Until 2005, when the two organisations merged, it was administered by a separate body, the International Women's Cricket Council.

[3] The twelve World Cups played to date have been held in five countries, with India and England having hosted the event three times.

[6] Talks began in 1971 about holding a World Cup for women's cricket, led by Jack Hayward.

[7] South Africa, under pressure from the world for their apartheid laws, were not invited to take part in the competition.

Hayward had previously organised tours of the West Indies by England women, and it was from this region that the other two competing nations were drawn; Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.

[8] The inaugural tournament was held at a variety of venues across England in June and July 1973,[9] two years before the first men's Cricket World Cup was played.

[12] Fifteen teams have qualified for the Women's Cricket World Cup at least once (excluding qualification tournaments).

The table below provides an overview of the performances of teams over past World Cups, as of the end of the 2022 tournament.