Karol Inés de la Torre, Miss Mundo Colombia 2001, resigned due to accusations of her being married.

[3] The 2001 edition saw the debut of Malawi, and the returns of Antigua and Barbuda, China, Guyana, Hawaii, Latvia, Macedonia, Nicaragua, Sint Maarten, Thailand, and Uganda.

The Bahamas, Belarus, Chinese Taipei, Curacao, Denmark, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Nepal, Paraguay, and Sri Lanka withdrew.

[12] Miss Swaziland 2001, Glenda Mabuza was expected to compete, but the local organizers could not reach an agreement with the franchise.

Chinese Taipei, Curacao, Guatemala, Honduras, Nepal, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Zambia withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.