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Current Global Women Prison Population

In excess of 733,000 women and girls are detained in correctional facilities internationally, as reported by latest research studies. This figure encompasses both pre-trial detainees and those who have been convicted and sentenced. Experts believe the true count is significantly higher due to missing information from numerous countries.

Women consistently represent a limited percentage of overall inmate numbers – commonly between 2-9% on average. As of now, women and girls represent approximately 6.8% of the international inmate count. Nevertheless, their figures are rising at a faster rate than male prisoners.

Over the past two decades, the female prison population in prison has grown by nearly 60% – nearly thrice the increase observed in the male prison population. The worldwide women inmate count rose by over 100,000 individuals during the decade-long span ending in 2020.

Key Factors Behind the Growth

Women's lawbreaking are frequently associated with economic hardship and often constitute a means of survival to support their children and relatives.

Extensive studies has established that legislation frequently penalizes basic sustenance activities and that women are unfairly targeted because they are disproportionately represented among the most impoverished segments of society. In numerous countries, laws penalizing abortion, adultery, sexual misconduct and prostitution primarily impact women. The probability of getting a prison sentence is typically associated with poverty and the failure to afford fines for petty offenses or to obtain release.

Countries with the Largest Incarcerated Women Statistics

The US has the greatest quantity of female prisoners with 174,607. China follows with 145,000, plus an undetermined count of women and girls in remand imprisonment and "administrative detention". Further substantial contributors 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 total prison population. Projections indicate these numbers are anticipated to grow to 4,200 by 2027. Across Europe, 94,472 women are currently imprisoned, while Australia reports 3,473 women in prison, representing approximately 8% of its overall inmate demographic.

Nations with Major Growth in Incarcerated Women Statistics

Although including 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 substantial rise. These two nations have experienced more than sixfold increases, while these countries have seen increases over five times.

Incarcerated Women Facing Execution

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

The states that carry out executions on the most women are similarly the nations that perform the highest number of executions in general, namely China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Based on latest reports, an undetermined count of women were executed in China, while two were executed 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 additional countries including North Korea, Vietnam and Qatar. Nevertheless, 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 required execution sentences for murder, or that refuse to consider gender-based violence as lessening conditions, are more likely to have increased quantities of women on death row and additional capital punishments.

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

Suitability of Prison for Women

Numerous specialists and activists argue that prison is inappropriate penalty for a substantial percentage of women who violate regulations. The majority are imprisoned for non-violent crimes; in Britain, for example, 72% of female prison admissions in 2020 belonged to this group. Women often encounter a "revolving door" of short prison sentences – too brief to engage in meaningful education, training or work opportunities.

Approximately 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 overall public, according to the global health authority.

In answer to growing statistics of incarcerated women and a absence of guidelines reflecting their needs, the United Nations Female Inmate Guidelines (known as the Bangkok Rules) were approved by the UN General Assembly in December 2010. These rules mandate countries to create alternative punishments and to guarantee female-appropriate care in prisons.

Children of Female Prisoners

An estimated 19,000 children reside in correctional facilities with a parent, usually their mother, while significantly more children are separated from them. Approximately 1.45 million children worldwide have a incarcerated mother.

Besides the evident parting and connected hardship 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.

Numerous nations permit babies and young children to stay in prison with their mothers up to a specific age. However, a early life in correctional facilities can damage a child both in health and mental state.