The U.S. prison population was 1,230,100 at the end of 2022, a 2% increase from 2021, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. At the federal level, there were 158,949 offenders incarcerated in the Federal Bureau of Prisons as of January 2023, though not all were serving a sentence for a federal conviction, according to the United States Sentencing Commission. (Also see: The Most Infamous Cases That Rocked the FBI.)
Among those incarcerated in federal prisons, 88.8% were sentenced within the past 10 years, and 68.2% within the past five years. The federal prison population is also overwhelmingly male, as 92.9% are men. Also, the racial makeup skews its representation in the total population. So while 34.6% of offenders in federal prisons are Black, 31.8% are Hispanic, 29.5% are white, and 4.1% are other races, nationwide Black Americans make up 13.6% of the U.S. population and Hispanic Americans make up 19.1% of the population, according to the Census Bureau.
To determine the 25 largest federal prisons in the U.S., 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Federal prisons were ranked by their total inmate population, including in all correctional institutions or penitentiaries in a complex. All data came from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and was collected in late Novermber 2023.
The federal prisons on the list house anywhere from over 1,600 inmates to nearly 6,200 inmates, with two facilities housing both male and female inmates. The rest only have male inmates.
Most of the prisons on this list are in Southern states, though two are in California. Other states with more than one prison on the list include Georgia and West Virginia. Several of the facilities on the list are prison complexes that can include low, medium, or high penitentiaries or correctional institutions and minimum security satellite camp. (These are the darkest crimes in every state’s history.)
25. FCI Jesup
Source: LPETTET / E+ via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 1,632 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Jesup
- Prison(s) type: A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent low security satellite prison and a minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Jesup, GA
24. FCI Sheridan
Source: naphtalina / E+ via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 1,637 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Sheridan
- Prison(s) type: A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp and a detention center
- Location: Sheridan, OR
23. FCI Gilmer
Source: jmenj / Flickr
- Inmate population: 1,680 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Gilmer
- Prison(s) type: A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Glenville, WV
22. FCI Beckley
Source: Darrin Klimek / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 1,712 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Beckley
- Prison(s) type: A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Beaver, WV
21. FCI Seagoville
Source: Shasta_Lin_Photography / iStock via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 1,727 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Seagoville
- Prison(s) type: A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp and a detention center
- Location: Seagoville, TX
20. Tucson Complex
Source: Bill Oxford / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 1,787 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Tucson, FCI Tucson
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution with a detention center
- Location: Tucson, AZ
19. USP Atlanta
Source: FooTToo / iStock via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 1,874 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Atlanta
- Prison(s) type: A low security U.S. penitentiary with a detention center
- Location: Atlanta, GA
18. FCI Elkton
Source: poco_bw / iStock via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 1,964 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Elkton
- Prison(s) type: A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent low security satellite prison
- Location: Lisbon, OH
17. Oakdale Complex
Source: sakakawea7 / iStock via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 1,975 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Oakdale II, FCI Oakdale I
- Prison(s) type: A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A low security federal correctional institution
- Location: Oakdale, LA
16. FCI Edgefield
Source: Alex Potemkin / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 2,000 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Edgefield
- Prison(s) type: A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Edgefield, SC
15. USP Leavenworth
Source: ShootingRichard / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 2,023 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Leavenworth
- Prison(s) type: A medium security U.S. penitentiary with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Leavenworth, KS
14. Petersburg Complex
Source: naphtalina / E+ via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 2,359 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Petersburg Low, FCI Petersburg Medium
- Prison(s) type: A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution
- Location: Hopewell, VA
13. Florence Complex
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Inmate population: 2,560 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Florence – High, FCI Florence, USP Florence ADMAX
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary; A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; An administrative security U.S. penitentiary
- Location: Florence, CO
12. Pollock Complex
Source: TheCrimsonRibbon / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 2,595 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Pollock, FCI Pollock
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution
- Location: Pollock, LA
11. Terre Haute Complex
Source: 2020 Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 2,615 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Terre Haute, FCI Terre Haute
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary; A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Terre Haute, IN
10. Allenwood Complex
Source: William Thomas Cain / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 2,626 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Allenwood, FCI Allenwood Low, FCI Allenwood Medium
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary; A low security federal correctional institution; A medium security federal correctional institution
- Location: Allenwood, PA
9. Lompoc Complex
Source: Tim Gray / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 3,019 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Lompoc, USP Lompoc
- Prison(s) type: A low security federal correctional institution; A medium security U.S. penitentiary with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Lompoc, CA
8. Forrest City Complex
Source: SPmemory / iStock via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 3,460 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Forrest City Low, FCI Forrest City Medium
- Prison(s) type: A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution
- Location: Forrest City, AR
7. Hazelton Complex
Source: iweta0077 / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 3,621 male and female offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Hazelton, USP Hazelton
- Prison(s) type: A medium security federal correctional institution with a secure female facility; A high security U.S. penitentiary with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Bruceton Mills, WV
6. FCI Fort Dix
Source: Stanislav Ostranitsa / iStock via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 3,797 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Fort Dix
- Prison(s) type: A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp
- Location: Joint Base MDL, NJ
5. Butner Complex
Source: Sara D. Davis / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 4,101 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: FCI Butner Low, FCI Butner Medium I, FCI Butner Medium II, FMC Butner
- Prison(s) type: A low security federal correctional institution; A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution; An administrative security federal medical center
- Location: Butner, NC
4. Victorville Complex
Source: MikeDot / iStock via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 4,307 male and female offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Victorville, FCI Victorville Medium I, FCI Victorville Medium II
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary; A medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution
- Location: Victorville, CA
3. Yazoo City Complex
Source: Comstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 4,398 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Yazoo City, FCI Yazoo City Low, FCI Yazoo City Medium
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary; A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution
- Location: Yazoo City, MS
2. Beaumont Complex
Source: BrianAJackson / iStock via Getty Images
- Inmate population: 4,750 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Beaumont, FCI Beaumont Low, FCI Beaumont Medium
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary; A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution
- Location: Beaumont, TX
1. Coleman Complex
Source: piccaya / Getty Images
- Inmate population: 6,186 male offenders
- Prisons in complex: USP Coleman II, USP Coleman I, FCI Coleman Low, FCI Coleman Medium
- Prison(s) type: A high security U.S. penitentiary; A high security U.S. penitentiary; A low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp; A medium security federal correctional institution
- Location: Sumterville, FL
Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
