Global Female Imprisonment Data and Death Row Figures

Present Worldwide Women Prison Inmates

Over 733,000 women and girls are detained in prison systems globally, based on latest investigations. This statistic covers both remand prisoners and individuals already found guilty and punished. Experts believe the true count is substantially larger due to incomplete data from numerous countries.

Women consistently represent a small minority of overall inmate numbers – typically between 2-9% on average. Currently, women and girls account for approximately 6.8% of the global prison population. However, their numbers are increasing at a faster rate than male prisoners.

Since the year 2000, the incarcerated females in prison has grown by nearly 60% – nearly thrice the rise observed in the male prison population. The international incarcerated women statistics grew by exceeding 100,000 individuals during the decade-long span ending in 2020.

Primary Drivers Behind the Increase

Offenses committed by women are often associated with economic hardship and typically represent a method of sustenance to support their children and relatives.

Detailed analysis has determined that legislation frequently penalizes basic sustenance activities and that women are disproportionately affected because they are disproportionately represented among the lowest economic brackets of society. In various countries, laws criminalizing abortion, adultery, sexual misconduct and prostitution almost exclusively affect women. The chance of being given a prison sentence is often also related to poverty and the inability to pay fines for small infractions or to arrange temporary freedom.

Countries with the Greatest Incarcerated Women Statistics

The America has the largest number of female prisoners with 174,607. China follows with 145,000, plus an uncertain quantity of women and girls in pre-trial detention 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. Forecasts show 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 total prison population.

Countries with Major Growth in Incarcerated Women Statistics

Despite considering standard demographic increases over the last quarter-century, the rise in the number of female prisoners per 100,000 people continues to demonstrate a remarkable increase. Cambodia and El Salvador have experienced increases exceeding 600%, while Turkey and Indonesia have seen growth exceeding 500%.

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 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 latest reports, an uncertain quantity of women were put to death in China, while two were executed in Egypt, 30 in Iran, one in Iraq, nine in Saudi Arabia and two in Yemen.

No accurate data is available for nations with highest execution rates or for nations like North Korea, Vietnam and Qatar. Nonetheless, analysis is accessible regarding 15 other countries with the highest numbers of females on death row.

The principal violations 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 inclined to display higher numbers of women on death row and more executions.

Furthermore, countries that strictly prohibit drug trafficking, such as those in the Arabian Peninsula and Asian southeast, have a high proportion of women on death row.

Appropriateness of Imprisonment for Women

Numerous specialists and advocates maintain that prison is not a suitable punishment for a substantial percentage of women who violate regulations. Most are incarcerated for non-aggressive offenses; in Britain, for example, 72% of female prison admissions in 2020 fit this category. Women frequently experience a "repetitive cycle of limited imprisonment terms – insufficiently long to take part in meaningful education, training or work opportunities.

Approximately 80% of women in prison worldwide have an identifiable mental illness. In Europe, self-harm statistics for women in prison are nine times higher than for the overall public, based on the World Health Organization.

In reaction to growing statistics of imprisoned females and a deficiency of regulations reflecting their needs, the International Women Prisoner Standards (known as the Bangkok Rules) were approved by the UN General Assembly in December 2010. These rules oblige states to develop non-custodial sanctions and to provide women-specific consideration in prisons.

Offspring of Incarcerated Women

An calculated 19,000 children live in prison 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.

In addition to the evident parting and related distress that a prison sentence can cause, it is frequent for a woman to lose custody of her children after just a short time in prison.

Many countries make provision for babies and young children to stay in prison with their mothers up to a specific age. Nonetheless, a childhood spent in prison can negatively affect a minor both physically and emotionally.