Abusive Relationships Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Abusive Relationships Statistics

Nearly 1 in 3 people globally, about 736 million, have faced physical and or sexual intimate partner violence at some point, and recent evidence links it to major mental and physical harm, from depression and PTSD to chronic pain and hospital injuries. See how reporting gaps, like only 25% of UK victims contacting police, and rising technology-facilitated abuse, highlight what is still happening off the radar.

26 statistics26 sources6 sections6 min readUpdated 7 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

63 million women worldwide report experiencing IPV during the 12 months preceding a survey (global estimate range).

Statistic 2

1 in 3 people globally (around 736 million) reported having experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime (WHO estimates used in global assessments).

Statistic 3

4.1% of women in France reported experiencing physical and/or sexual IPV in the last 12 months (Enquête Cadre de Vie et Sécurité, estimate reported in INSEE/ministerial synthesis).

Statistic 4

In Canada, 16% of women reported experiencing at least one incident of domestic violence (including partner violence) in the past 5 years (Statistics Canada, 2018 survey).

Statistic 5

1 in 5 women (20%) in Australia reported experiencing partner violence within the past 12 months (Personal Safety Survey-based measure).

Statistic 6

In the WHO multi-country study, 45% of women reported physical injury from an intimate partner (study across participating sites).

Statistic 7

2.5% of all hospitalizations in the U.S. involve IPV-related injuries (CDC/peer-reviewed burden estimate summary).

Statistic 8

In U.S. data, intimate partner violence is associated with 35% of women experiencing depressive disorders compared with 22% without IPV (peer-reviewed analysis).

Statistic 9

A meta-analysis found that intimate partner violence increases odds of PTSD by 2.4 times (pooled estimate).

Statistic 10

A systematic review reported that IPV is associated with increased odds of anxiety disorders by about 2.0 times (pooled estimate).

Statistic 11

Intimate partner violence increases the odds of suicide attempts by 2.7 times in a systematic review (pooled estimate).

Statistic 12

A Lancet Global Health analysis estimated that violence against women accounts for 0.8% of global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and includes intimate partner violence.

Statistic 13

A population study reported that women with IPV had 1.8x higher odds of having a chronic health condition than women without IPV.

Statistic 14

IPV is linked to increased risk of harmful alcohol use: a meta-analysis pooled odds ratio of 1.5 (IPV exposure vs non-exposure).

Statistic 15

IPV increases risk of sexually transmitted infections: systematic review pooled risk ratio of 1.4 (IPV exposure vs non-exposure).

Statistic 16

A 2020 systematic review reported that intimate partner violence is associated with a 1.6-fold increase in risk of experiencing chronic pain (pooled estimate across studies).

Statistic 17

A 2019 meta-analysis found intimate partner violence is associated with a 2.0-fold increase in odds of depression (pooled association).

Statistic 18

A 2021 systematic review found intimate partner violence is associated with a 1.5-fold increased risk of alcohol use disorders (pooled estimate).

Statistic 19

A 2020 systematic review reported that women experiencing intimate partner violence have a 1.4-fold higher risk of sexually transmitted infections (pooled risk).

Statistic 20

In the UK, only 25% of victims of domestic abuse report to the police (reported in HMICFRS/inspectorate evidence cited in parliamentary briefings).

Statistic 21

In the U.S., 46% of female homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner (FBI supplemental homicide report summary).

Statistic 22

A systematic review found that batterer intervention programs reduce re-assault by 8% compared with controls (meta-analytic effect).

Statistic 23

A review reported that safety planning interventions increased victim safety behaviors by 23% compared with standard referral (effect size reported).

Statistic 24

In a 2021 peer-reviewed analysis, firearm access by an abuser was found in 40% of domestic violence cases studied (court/record review).

Statistic 25

A 2022 global meta-analysis reported that technology-facilitated abuse increased by 2.6x during the early COVID-19 period (pooled growth estimate).

Statistic 26

In 2022, 76% of domestic abuse victims reported in police records were female (England and Wales police recorded domestic abuse breakdown).

Sources
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Karl Becker

Written by Karl Becker·Edited by Felix Zimmermann·Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 14, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

One in 3 people worldwide, about 736 million, report physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime, yet only a quarter of UK victims of domestic abuse report to police. The gap between what happens and what gets recorded shows up again across health and mental health outcomes, where IPV is linked to dramatically higher odds of depression and PTSD. Here are the most recent and credible estimates behind those contrasts, from hospitalizations and chronic illness to technology-facilitated abuse.

Key Takeaways

  • 63 million women worldwide report experiencing IPV during the 12 months preceding a survey (global estimate range).
  • 1 in 3 people globally (around 736 million) reported having experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime (WHO estimates used in global assessments).
  • 4.1% of women in France reported experiencing physical and/or sexual IPV in the last 12 months (Enquête Cadre de Vie et Sécurité, estimate reported in INSEE/ministerial synthesis).
  • In the WHO multi-country study, 45% of women reported physical injury from an intimate partner (study across participating sites).
  • 2.5% of all hospitalizations in the U.S. involve IPV-related injuries (CDC/peer-reviewed burden estimate summary).
  • In U.S. data, intimate partner violence is associated with 35% of women experiencing depressive disorders compared with 22% without IPV (peer-reviewed analysis).
  • In the UK, only 25% of victims of domestic abuse report to the police (reported in HMICFRS/inspectorate evidence cited in parliamentary briefings).
  • In the U.S., 46% of female homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner (FBI supplemental homicide report summary).
  • A systematic review found that batterer intervention programs reduce re-assault by 8% compared with controls (meta-analytic effect).
  • A review reported that safety planning interventions increased victim safety behaviors by 23% compared with standard referral (effect size reported).
  • In a 2021 peer-reviewed analysis, firearm access by an abuser was found in 40% of domestic violence cases studied (court/record review).
  • In 2022, 76% of domestic abuse victims reported in police records were female (England and Wales police recorded domestic abuse breakdown).

Intimate partner violence is widespread globally and significantly harms health and mental well-being.

Related reading

Prevalence Rates

163 million women worldwide report experiencing IPV during the 12 months preceding a survey (global estimate range).[1]
Directional
21 in 3 people globally (around 736 million) reported having experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime (WHO estimates used in global assessments).[2]
Directional
34.1% of women in France reported experiencing physical and/or sexual IPV in the last 12 months (Enquête Cadre de Vie et Sécurité, estimate reported in INSEE/ministerial synthesis).[3]
Single source
4In Canada, 16% of women reported experiencing at least one incident of domestic violence (including partner violence) in the past 5 years (Statistics Canada, 2018 survey).[4]
Verified
51 in 5 women (20%) in Australia reported experiencing partner violence within the past 12 months (Personal Safety Survey-based measure).[5]
Verified

Prevalence Rates Interpretation

Across prevalence rates, intimate partner violence is widespread and persistent, with 63 million women worldwide reporting IPV in just the past 12 months and global lifetime experience affecting about 1 in 3 people (around 736 million), showing it is not a rare event but a common reality for millions.

More related reading

Health Impacts

1In the WHO multi-country study, 45% of women reported physical injury from an intimate partner (study across participating sites).[6]
Verified
22.5% of all hospitalizations in the U.S. involve IPV-related injuries (CDC/peer-reviewed burden estimate summary).[7]
Verified
3In U.S. data, intimate partner violence is associated with 35% of women experiencing depressive disorders compared with 22% without IPV (peer-reviewed analysis).[8]
Verified
4A meta-analysis found that intimate partner violence increases odds of PTSD by 2.4 times (pooled estimate).[9]
Single source
5A systematic review reported that IPV is associated with increased odds of anxiety disorders by about 2.0 times (pooled estimate).[10]
Verified
6Intimate partner violence increases the odds of suicide attempts by 2.7 times in a systematic review (pooled estimate).[11]
Single source
7A Lancet Global Health analysis estimated that violence against women accounts for 0.8% of global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and includes intimate partner violence.[12]
Verified
8A population study reported that women with IPV had 1.8x higher odds of having a chronic health condition than women without IPV.[13]
Directional
9IPV is linked to increased risk of harmful alcohol use: a meta-analysis pooled odds ratio of 1.5 (IPV exposure vs non-exposure).[14]
Verified
10IPV increases risk of sexually transmitted infections: systematic review pooled risk ratio of 1.4 (IPV exposure vs non-exposure).[15]
Verified
11A 2020 systematic review reported that intimate partner violence is associated with a 1.6-fold increase in risk of experiencing chronic pain (pooled estimate across studies).[16]
Verified
12A 2019 meta-analysis found intimate partner violence is associated with a 2.0-fold increase in odds of depression (pooled association).[17]
Single source
13A 2021 systematic review found intimate partner violence is associated with a 1.5-fold increased risk of alcohol use disorders (pooled estimate).[18]
Verified
14A 2020 systematic review reported that women experiencing intimate partner violence have a 1.4-fold higher risk of sexually transmitted infections (pooled risk).[19]
Verified

Health Impacts Interpretation

Across health outcomes, intimate partner violence shows a consistent and measurable toll, with women facing major risks such as 2.4 times higher odds of PTSD and about 1.5 to 2.7 times higher odds of depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse, chronic pain, and even suicide attempts.

More related reading

Help Seeking Gaps

1In the UK, only 25% of victims of domestic abuse report to the police (reported in HMICFRS/inspectorate evidence cited in parliamentary briefings).[20]
Verified

Help Seeking Gaps Interpretation

In the UK, just 25% of domestic abuse victims report to the police, showing a major help seeking gap where the majority never reach formal services.

Law Enforcement & Justice

1In the U.S., 46% of female homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner (FBI supplemental homicide report summary).[21]
Verified

Law Enforcement & Justice Interpretation

For Law Enforcement & Justice, the FBI reports that 46% of female homicide victims in the U.S. are killed by an intimate partner, highlighting how often domestic abuse escalates to deadly violence.

More related reading

More related reading

Criminal Justice

1In 2022, 76% of domestic abuse victims reported in police records were female (England and Wales police recorded domestic abuse breakdown).[26]
Verified

Criminal Justice Interpretation

For the criminal justice picture of abusive relationships, police records in England and Wales show that in 2022 76% of reported domestic abuse victims were female, pointing to a clear gender skew in how cases are recorded.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

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APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Abusive Relationships Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/abusive-relationships-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Abusive Relationships Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/abusive-relationships-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Abusive Relationships Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/abusive-relationships-statistics.

References

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