High prevalence of borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been found in Western prisons but no such data exists in China. The objective of this study was to determine the lifetime prevalence of BPD in Chinese female prison inmates and its associated risk factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Hunan Provincial Female Prison. Data on consenting inmates' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected and the diagnosis of lifetime BPD was established using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-W. The prevalence of BPD was 10.6% in the cohort of 2709 participating inmates. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age, unmarried marital status, higher education level, fewer major medical conditions, more frequent personal and family members' drug use, more frequent comorbid psychiatric disorders and family history of psychiatric disorders were positively and independently associated with BPD. BPD is common in Chinese female prison inmates. Considering its adverse social consequences and impact on physical and mental well-being, serious attempts should be made to diagnose BPD early and improve access to treatment in women prisons.