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

Nov 28, 2025 03:01 pm CST

The latest World Female Imprisonment List reveals a concerning 57% increase in female incarceration globally since 2000, with the US (174,607) and China (145,000) leading the count among 733,000 women imprisoned worldwide. Experts attribute this crisis to socioeconomic factors and emphasize the urgent need for gender-sensitive justice reforms as female imprisonment grows three times faster than male incarceration.