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Current Worldwide Women Prison Population

In excess of 733,000 women and girls are confined in prison systems globally, according to latest research studies. This statistic encompasses both awaiting trial prisoners and those who have been convicted and sentenced. Analysts suggest the actual total is substantially larger due to unavailable statistics from several nations.

Female inmates generally account for a small minority of overall inmate numbers – typically between 2-9% on average. Presently, women and girls represent approximately 6.8% of the world's incarcerated individuals. However, their numbers are increasing at a quicker pace than male prisoners.

Over the past two decades, the incarcerated females in prison has grown by nearly 60% – nearly thrice the rise observed in the male inmate numbers. The worldwide women inmate count grew by exceeding 100,000 individuals during the decade-long span ending in 2020.

Primary Drivers Behind the Growth

Offenses committed by women are often associated with economic hardship and often constitute a way to support themselves to care for their dependents.

Detailed analysis has found that regulations typically outlaw essential livelihood measures and that women are disproportionately affected because they are over-represented among the poorest sectors of society. In many countries, laws penalizing abortion, adultery, sexual misconduct and prostitution disproportionately target women. The probability of getting a prison sentence is typically associated with poverty and the failure to afford fines for minor crimes or to arrange temporary freedom.

Nations with the Greatest Female Prison Populations

The US has the greatest quantity of female prisoners with 174,607. China ranks second with 145,000, plus an unknown number of women and girls in remand imprisonment 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 England and Wales, there are 3,566 women in prison – representing 4% of the complete incarceration statistics. Estimates suggest these numbers are anticipated to grow 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 complete incarceration numbers.

Nations with Major Growth in Female Prison Populations

Even accounting for standard demographic increases over the previous two-and-a-half decades, the rise in the number of female prisoners per 100,000 people remains indicative of a significant growth. Cambodia and El Salvador have experienced more than sixfold increases, while Indonesia and Turkey have seen growth exceeding 500%.

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 nations that put to death the most women are also the countries that execute the most people in general, namely China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. As reported by current records, an unknown number of women were given capital punishment in China, while two faced execution 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 additional countries including North Korea, Vietnam and Qatar. Nevertheless, 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 required execution sentences for murder, or that fail to acknowledge gender-based violence as mitigating circumstances, are inclined to display higher numbers of women on death row and additional capital punishments.

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

Suitability of Imprisonment for Women

Various professionals and activists contend that prison is not a suitable punishment for a large number of women who violate regulations. Many are jailed for non-violent crimes; in the UK, for example, 72% of female prison admissions in 2020 belonged to this group. Women often encounter a "repetitive cycle of brief incarceration periods – insufficiently long to participate in meaningful education, training or work opportunities.

Up to 80% of women in prison worldwide have an identifiable mental illness. In Europe, suicide rates for women in prison are nine times higher than for the wider community, according to the WHO.

In answer to increasing figures of jailed women and a absence of guidelines reflecting their needs, the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners (known as the Bangkok Rules) were adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2010. These rules require nations to establish non-imprisonment penalties and to ensure gender-sensitive treatment in prisons.

Children of Female Prisoners

An estimated 19,000 children live in prison with a parent, most often their mother, while significantly more children are apart from their mothers. Approximately 1.45 million children worldwide have a mother in prison.

In addition to the obvious separation and associated suffering 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.

Many countries allow for babies and young children to live in incarceration centers with their mothers up to a certain age. However, a childhood spent in prison can damage a child both bodily and psychologically.