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Current Worldwide Female Prison Population

More than 733,000 women and girls are detained in prison systems worldwide, as reported by latest investigations. This statistic includes both awaiting trial prisoners and individuals already convicted and sentenced. Researchers estimate the true count is significantly higher due to unavailable statistics from numerous countries.

Female inmates generally account for a minor proportion of overall inmate numbers – commonly between 2-9% on average. Presently, women and girls comprise approximately 6.8% of the international inmate count. However, their numbers are increasing at a faster rate than male inmates.

Over the past two decades, the incarcerated females in prison has grown by nearly 60% – nearly thrice the increase observed in the male prison population. The global female prison population grew by exceeding 100,000 individuals during the ten-year period ending in 2020.

Primary Drivers Behind the Rise

Women's lawbreaking are commonly linked to poverty and often constitute a means of survival to provide for their families.

Detailed analysis has established that regulations typically outlaw acts of survival and that women are unequally impacted because they are over-represented among the poorest sectors of society. In numerous countries, laws prohibiting abortion, adultery, sexual misconduct and prostitution almost exclusively affect women. The likelihood of receiving a prison sentence is frequently connected with poverty and the lack of resources for fines for petty offenses or to obtain release.

States with the Greatest Incarcerated Women Statistics

The America has the largest number of female prisoners with 174,607. China ranks second with 145,000, plus an unknown number of women and girls in pre-trial detention and "procedural custody. Additional major sources include Brazil (50,441), Russia (39,153), Thailand (33,057), India (23,772), the Philippines (17,121), Turkey (16,581), Vietnam (15,152), Mexico (13,841) and Indonesia (13,044).

In the UK, there are 3,566 women in prison – representing 4% of the complete incarceration statistics. Forecasts show these numbers are expected to rise to 4,200 by 2027. Across Europe, 94,472 women are presently incarcerated, while Australia reports 3,473 women in prison, amounting to approximately 8% of its total prison population.

Nations with Significant Increases in Female Prison Populations

Even accounting for typical population expansion over the past 25 years, the rise in the number of female prisoners per 100,000 people continues to demonstrate a significant growth. Cambodia and El Salvador have experienced increases exceeding 600%, while Indonesia and Turkey have seen increases over five times.

Women on Death Row

Present approximations indicate there are between 500 and 1,000 women on death row in at least 42 countries worldwide.

The countries that execute the most women are also the countries that perform the highest number of executions in general, namely China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. As reported by recent documentation, an unknown number of women were executed in China, while two faced execution in Egypt, 30 in Iran, one in Iraq, nine in Saudi Arabia and two in Yemen.

Unreliable information is available for countries that execute the most or for additional countries including North Korea, Vietnam and Qatar. However, analysis is accessible regarding 15 other countries with the highest numbers of females on death row.

The two primary crimes for which women are given capital punishment are murder and drug trafficking. Countries with mandatory death penalties for murder, or that refuse to consider gender-based violence as mitigating circumstances, are prone to exhibit increased quantities of women on death row and frequent death sentences.

Additionally, countries that severely criminalize drug trafficking, such as those in the Arabian Peninsula and southeast Asia, have a substantial ratio of women on death row.

Suitability of Incarceration for Females

Numerous specialists and activists contend that prison is inappropriate penalty for a significant portion of women who break the law. The majority are imprisoned for peaceful violations; in Britain, for example, 72% of female prison admissions in 2020 fit this category. Women commonly face a "revolving door" of brief incarceration periods – too brief to participate in meaningful education, training or work opportunities.

Approximately 80% of women in prison worldwide have an identifiable mental illness. In Europe, self-destruction numbers for women in prison are nine times higher than for the wider community, based on the global health authority.

In reaction to growing statistics of incarcerated women and a lack of standards considering their circumstances, the International Women Prisoner Standards (known as the Bangkok Rules) were adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2010. These rules require nations to develop non-custodial sanctions and to provide women-specific consideration in prisons.

Offspring of Incarcerated Women

An estimated 19,000 children reside in correctional facilities with a parent, typically their mother, while significantly more children are apart from their mothers. Approximately 1.45 million children worldwide have a imprisoned parent.

In addition to the evident parting and related distress that a prison sentence can cause, it is not uncommon for a woman to lose custody of her children after just a short time in prison.

Various states permit babies and young children to remain in correctional facilities with their mothers up to a specific age. However, a youth experienced in incarceration can harm a young person both in health and mental state.