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Current Worldwide Female Prison Inmates

Over 733,000 women and girls are confined in prison systems globally, based on current analyses. This statistic covers both remand prisoners and those who have been found guilty and punished. Researchers estimate the actual total is significantly higher due to missing information from several countries.

Women consistently represent a small minority of national prison populations – commonly between 2-9% on average. As of now, women and girls account for approximately 6.8% of the international inmate count. However, their numbers are increasing at a more rapid tempo than incarcerated men.

Since the year 2000, the incarcerated females in prison has increased by almost three-fifths – nearly thrice the rise observed in the male inmate numbers. The international incarcerated women statistics increased by more than 100,000 individuals during the decade-long span ending in 2020.

Primary Drivers Behind the Increase

Offenses committed by women are frequently linked to poverty and typically represent a way to support themselves to support their children and relatives.

Detailed analysis has found that regulations typically outlaw essential livelihood measures and that women are unfairly targeted because they are over-represented among the lowest economic brackets of society. In various countries, laws prohibiting abortion, adultery, sexual misconduct and prostitution primarily impact women. The likelihood of receiving a prison sentence is often also related to poverty and the inability to pay fines for minor crimes or to arrange temporary freedom.

States with the Greatest Female Prison Populations

The US has the largest number of female prisoners with 174,607. China ranks second with 145,000, plus an uncertain quantity of women and girls in awaiting trial custody and "bureaucratic confinement. 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 Britain, there are 3,566 women in prison – representing 4% of the complete incarceration statistics. Forecasts show these numbers are predicted to increase to 4,200 by 2027. Across Europe, 94,472 women are currently imprisoned, while Australia reports 3,473 women in prison, amounting to approximately 8% of its complete incarceration numbers.

States with Significant Increases in Women Inmate Numbers

Even accounting for standard demographic increases over the previous two-and-a-half decades, the increase in the number of female prisoners per 100,000 people remains indicative of a remarkable increase. El Salvador and Cambodia have experienced more than sixfold increases, while these countries have seen more than fivefold rises.

Incarcerated Women Facing Execution

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. According to recent documentation, an unknown number of women were put to death in China, while two received death sentences in Egypt, 30 in Iran, one in Iraq, nine in Saudi Arabia and two in Yemen.

Incomplete statistics is available for states with most frequent capital punishment or for nations like North Korea, Vietnam and Qatar. However, analysis is accessible regarding 15 other countries with the most women on death row.

The two primary crimes for which women are receiving execution orders are murder and drug trafficking. Countries with compulsory capital punishment for murder, or that do not recognize gender-based violence as lessening conditions, are inclined to display increased quantities of women on death row and additional capital punishments.

Furthermore, countries that harshly penalize drug trafficking, such as those in the Gulf region and Asian southeast, have a significant percentage of women on death row.

Suitability of Imprisonment for Women

Many experts and campaigners maintain that prison is not a suitable punishment for a large number of women who commit crimes. Most are incarcerated for non-violent crimes; in the UK, for example, 72% of female prison admissions in 2020 fit this category. Women often encounter a "repetitive cycle of short prison sentences – inadequate duration to engage in meaningful education, training or work opportunities.

Up to 80% of women in prison worldwide have an diagnosable psychological condition. In Europe, suicide rates for women in prison are nine times higher than for the wider community, as reported by the World Health Organization.

In response to increasing figures of imprisoned females and a lack of standards addressing their requirements, the United Nations Female Inmate Guidelines (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 dwell in incarceration centers with a parent, most often their mother, while many times that number are separated from them. Approximately 1.45 million children worldwide have a incarcerated mother.

Apart from the clear division and connected hardship that a prison sentence can cause, it is frequent for a woman to be deprived of guardianship of her children after just a brief period in prison.

Numerous nations make provision for babies and young children to remain in correctional facilities with their mothers up to a certain age. Nevertheless, a early life in correctional facilities can harm a young person both bodily and psychologically.