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Present Global Female Prison Population

Over 733,000 women and girls are confined in prison systems globally, according to current investigations. This figure encompasses both awaiting trial prisoners and individuals already convicted and sentenced. Analysts suggest the real number is much greater due to unavailable statistics from several nations.

Female inmates generally account for a limited percentage of correctional system demographics – usually between 2-9% on average. Currently, women and girls account for approximately 6.8% of the international inmate count. Nevertheless, their numbers are increasing at a faster rate than male inmates.

Since the year 2000, the number of women and girls in prison has grown by nearly 60% – roughly triple the rise observed in the incarcerated male demographic. The worldwide women inmate count grew by exceeding 100,000 individuals during the ten-year period ending in 2020.

Primary Drivers Behind the Increase

Women's lawbreaking are frequently associated with economic hardship and often constitute a way to support themselves to care for their dependents.

Extensive studies has determined that laws often criminalize basic sustenance activities and that women are disproportionately affected because they are disproportionately represented among the poorest sectors of society. In many countries, laws prohibiting abortion, adultery, sexual misconduct and prostitution primarily impact women. The chance of being given a prison sentence is often also related to poverty and the inability to pay fines for minor crimes or to obtain release.

States with the Greatest Women Inmate Numbers

The United States has the greatest quantity of female prisoners with 174,607. China comes next with 145,000, plus an uncertain quantity of women and girls in awaiting trial custody and "bureaucratic confinement. Other significant 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 Britain, there are 3,566 women in prison – representing 4% of the overall inmate count. 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, representing approximately 8% of its total prison population.

States with Significant Increases in Female Prison Populations

Despite considering typical population expansion over the last quarter-century, the surge in the number of female prisoners per 100,000 people still shows a remarkable increase. El Salvador and Cambodia have experienced over six times growth, while Indonesia and Turkey have seen growth exceeding 500%.

Women on Death Row

Current calculations 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 carry out the most capital punishments in general, namely China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. According to current records, an unknown number of women were given capital punishment in China, while two received death sentences in Egypt, 30 in Iran, one in Iraq, nine in Saudi Arabia and two in Yemen.

No accurate data is available for countries that execute the most or for others such as North Korea, Vietnam and Qatar. Nevertheless, analysis is accessible regarding 15 other countries with the highest numbers of females on death row.

The principal violations for which women are receiving execution orders are murder and drug trafficking. Countries with compulsory capital punishment for murder, or that refuse to consider gender-based violence as reducing factors, are more likely to have higher numbers of women on death row and additional capital punishments.

Moreover, countries that strictly prohibit drug trafficking, such as those in the Gulf region and southeast Asia, have a substantial ratio of women on death row.

Appropriateness of Prison for Women

Numerous specialists and advocates maintain that prison is inappropriate penalty for a large number of women who commit crimes. Many are jailed for non-violent crimes; in the UK, for example, 72% of female prison admissions in 2020 fit this category. Women commonly face a "revolving door" of limited imprisonment terms – insufficiently long to participate in meaningful education, training or work opportunities.

As many as 80% of women in prison worldwide have an diagnosable psychological condition. In Europe, self-destruction numbers for women in prison are nine times higher than for the general population, as reported by the WHO.

In response to increasing figures of incarcerated women and a absence of guidelines addressing their requirements, the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners (known as the Bangkok Rules) were accepted by the UN General Assembly in December 2010. These rules mandate countries to establish non-imprisonment penalties and to guarantee female-appropriate care in prisons.

Offspring of Incarcerated Women

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

In addition to the obvious separation 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 limited duration in prison.

Various states make provision for babies and young children to live in incarceration centers with their mothers up to a specific age. Nonetheless, a early life in correctional facilities can harm a young person both physically and emotionally.