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Present Global Female Prison Inmates

In excess of 733,000 women and girls are confined in penal institutions internationally, based on latest research studies. This statistic includes both awaiting trial prisoners and those who have been found guilty and punished. Researchers estimate the true count is much greater due to unavailable statistics from multiple nations.

Females typically constitute a minor proportion of national prison populations – usually between 2-9% on average. Presently, women and girls comprise approximately 6.8% of the international inmate count. Nonetheless, their numbers are increasing at a faster rate than male prisoners.

Since the year 2000, the female prison population in prison has increased by almost three-fifths – roughly triple the growth observed in the incarcerated male demographic. The global female prison population grew by exceeding 100,000 individuals during the decade-long span ending in 2020.

Primary Drivers Behind the Increase

Female criminal activities are commonly connected to financial deprivation and often constitute a method of sustenance to support their children and relatives.

Detailed analysis has determined that regulations typically outlaw essential livelihood measures and that women are unfairly targeted because they are disproportionately represented among the poorest sectors of society. In numerous countries, laws prohibiting abortion, adultery, sexual misconduct and prostitution primarily impact women. The chance of being given a prison sentence is typically associated with poverty and the lack of resources for fines for minor crimes or to secure bail.

States with the Largest Female Prison Populations

The United States has the highest count of female prisoners with 174,607. China follows with 145,000, plus an undetermined count of women and girls in awaiting trial custody and "administrative detention". 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 overall inmate count. Forecasts show these numbers are anticipated to grow to 4,200 by 2027. Across Europe, 94,472 women are currently detained, while Australia reports 3,473 women in prison, amounting to approximately 8% of its overall inmate demographic.

Countries with Substantial Rises in Women Inmate Numbers

Although including standard demographic increases over the past 25 years, the increase in the number of female prisoners per 100,000 people still shows a significant growth. These two nations have experienced increases exceeding 600%, while Indonesia and Turkey have seen increases over five times.

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 nations that put to death the most women are similarly the nations that execute the most people in general, including China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. As reported by current records, an undetermined count 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.

Unreliable information is available for countries that execute the most or for additional countries including North Korea, Vietnam and Qatar. Nevertheless, analysis is available for 15 other countries with the largest quantities of women on death row.

The two primary crimes for which women are given capital punishment are murder and drug trafficking. Countries with compulsory capital punishment for murder, or that refuse to consider gender-based violence as mitigating circumstances, are prone to exhibit higher numbers of women on death row and more executions.

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

Appropriateness of Prison for Women

Various professionals and activists argue that prison is not a suitable punishment for a significant portion of women who violate regulations. Most are incarcerated for non-violent crimes; in England and Wales, for example, 72% of female prison admissions in 2020 fit this category. Women commonly face a "cyclical pattern of brief incarceration periods – too brief to engage in meaningful education, training or work opportunities.

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

In response to rising numbers of incarcerated women and a lack of standards considering their circumstances, the United Nations Female Inmate Guidelines (known as the Bangkok Rules) were accepted by the UN General Assembly in December 2010. These rules require nations to establish non-imprisonment penalties and to guarantee female-appropriate care in prisons.

Children of Female Prisoners

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

Besides the obvious separation and related distress that a prison sentence can cause, it is not uncommon for a woman to be deprived of guardianship of her children after just a brief period in prison.

Many countries allow for babies and young children to remain in correctional facilities with their mothers up to a specific age. Nonetheless, a youth experienced in incarceration can negatively affect a minor both bodily and psychologically.