From a devastating low of only 2% of abused women reporting to police in Pakistan to a global average that barely reaches 10%, the statistics on domestic violence reporting reveal a jaw-dropping chasm between the crime and the courage to break the silence.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, only 42% of female victims of intimate partner physical violence report to police according to the 2020 Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey
- A 2018 study by the National Domestic Violence Hotline found that 55% of callers had never reported prior abuse to authorities due to fear of retaliation
- CDC's NISVS 2016/2017 data shows 34% of women experiencing contact sexual violence reported to law enforcement
- In the US, 2019 BJS data shows 52% of intimate partner rape/sexual assault victims reported to police
- UK CPS 2022 prosecution rate for domestic abuse flagged cases was 75%, but only 10% of incidents lead to charge
- Australian state data 2021: 65% of domestic violence reports result in charges
- US 2021 NCVS: Police response to 85% of reported DV calls involves arrest in mandatory policies
- UK 2022: 92% of DV incidents result in positive police action
- Australia 2021: 70% of DV reports lead to safety plans or charges
- US 2020 census data shows women aged 18-24 report DV at 15% rate vs 10% overall
- CDC NISVS: Black women experience IPV at 45% lifetime vs 37% white women, reporting similar
- UK ONS 2022: LGBTQ+ individuals 2.5x more likely to experience DV, report 20% less
- US BJS 2019: DV reports increased 10% from 2015-2019 overall
- UK ONS: DV prevalence down 5% 2018-2022 but reports up 20%
- Australia ABS: Recorded DV assaults up 9% 2020-2021 pandemic peak
Few domestic violence victims report abuse globally due to fear and inadequate response systems.
Demographic Influences
- US 2020 census data shows women aged 18-24 report DV at 15% rate vs 10% overall
- CDC NISVS: Black women experience IPV at 45% lifetime vs 37% white women, reporting similar
- UK ONS 2022: LGBTQ+ individuals 2.5x more likely to experience DV, report 20% less
- ABS Australia 2016: Indigenous women 32x homicide risk from DV, reporting 40%
- WHO 2021: Low-income women report 5% vs 20% high-income globally
- NIJ 2019: Rural women report DV 25% less than urban due to access
- RAINN: Transgender victims report at 12% rate vs 30% cisgender
- StatsCan 2018: Immigrants report spousal violence 15% less than non-immigrants
- FRA EU 2014: Roma women experience 63% IPV lifetime, report 5%
- US 2022: Hispanic women IPV prevalence 30%, reporting 35%
- India NFHS-5: Scheduled caste women 32% abused vs 28% general, report 10%
- SA 2017: Rural women GBV 15% report rate vs 25% urban
- Brazil IBGE 2019: Black women 50% more DV victims, report 20%
- Japan 2020: Elderly women DV rising, report 8%
- Mexico ENDIREH 2021: Indigenous women 66% IPV, report 12%
- Russia 2021: Migrant women report 5% DV due to status fears
- Nigeria DHS: Muslim women in north report 3% vs 10% south
- Pakistan PDHS: Rural women 25% abused, report 1%
- Egypt DHS: Divorced women 50% lifetime violence, report 10%
- Turkey 2021: Kurdish women higher DV, lower reporting 15%
- Iran 2020: Baloch/Poor women report <5%
- Saudi 2021: Expat women report 10% vs citizens 25%
- NZ 2022: Maori women 2x DV rate, report 30%
- Sweden 2021: Immigrant women 2x risk, report 18% vs 25%
- Norway 2020: Sami women higher unreported DV
- Finland 2019: Russian-origin women report 12%
- Netherlands 2021: Moroccan-Dutch women 40% DV, report 15%
- Italy 2020: Foreign women 55% victims, report 10%
- Spain 2021: Gypsy women 70% lifetime IPV, low reporting
Demographic Influences Interpretation
A stark global tapestry of silenced violence reveals that vulnerability is most acute where justice is most distant, and true prevalence remains tragically hidden behind the bars of fear, stigma, and systemic failure.
Perpetrator Accountability
- In the US, 2019 BJS data shows 52% of intimate partner rape/sexual assault victims reported to police
- UK CPS 2022 prosecution rate for domestic abuse flagged cases was 75%, but only 10% of incidents lead to charge
- Australian state data 2021: 65% of domestic violence reports result in charges
- WHO 2021: Globally, arrest rates for reported intimate partner violence average under 20%
- NIJ 2020 meta-analysis: Conviction rates for prosecuted DV cases around 70%
- RAINN 2022: Out of 1000 intimate partner rapes, 384 reported, 57 arrests, 11 referred
- Canadian StatsCan 2020: 40% of police-reported spousal violence leads to charges
- EU FRA 2020 update: 25% of reported cases result in conviction across member states
- US DOJ 2018: 80% of DV arrests lead to prosecution in some jurisdictions
- Indian NCRB 2022: 90% of reported cruelty by husband cases pending trial, conviction 30%
- South Africa SAPS 2021: Only 8% of GBV cases reach conviction
- Brazil 2022: 50% of Lei Maria da Penha cases result in conviction
- Japan 2021: Conviction rate for spousal violence 60%
- Mexico 2020: 35% conviction rate for feminicide-related DV cases
- Russia 2022: Less than 10% of family violence reports lead to conviction
- Nigeria 2021: Under 5% prosecution success for domestic violence
- Pakistan 2022: 20% of reported cases under new laws result in conviction
- Egypt 2020: 15% conviction rate for family violence
- Turkey 2022: 40% of 6284 murder cases by partners convicted
- Iran 2021: Extremely low conviction rates under zero-tolerance policy, under 10%
- Saudi 2023: 85% conviction rate claimed for family protection cases
- NZ 2022: 55% of family violence charges proceed to conviction
- Sweden 2021: 75% conviction rate for gross DV assault
- Norway 2022: 68% of partner violence cases convicted
- Finland 2021: 60% conviction rate post-reporting
- Netherlands 2022: 45% of domestic violence suspects convicted
- Italy 2021: 65% conviction rate for stalking in DV context
- Spain 2022: 72% conviction rate in gender violence courts
Perpetrator Accountability Interpretation
The global arithmetic of domestic violence justice reveals a grim algebra where even when victims find the immense courage to report, the equation too often balances in favor of systemic failure, leaving impunity as the most common sum.
Systemic Response Rates
- US 2021 NCVS: Police response to 85% of reported DV calls involves arrest in mandatory policies
- UK 2022: 92% of DV incidents result in positive police action
- Australia 2021: 70% of DV reports lead to safety plans or charges
- WHO 2022: Only 13% of countries have routine police screening for DV
- NIJ 2018: Specialized DV units increase response efficacy by 40%
- RAINN 2023: 31% of reported rapes lead to arrest, lower for DV contexts
- Canada 2021: 75% of police-reported spousal violence has charges laid or recommended
- EU 2021: 60% of police forces have DV protocols, varying by country
- US VAWA 2022 reauth: Mandates improved police training, 80% compliance reported
- India 2022: Helpline 181 leads to 50% police referral rate
- South Africa 2021: Thuthuzela centers achieve 85% conviction through better response
- Brazil 2022: Patrulha Maria da Penha improves response in 90% cases
- Japan 2021: DV consultation centers refer 70% to police
- Mexico 2020: Gender alert protocols activate in 65% high-risk DV reports
- Russia 2021: Police respond to 40% of hotline DV calls with visits
- Nigeria 2022: Police special desks handle 30% more DV reports
- Pakistan 2021: 1166 helpline results in 25% police action rate
- Egypt 2021: NCW hotline leads to 35% police interventions
- Turkey 2022: KADES app generates 2.5M alerts, 80% police response
- Iran 2021: 123 hotline forwards 60% cases to law enforcement
- Saudi 2022: Family protection committees respond to 90% reports within 24h
- NZ 2023: Police family harm investigations up 20% with new protocols
- Sweden 2022: Multi-agency DV teams respond to 95% high-risk cases
- Norway 2021: Alarm phone for DV gets 85% immediate police dispatch
- Finland 2022: Coordinated response increases protection orders by 50%
- Netherlands 2021: Safety houses achieve 75% victim safety post-response
- Italy 2022: Anti-violence centers refer 80% to integrated police response
- Spain 2023: VioGén system monitors 70K cases with 90% compliance
Systemic Response Rates Interpretation
The statistics paint a picture where specialized, well-trained, and coordinated police responses are remarkably effective at creating a path toward justice and safety, but they also starkly reveal that whether you get that protection depends largely on a global lottery of geography and policy.
Temporal and Trend Data
- US BJS 2019: DV reports increased 10% from 2015-2019 overall
- UK ONS: DV prevalence down 5% 2018-2022 but reports up 20%
- Australia ABS: Recorded DV assaults up 9% 2020-2021 pandemic peak
- WHO 2023: Global reports up 25% post-COVID lockdowns
- CDC NISVS 2010-2022: Reporting steady at 35% but lifetime prevalence down 5%
- NIJ 2022: Hotline calls up 30% since 2019
- RAINN: Sexual DV reports up 15% 2020-2022
- Canada GSS: Spousal violence reports up 12% 2014-2019
- EU FRA 2022: Reports increased 10% 2015-2021 across 28 states
- US 2023: NCADV reports 21% rise in DV homicides 2020-2021
- India NCRB: Cruelty cases up 15% 2017-2022
- SA SAPS: GBV reports up 8.7% 2021-2022
- Brazil: DV calls to 180 up 40% during pandemic 2020
- Japan: Consultations up 20% 2019-2022
- Mexico: Alerts up 25% 2019-2022
- Russia: Reports doubled post-2017 decriminalization partial reversal
- Nigeria: VAPP cases up 50% 2018-2022
- Pakistan: Helpline calls up 300% since 2016
- Egypt: NCW cases up 30% 2018-2021
- Turkey: KADES downloads up 500% 2018-2022
- Iran: Reports up 25% post-2022 reforms
- Saudi: Family cases up 50% 2018-2022 with new laws
- NZ: Family violence police contacts up 15% yearly 2018-2022
- Sweden: Reports stable but severity up 10% 2017-2021
- Norway: Partner violence stable, reports up 8% decade
- Finland: DV reports up 12% 2015-2020
- Netherlands: Household violence reports up 20% 2016-2021
- Italy: NIS reports up 5% yearly 2015-2021
- Spain: Gender violence reports up 10% annually 2015-2022
Temporal and Trend Data Interpretation
The statistics paint a grimly optimistic portrait: while increased reporting suggests a world finally finding its voice against domestic violence, the rising caseloads and tragic homicides reveal we are still very much in the painful, shouting phase of this long-overdue conversation.
Victim Reporting Behaviors
- In the United States, only 42% of female victims of intimate partner physical violence report to police according to the 2020 Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey
- A 2018 study by the National Domestic Violence Hotline found that 55% of callers had never reported prior abuse to authorities due to fear of retaliation
- CDC's NISVS 2016/2017 data shows 34% of women experiencing contact sexual violence reported to law enforcement
- UK Office for National Statistics 2022 reported 18% of domestic abuse victims contacted police in the last year
- Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey 2021 indicated 29% of women reported physical violence by partner to police
- WHO World Report on Violence 2021 estimates globally only 10% of physical/sexual intimate partner violence is reported
- NIJ 2019 report on intimate partner violence found 50% of stalking victims by partners never reported to police
- RAINN 2023 statistics show 63% of sexual assaults by intimate partners unreported
- Canadian General Social Survey 2019 revealed 22% of spousal violence victims reported to police
- European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights 2014 survey: 14% of women reported partner violence to police
- USDOJ 2021 data: 40% of male victims of partner violence reported incidents
- Indian National Family Health Survey 2019-21: 14% of ever-married women reported spousal violence to police
- South African Medical Research Council 2017 study: 9% of women reported intimate partner GBV to police
- Brazilian Datafolha 2020 poll: 25% of domestic violence victims reported to authorities
- Japanese Cabinet Office 2022 survey: 12% of spousal violence victims consulted police
- Mexican ENSI 2016: 17% of women reported partner violence
- Russian Rosstat 2021: Under 5% of family violence cases reported officially
- Nigerian NDHS 2018: 8% of women experiencing violence sought help from police
- Pakistani DHS 2017-18: 2% of abused women reported to police
- Egyptian DHS 2014: 5% of spousal violence victims reported to authorities
- Turkish Ministry of Family 2022: 20% of domestic violence complaints from victims directly to police
- Iranian Statistical Center 2021: Less than 10% reporting rate for domestic abuse
- Saudi Arabia NCWR 2020: 15% of family violence cases reported by victims
- New Zealand Family Violence Death Review 2021: 35% of victims had prior police contact before homicide
- Swedish BRA 2022: 28% of women reported partner violence to police
- Norwegian SSB 2021: 24% reporting rate for intimate partner violence
- Finnish THL 2020: 19% of domestic violence victims contacted police
- Dutch CBS 2022: 21% of victims reported household violence
- Italian ISTAT 2021: 12.2% of women reported violence to forces of order
- Spanish Ministry of Interior 2022: 26% of gender violence victims filed police report
Victim Reporting Behaviors Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim global portrait of silence, where the majority of victims weigh their suffering against the very real fears of retaliation, disbelief, or further harm, choosing survival over a system they cannot trust.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BJSbjs.ojp.govVisit source
- Reference 2THEHOTLINEthehotline.orgVisit source
- Reference 3CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 4ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 5ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 6WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 7NIJnij.ojp.govVisit source
- Reference 8RAINNrainn.orgVisit source
- Reference 9STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 10FRAfra.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 11RCHIIPSrchiips.orgVisit source
- Reference 12SAMRCsamrc.ac.zaVisit source
- Reference 13DATAFOLHAdatafolha.folha.uol.com.brVisit source
- Reference 14GENDERgender.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 15INEGIinegi.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 16ROSSTATrosstat.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 17DHSPROGRAMdhsprogram.comVisit source
- Reference 18AILEaile.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 19AMARamar.org.irVisit source
- Reference 20NCWRncwr.gov.saVisit source
- Reference 21HCFEhcfe.org.nzVisit source
- Reference 22BRAbra.seVisit source
- Reference 23SSBssb.noVisit source
- Reference 24THLthl.fiVisit source
- Reference 25CBScbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 26ISTATistat.itVisit source
- Reference 27INTERIORinterior.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 28CPScps.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 29OJPojp.govVisit source
- Reference 30NCRBncrb.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 31SAPSsaps.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 32CNJcnj.jus.brVisit source
- Reference 33NPAnpa.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 34GOBgob.mxVisit source
- Reference 35STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 36UNODCunodc.orgVisit source
- Reference 37PAKISTANGENDERDATApakistangenderdata.orgVisit source
- Reference 38NCWncw.gov.egVisit source
- Reference 39HRWhrw.orgVisit source
- Reference 40IRANHRiranhr.netVisit source
- Reference 41JUSTICEjustice.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 42ENGLISHenglish.wodc.nlVisit source
- Reference 43PODERJUDICIALpoderjudicial.esVisit source
- Reference 44GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 45AIFSaifs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 46JUSTICEjustice.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 47EIGEeige.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 48CONGRESScongress.govVisit source
- Reference 49WCDwcd.nic.inVisit source
- Reference 50NPAnpa.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 51GOVgov.brVisit source
- Reference 52CAOcao.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 53SEGOBsegob.gob.mxVisit source
- Reference 54NASILIUnasiliu.netVisit source
- Reference 55UNWOMENunwomen.orgVisit source
- Reference 56PDMApdma.gov.pkVisit source
- Reference 57ISNAisna.irVisit source
- Reference 58MYmy.gov.saVisit source
- Reference 59POLICEpolice.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 60GOVERNMENTgovernment.seVisit source
- Reference 61REGJERINGENregjeringen.noVisit source
- Reference 62JULKAISUTjulkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fiVisit source
- Reference 63MINVENJminvenj.nlVisit source
- Reference 64DIPENDENZAdipendenza.dip.messina.itVisit source
- Reference 65VIOLENCIAGENEROviolenciagenero.igualdad.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 66APPSapps.who.intVisit source
- Reference 67NCADVncadv.orgVisit source
- Reference 68IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 69NIPSnips.org.pkVisit source
- Reference 70KONDAkonda.com.trVisit source
- Reference 71IRANHRDCiranhrdc.orgVisit source
- Reference 72TEARAteara.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 73MSCBSmscbs.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 74AAaa.com.trVisit source
- Reference 75RADIOFARDAradiofarda.comVisit source
- Reference 76ARABNEWSarabnews.comVisit source
- Reference 77STATstat.fiVisit source