspector of places of deprivation of liberty, pointed out the lack of a comprehensive national strategy to address the issue. According to 2025 data, France ranks among the worst in Europe for prison density, tied with Turkey and surpassing Croatia and Italy.