Global Female Imprisonment Crisis: 57% Surge Since 2000 with US and China Leading Worldwide Statistics

Women constituted only 6.8 percent of global inmates in 2024 (Representational).

According to the latest statistics from the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research (ICPR), more than 733,000 women and girls are currently incarcerated worldwide.

The sixth edition of the World Female Imprisonment List, released in early 2025, reveals that female imprisonment has increased dramatically by approximately 57 percent since 2000, while male incarceration has risen by just 22 percent during the same period.

The United States leads the list, published by the ICPR at Birkbeck, University of London, with over 174,607 women behind bars. China ranks second with 145,000 female inmates, though Beijing's actual numbers could be higher as these statistics exclude women in administrative or pre-trial detention.

The top five countries also include Thailand (33,057), Brazil (50,441), and Russia (39,153), with India occupying the sixth position according to the data.

Following these nations are the Philippines (17,121), Turkey (16,581), Mexico (13,841), Indonesia (13,044), and Vietnam (15,152).

Over the past 25 years, the number of female inmates per 100,000 people has increased beyond typical population growth. El Salvador and Cambodia have experienced more than six-fold increases, while Indonesia and Turkey have seen more than five-fold rises.

Although women represented just 6.8 percent of all inmates worldwide in 2024, their numbers are increasing at an alarming rate compared to males.

Since 2000, the number of incarcerated women and girls has grown by approximately 60 percent, nearly three times the 22 percent growth rate for incarcerated men. The report indicates that more than 100,000 additional women were imprisoned worldwide in the decade leading up to late 2020.

Experts attribute this rise to socioeconomic disparities: many women are imprisoned for poverty-related crimes, including petty theft, inability to pay bail or fines, drug offenses, or participation in informal economic activities.

Additionally, in several countries, laws criminalizing abortion, adultery, sexual immorality, and prostitution disproportionately affect women. Research by Penal Reform International, Women Beyond Walls, and the Global Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status suggests these actions are often driven by survival rather than malicious intent.

According to The Guardian, incarcerated women are more likely than their male counterparts to experience mental health issues, sexual abuse, forced labor, and significant neglect of their gender-specific needs.

Researchers and advocates warn that the sharp increase in women's incarceration represents a "global crisis," highlighting the negative and often detrimental effects not only on the women themselves but also on their families and children.

Experts emphasize the need for alternative, non-custodial penalties and more gender-sensitive justice systems, as many women are imprisoned for non-violent or poverty-related offenses.