Nelson Mandela spent about 27 years in prison in total, from 1962 until his release on 11 February 1990.

He was first imprisoned in 1962 and later sentenced to life in 1964 during the Rivonia Trial. His incarceration was served mainly on Robben Island (about 18 years), then Pollsmoor Prison, and finally Victor Verster Prison before his release in 1990.