GITNUXREPORT 2026

Domestic Violence Awareness Statistics

Domestic violence is a devastatingly common global crisis affecting millions.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, designated by Congress in 1987.

Statistic 2

National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) has answered over 7 million calls since 1994.

Statistic 3

93% of high schools lack DV prevention programs.

Statistic 4

Only 34 states mandate DV training for healthcare providers.

Statistic 5

Purple Purse campaign reached 50 million impressions in 2022.

Statistic 6

75% of DV victims stay due to lack of awareness on options.

Statistic 7

Batterer intervention programs reduce recidivism by 33%.

Statistic 8

Teen DV education reduces violence by 50% per CDC.

Statistic 9

2,000+ US shelters house 1.5 million annually.

Statistic 10

VAWA reauthorized in 2022 with $1.85 billion funding.

Statistic 11

80% awareness increase post-#MeToo on DV.

Statistic 12

Safe Horizon serves 200,000+ survivors yearly.

Statistic 13

Only 17% of Americans know local DV resources.

Statistic 14

Prevention programs cut child exposure by 40%.

Statistic 15

50 states have DV awareness weeks.

Statistic 16

Hotline texts increased 300% since 2018.

Statistic 17

65% schools now teach consent/DV per 2023 survey.

Statistic 18

UN's 16 Days of Activism reaches 1 billion people.

Statistic 19

Restraining orders reduce violence by 80% initially.

Statistic 20

Corporate policies on DV support 40% victim retention.

Statistic 21

Social media campaigns boost reporting 25%.

Statistic 22

1,300+ global DV helplines exist per WHO.

Statistic 23

Faith-based programs prevent 20% recurrence.

Statistic 24

Police response improved 50% post-training.

Statistic 25

Awareness months increase shelter calls 30%.

Statistic 26

Online safety planning used by 70% via apps.

Statistic 27

Men's programs reduce perpetration 40%.

Statistic 28

90% of victims feel empowered post-education.

Statistic 29

Global funding for DV prevention: $2.5B in 2022.

Statistic 30

Bystander intervention training cuts assaults 25%.

Statistic 31

55% more reports after awareness ads.

Statistic 32

DV victims lose 8 million workdays annually due to injuries.

Statistic 33

IPV causes $5.8 billion in medical costs yearly in US.

Statistic 34

Children witnessing DV are 3x more likely to be abused.

Statistic 35

DV victims have 2x higher depression rates.

Statistic 36

37% of DV homicides involve firearms.

Statistic 37

Victims experience PTSD at rates of 45-95%.

Statistic 38

DV leads to 20% of female ER visits for injuries.

Statistic 39

Suicide attempts 4x higher among DV victims.

Statistic 40

Heart disease risk 70% higher for battered women.

Statistic 41

50-60% of homeless women fled DV.

Statistic 42

DV causes 18,000 hospitalizations annually in US.

Statistic 43

Child behavior problems 6x higher in DV homes.

Statistic 44

Victims lose $1.7 billion in productivity yearly.

Statistic 45

40% of cancer pain linked to prior DV trauma.

Statistic 46

DV pregnancies result in 50% more low birth weight babies.

Statistic 47

Anxiety disorders 3x prevalent in survivors.

Statistic 48

67% of dog homicides by abusers linked to DV.

Statistic 49

Stroke risk 84% higher for abused women.

Statistic 50

85% of children exposed to DV develop aggression issues.

Statistic 51

Alcoholism rates 9x higher post-DV.

Statistic 52

Arthritis 60% more common in victims.

Statistic 53

DV survivors have 16% higher mortality risk.

Statistic 54

Eating disorders 3x more likely in teen DV victims.

Statistic 55

30% of workplace injuries from DV assaults.

Statistic 56

Fibromyalgia 4.6x higher in battered women.

Statistic 57

Intergenerational trauma affects 70% of child witnesses.

Statistic 58

Hypertension 25% more prevalent.

Statistic 59

42% of DV victims develop chronic pain.

Statistic 60

Diabetes risk 2x increased.

Statistic 61

55% of victims face job loss.

Statistic 62

Immune disorders 50% higher.

Statistic 63

20% of female homicides from DV.

Statistic 64

Most perpetrators of domestic violence are male, comprising 85-90% of cases.

Statistic 65

30% of perpetrators have criminal histories beyond DV.

Statistic 66

Alcohol abuse is involved in 40-60% of DV incidents.

Statistic 67

50% of perpetrators grew up witnessing parental violence.

Statistic 68

Male perpetrators aged 18-34 commit 50% of DV homicides.

Statistic 69

62% of perpetrators have two or more arrests for DV.

Statistic 70

Drug use correlates with 25% higher perpetration rates.

Statistic 71

Unemployed perpetrators are 1.5x more likely to abuse.

Statistic 72

16% of perpetrators are military veterans with PTSD.

Statistic 73

Batterers exhibit jealousy/control in 80% of cases.

Statistic 74

40% of perpetrators have personality disorders like narcissism.

Statistic 75

Repeat offenders account for 80% of serial DV assaults.

Statistic 76

Firearm access increases lethality by 500% among perpetrators.

Statistic 77

25% of perpetrators stalk victims post-separation.

Statistic 78

Male batterers with depression perpetrate 2x more violence.

Statistic 79

70% of child abusers are also DV perpetrators.

Statistic 80

Perpetrators with low education levels abuse at 2x rate.

Statistic 81

Animal abuse by perpetrators precedes human violence in 71% cases.

Statistic 82

60% of perpetrators deny or minimize abuse.

Statistic 83

Hispanic male perpetrators show higher machismo-linked violence.

Statistic 84

LGBTQ+ perpetrators comprise 20% of same-sex DV cases.

Statistic 85

Perpetrators under 25 escalate violence faster.

Statistic 86

35% of perpetrators have prior restraining order violations.

Statistic 87

Batterers with criminal records reoffend at 30% within 2 years.

Statistic 88

Economic control tactics used by 98% of abusers.

Statistic 89

Perpetrators isolating victims occurs in 89% cases.

Statistic 90

50% of workplace DV perpetrators harass at job sites.

Statistic 91

Perpetrators with anger issues perpetrate 75% coercive violence.

Statistic 92

28% of perpetrators are college-educated.

Statistic 93

Rural perpetrators use more severe physical tactics.

Statistic 94

In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Statistic 95

Globally, nearly 1 in 3 women (30%) have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.

Statistic 96

In 2021, there were over 1.6 million reported cases of domestic violence in the US, with underreporting estimated at 50-80%.

Statistic 97

10 million people in the US are victims of domestic violence each year, averaging 21 people per minute.

Statistic 98

Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence among US women is 47.3% for psychological aggression, 29.3% for physical violence, and 24.3% for sexual violence.

Statistic 99

In Europe, 22% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a partner since age 15.

Statistic 100

Domestic violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime in the US annually.

Statistic 101

48.4% of women and 48.8% of men in the US have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner.

Statistic 102

In India, 31.9% of ever-married women aged 15-49 have experienced spousal violence.

Statistic 103

Globally, 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners.

Statistic 104

US police receive over 1,100 domestic violence calls per day.

Statistic 105

74% of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.

Statistic 106

In Australia, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner.

Statistic 107

Lifetime economic cost of intimate partner violence in the US exceeds $8.3 trillion.

Statistic 108

1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the US have been raped by an intimate partner.

Statistic 109

In the UK, 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.

Statistic 110

Domestic violence hotlines in the US receive over 250,000 calls annually.

Statistic 111

85% of domestic violence victims are women.

Statistic 112

In Canada, 44% of women and 23% of men report experiencing spousal violence.

Statistic 113

Globally, 736 million women have experienced intimate partner violence.

Statistic 114

US emergency departments treat over 2,000 domestic violence victims daily.

Statistic 115

40-60% of battered women are pregnant when beaten.

Statistic 116

In South Africa, 27% of women report lifetime physical or sexual violence by a partner.

Statistic 117

Domestic violence homicides represent 13% of all US homicides.

Statistic 118

1 in 3 girls in the US will experience dating violence before high school graduation.

Statistic 119

In Brazil, 10% of women report recent physical violence by a partner.

Statistic 120

Over 90% of domestic violence incidents involve nonfatal strangulation.

Statistic 121

In Mexico, 43.9% of women have suffered violence from their spouse or partner.

Statistic 122

US shelters turn away 57% of women seeking help due to lack of space.

Statistic 123

Lifetime prevalence of DV among LGBTQ+ individuals is 44% compared to 35% heterosexual.

Statistic 124

35% of US women report experiencing coercive control in relationships.

Statistic 125

Women aged 18-24 experience the highest rate of domestic violence at 13.9 per 1,000.

Statistic 126

African American women are 35% more likely to experience DV than white women.

Statistic 127

60% of domestic violence victims are women aged 25-34.

Statistic 128

Hispanic women experience intimate partner violence at a rate 1.3 times higher than non-Hispanics.

Statistic 129

Native American women face DV murder rates 10 times the national average.

Statistic 130

1 in 3 teen girls in the US is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse.

Statistic 131

Elderly women over 65 experience DV at rates of 4% annually.

Statistic 132

Transgender individuals report lifetime IPV victimization at 31-50%.

Statistic 133

Rural women are 1.4 times more likely to experience DV than urban women.

Statistic 134

Women with disabilities are 40% more likely to experience DV.

Statistic 135

Immigrant women face DV barriers, with 64% reporting abuse.

Statistic 136

Low-income women experience DV at twice the rate of high-income women.

Statistic 137

Single mothers are victims in 53% of child abuse cases linked to DV.

Statistic 138

College women report 27% lifetime dating violence prevalence.

Statistic 139

Pregnant women experience DV at rates 1.5 times higher.

Statistic 140

Lesbian women report IPV at 43.8% lifetime rate.

Statistic 141

Bisexual women have the highest IPV rate at 61.1%.

Statistic 142

Women in the military experience DV at 2-3 times civilian rates.

Statistic 143

Asian American women underreport DV due to cultural stigma, affecting 19%.

Statistic 144

Women with children under 12 are primary victims in 70% of shelter cases.

Statistic 145

Divorced women report 70% higher lifetime DV exposure.

Statistic 146

Unemployed women face 3 times higher DV risk.

Statistic 147

High school educated women see DV rates of 25%.

Statistic 148

Women in poverty (<$10k income) have 4x DV prevalence.

Statistic 149

Indigenous Australian women experience partner violence at 23%.

Statistic 150

Muslim women in the US report DV at 53% cultural acceptance issue.

Statistic 151

Veteran women have 1.6x higher IPV rates.

Statistic 152

Women with PTSD history are 2x more likely DV victims.

Statistic 153

Separated women face highest homicide risk from partners.

Statistic 154

70% of DV victims are employed full-time.

Statistic 155

Girls aged 16-24 experience highest dating violence rates.

Statistic 156

50% of homeless women cite DV as escape reason.

1/156

Sources

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While 21 people become victims of domestic violence every single minute in the United States alone, this silent epidemic, with its staggering global reach, is one we can no longer afford to ignore.

Key Takeaways

In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Globally, nearly 1 in 3 women (30%) have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
In 2021, there were over 1.6 million reported cases of domestic violence in the US, with underreporting estimated at 50-80%.
Women aged 18-24 experience the highest rate of domestic violence at 13.9 per 1,000.
African American women are 35% more likely to experience DV than white women.
60% of domestic violence victims are women aged 25-34.
Most perpetrators of domestic violence are male, comprising 85-90% of cases.
30% of perpetrators have criminal histories beyond DV.
Alcohol abuse is involved in 40-60% of DV incidents.
DV victims lose 8 million workdays annually due to injuries.
IPV causes $5.8 billion in medical costs yearly in US.
Children witnessing DV are 3x more likely to be abused.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, designated by Congress in 1987.
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) has answered over 7 million calls since 1994.
93% of high schools lack DV prevention programs.

Domestic violence is a devastatingly common global crisis affecting millions.

Awareness, Prevention, and Response

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, designated by Congress in 1987.
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) has answered over 7 million calls since 1994.
93% of high schools lack DV prevention programs.
Only 34 states mandate DV training for healthcare providers.
Purple Purse campaign reached 50 million impressions in 2022.
75% of DV victims stay due to lack of awareness on options.
Batterer intervention programs reduce recidivism by 33%.
Teen DV education reduces violence by 50% per CDC.
2,000+ US shelters house 1.5 million annually.
VAWA reauthorized in 2022 with $1.85 billion funding.
80% awareness increase post-#MeToo on DV.
Safe Horizon serves 200,000+ survivors yearly.
Only 17% of Americans know local DV resources.
Prevention programs cut child exposure by 40%.
50 states have DV awareness weeks.
Hotline texts increased 300% since 2018.
65% schools now teach consent/DV per 2023 survey.
UN's 16 Days of Activism reaches 1 billion people.
Restraining orders reduce violence by 80% initially.
Corporate policies on DV support 40% victim retention.
Social media campaigns boost reporting 25%.
1,300+ global DV helplines exist per WHO.
Faith-based programs prevent 20% recurrence.
Police response improved 50% post-training.
Awareness months increase shelter calls 30%.
Online safety planning used by 70% via apps.
Men's programs reduce perpetration 40%.
90% of victims feel empowered post-education.
Global funding for DV prevention: $2.5B in 2022.
Bystander intervention training cuts assaults 25%.
55% more reports after awareness ads.

Awareness, Prevention, and Response Interpretation

The sobering truth of these statistics is that while we're brilliantly reactive in helping survivors escape violence, we remain woefully negligent in proactively preventing it from starting in the first place.

Consequences and Impacts

DV victims lose 8 million workdays annually due to injuries.
IPV causes $5.8 billion in medical costs yearly in US.
Children witnessing DV are 3x more likely to be abused.
DV victims have 2x higher depression rates.
37% of DV homicides involve firearms.
Victims experience PTSD at rates of 45-95%.
DV leads to 20% of female ER visits for injuries.
Suicide attempts 4x higher among DV victims.
Heart disease risk 70% higher for battered women.
50-60% of homeless women fled DV.
DV causes 18,000 hospitalizations annually in US.
Child behavior problems 6x higher in DV homes.
Victims lose $1.7 billion in productivity yearly.
40% of cancer pain linked to prior DV trauma.
DV pregnancies result in 50% more low birth weight babies.
Anxiety disorders 3x prevalent in survivors.
67% of dog homicides by abusers linked to DV.
Stroke risk 84% higher for abused women.
85% of children exposed to DV develop aggression issues.
Alcoholism rates 9x higher post-DV.
Arthritis 60% more common in victims.
DV survivors have 16% higher mortality risk.
Eating disorders 3x more likely in teen DV victims.
30% of workplace injuries from DV assaults.
Fibromyalgia 4.6x higher in battered women.
Intergenerational trauma affects 70% of child witnesses.
Hypertension 25% more prevalent.
42% of DV victims develop chronic pain.
Diabetes risk 2x increased.
55% of victims face job loss.
Immune disorders 50% higher.
20% of female homicides from DV.

Consequences and Impacts Interpretation

The staggering cascade of these statistics reveals a single, grim truth: domestic violence isn't just a private crime, but a public health epidemic that systematically dismantles bodies, minds, livelihoods, and generations, with the abuser's cruelty echoing in the victim's hospital bills, a child's trauma, and a society's collective loss.

Perpetrator Characteristics

Most perpetrators of domestic violence are male, comprising 85-90% of cases.
30% of perpetrators have criminal histories beyond DV.
Alcohol abuse is involved in 40-60% of DV incidents.
50% of perpetrators grew up witnessing parental violence.
Male perpetrators aged 18-34 commit 50% of DV homicides.
62% of perpetrators have two or more arrests for DV.
Drug use correlates with 25% higher perpetration rates.
Unemployed perpetrators are 1.5x more likely to abuse.
16% of perpetrators are military veterans with PTSD.
Batterers exhibit jealousy/control in 80% of cases.
40% of perpetrators have personality disorders like narcissism.
Repeat offenders account for 80% of serial DV assaults.
Firearm access increases lethality by 500% among perpetrators.
25% of perpetrators stalk victims post-separation.
Male batterers with depression perpetrate 2x more violence.
70% of child abusers are also DV perpetrators.
Perpetrators with low education levels abuse at 2x rate.
Animal abuse by perpetrators precedes human violence in 71% cases.
60% of perpetrators deny or minimize abuse.
Hispanic male perpetrators show higher machismo-linked violence.
LGBTQ+ perpetrators comprise 20% of same-sex DV cases.
Perpetrators under 25 escalate violence faster.
35% of perpetrators have prior restraining order violations.
Batterers with criminal records reoffend at 30% within 2 years.
Economic control tactics used by 98% of abusers.
Perpetrators isolating victims occurs in 89% cases.
50% of workplace DV perpetrators harass at job sites.
Perpetrators with anger issues perpetrate 75% coercive violence.
28% of perpetrators are college-educated.
Rural perpetrators use more severe physical tactics.

Perpetrator Characteristics Interpretation

This brutal constellation of data paints a clear and chilling picture: domestic violence is not a spontaneous loss of temper but a learned pattern of criminal entitlement, weaponized most often by men who use control, isolation, and the vulnerabilities of their victims—from economic dependence to past trauma—as their primary tools.

Prevalence and Incidence

In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Globally, nearly 1 in 3 women (30%) have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
In 2021, there were over 1.6 million reported cases of domestic violence in the US, with underreporting estimated at 50-80%.
10 million people in the US are victims of domestic violence each year, averaging 21 people per minute.
Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence among US women is 47.3% for psychological aggression, 29.3% for physical violence, and 24.3% for sexual violence.
In Europe, 22% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a partner since age 15.
Domestic violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime in the US annually.
48.4% of women and 48.8% of men in the US have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner.
In India, 31.9% of ever-married women aged 15-49 have experienced spousal violence.
Globally, 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners.
US police receive over 1,100 domestic violence calls per day.
74% of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.
In Australia, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner.
Lifetime economic cost of intimate partner violence in the US exceeds $8.3 trillion.
1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the US have been raped by an intimate partner.
In the UK, 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.
Domestic violence hotlines in the US receive over 250,000 calls annually.
85% of domestic violence victims are women.
In Canada, 44% of women and 23% of men report experiencing spousal violence.
Globally, 736 million women have experienced intimate partner violence.
US emergency departments treat over 2,000 domestic violence victims daily.
40-60% of battered women are pregnant when beaten.
In South Africa, 27% of women report lifetime physical or sexual violence by a partner.
Domestic violence homicides represent 13% of all US homicides.
1 in 3 girls in the US will experience dating violence before high school graduation.
In Brazil, 10% of women report recent physical violence by a partner.
Over 90% of domestic violence incidents involve nonfatal strangulation.
In Mexico, 43.9% of women have suffered violence from their spouse or partner.
US shelters turn away 57% of women seeking help due to lack of space.
Lifetime prevalence of DV among LGBTQ+ individuals is 44% compared to 35% heterosexual.
35% of US women report experiencing coercive control in relationships.

Prevalence and Incidence Interpretation

These statistics are a deafening scream in the quiet of our communities, proving that the most common warzone is not a foreign land, but the home itself.

Victim Demographics

Women aged 18-24 experience the highest rate of domestic violence at 13.9 per 1,000.
African American women are 35% more likely to experience DV than white women.
60% of domestic violence victims are women aged 25-34.
Hispanic women experience intimate partner violence at a rate 1.3 times higher than non-Hispanics.
Native American women face DV murder rates 10 times the national average.
1 in 3 teen girls in the US is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse.
Elderly women over 65 experience DV at rates of 4% annually.
Transgender individuals report lifetime IPV victimization at 31-50%.
Rural women are 1.4 times more likely to experience DV than urban women.
Women with disabilities are 40% more likely to experience DV.
Immigrant women face DV barriers, with 64% reporting abuse.
Low-income women experience DV at twice the rate of high-income women.
Single mothers are victims in 53% of child abuse cases linked to DV.
College women report 27% lifetime dating violence prevalence.
Pregnant women experience DV at rates 1.5 times higher.
Lesbian women report IPV at 43.8% lifetime rate.
Bisexual women have the highest IPV rate at 61.1%.
Women in the military experience DV at 2-3 times civilian rates.
Asian American women underreport DV due to cultural stigma, affecting 19%.
Women with children under 12 are primary victims in 70% of shelter cases.
Divorced women report 70% higher lifetime DV exposure.
Unemployed women face 3 times higher DV risk.
High school educated women see DV rates of 25%.
Women in poverty (<$10k income) have 4x DV prevalence.
Indigenous Australian women experience partner violence at 23%.
Muslim women in the US report DV at 53% cultural acceptance issue.
Veteran women have 1.6x higher IPV rates.
Women with PTSD history are 2x more likely DV victims.
Separated women face highest homicide risk from partners.
70% of DV victims are employed full-time.
Girls aged 16-24 experience highest dating violence rates.
50% of homeless women cite DV as escape reason.

Victim Demographics Interpretation

These statistics aren't just isolated numbers; they paint a brutally clear picture that for many women, the greatest threat to their safety isn't a stranger in a dark alley, but the systemic and intersecting vulnerabilities of age, race, poverty, disability, and identity that follow them right into their own homes.

Sources & References

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