Worldwide Female Imprisonment Data and Death Row Numbers

Present Global Female Prison Inmates

In excess of 733,000 women and girls are currently held in prison systems internationally, according to recent analyses. This statistic includes both awaiting trial prisoners and individuals already found guilty and punished. Researchers estimate the true count is much greater due to unavailable statistics from numerous countries.

Women consistently represent a minor proportion of national prison populations – commonly between 2-9% on average. Presently, women and girls account for approximately 6.8% of the international inmate count. Nevertheless, their numbers are increasing at a more rapid tempo than male inmates.

Over the past two decades, the female prison population in prison has increased by almost three-fifths – roughly triple the increase observed in the incarcerated male demographic. The worldwide women inmate count rose by over 100,000 individuals during the decade-long span ending in 2020.

Primary Drivers Behind the Rise

Women's lawbreaking are frequently linked to poverty and usually serve as a way to support themselves to support their children and relatives.

Extensive studies has established that legislation frequently penalizes essential livelihood measures and that women are unequally impacted because they are over-represented among the lowest economic brackets of society. In numerous 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 failure to afford fines for petty offenses or to arrange temporary freedom.

Countries with the Greatest Women Inmate Numbers

The America has the highest count of female prisoners with 174,607. China follows with 145,000, plus an undetermined count of women and girls in pre-trial detention and "procedural custody. 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 overall inmate count. 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, constituting approximately 8% of its total prison population.

Countries with Significant Increases in Female Prison Populations

Even accounting for typical population expansion over the last quarter-century, the increase in the number of female prisoners per 100,000 people continues to demonstrate a significant growth. These two nations have experienced more than sixfold increases, while these countries have seen more than fivefold rises.

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 countries that execute the most women are likewise the states that perform the highest number of executions in general, namely China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. As reported by latest reports, an uncertain quantity of women were executed 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 nations like North Korea, Vietnam and Qatar. Nonetheless, analysis is accessible regarding 15 other countries with the largest quantities of women on death row.

The principal violations 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 reducing factors, are prone to exhibit increased quantities of women on death row and more executions.

Furthermore, countries that strictly prohibit drug trafficking, such as those in the Middle East and southeast Asia, have a significant percentage of women on death row.

Appropriateness of Prison for Women

Numerous specialists and campaigners maintain that prison is unsuitable sanction for a large number 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 "repetitive cycle of short prison sentences – insufficiently long to take part in meaningful education, training or work opportunities.

Up to 80% of women in prison worldwide have an recognizable psychiatric disorder. In Europe, self-harm statistics for women in prison are nine times higher than for the wider community, according to the global health authority.

In answer to increasing figures of incarcerated women and a deficiency of regulations considering their circumstances, 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 oblige states to establish non-imprisonment penalties and to guarantee female-appropriate care in prisons.

Kids with Imprisoned Mothers

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

Besides the obvious separation and connected hardship that a prison sentence can cause, it is quite common for a woman to be deprived of guardianship of her children after just a short time in prison.

Many countries allow for babies and young children to remain in correctional facilities with their mothers up to a particular maturity level. However, a childhood spent in prison can negatively affect a minor both bodily and psychologically.