The two line graphs depict the number of male and female prisoners in a European country from 1911 to 2001.
Overall, the male prison population showed a significant upward trend, particularly after 1981, whereas the female prison population remained considerably lower throughout the period, despite experiencing some fluctuations and gradual growth towards the end.
In detail, the male prison population began at approximately 18,000 in 1911 and remained steady until 1921, before dropping sharply to just under 10,000 by 1931. From 1941 onwards, a gradual recovery was observed, reaching around 18,000 by 1951 and maintaining that figure until 1971. A dramatic surge occurred in the following decades, with numbers climbing steeply to about 38,000 in 1981 and eventually peaking at nearly 48,000 by 2001.
Similarly, the female prison population started at roughly 3,200 in 1911, followed by a steady decline to about 500 by 1941. After this point, there was a modest recovery, with numbers fluctuating between 600 and 1,200 between 1951 and 1981. A significant increase was observed after 1981, with the female prison population rising steadily to approximately 2,500 in 2001.
Overall, while both male and female prison populations increased over the century, the rise was markedly steeper among males, widening the gender gap in incarceration rates.