One in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence over her lifetime. WHO estimates place the annual total at roughly 133 million women affected by intimate partner violence. Violence often begins or intensifies during pregnancy.
Key Takeaways
- 1 in 3 women worldwide experiences either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence during their lifetime
- 27% of women who have been in a relationship report experiencing physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner
- 21% of women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence from an intimate partner
Nearly one in three women worldwide experiences intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence in her lifetime.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence30 stats
01
1 in 3 women worldwide experiences either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence during their lifetime
02
27% of women who have been in a relationship report experiencing physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner
03
21% of women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence from an intimate partner
04
13% of women aged 15–49 have experienced sexual violence from an intimate partner
05
Global prevalence estimates indicate 1.3 billion women experience lifetime IPV or non-partner sexual violence (calculation derived from WHO baseline prevalence and female population estimates used in the WHO analysis)
06
In the WHO multi-country study, 23.6% of women reported lifetime physical violence by an intimate partner
07
In the same WHO multi-country study, 5.3% of women reported lifetime sexual violence by an intimate partner
08
In the WHO multi-country study, 13.7% of women reported lifetime physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner
09
In the WHO multi-country study, 3.0% of women reported lifetime sexual coercion by an intimate partner
10
44% of women in the WHO study reported that physical violence started during pregnancy or worsened during pregnancy (study context varies by country)
11
In a WHO analysis, 29% of ever-partnered women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner (global pooled estimate)
12
In a WHO analysis, 8% of women have experienced sexual violence by an intimate partner (global pooled estimate)
13
In a WHO analysis, 24% of women have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner (global pooled estimate)
14
Approximately 133 million women worldwide experienced IPV in the last 12 months (estimate referenced in WHO global analysis)
15
133 million corresponds to an estimated annual prevalence of about 7% of women of reproductive age experiencing IPV in the last year (WHO-based estimate)
16
34% of women aged 15–49 in the WHO multi-country study reported psychological violence from an intimate partner
17
9% of women in the WHO multi-country study reported controlling behaviors by an intimate partner (study context)
18
12% of women in the WHO multi-country study reported economic violence by an intimate partner
19
In a systematic review, IPV prevalence during pregnancy ranged from 1% to 28% depending on study and setting (reviewed and reported range)
20
In a systematic review, lifetime IPV prevalence among women in low- and middle-income countries ranged from 20% to 30% (reviewed range)
21
49% of women reported experiencing emotional violence as the most common form in some national surveys compiled in WHO materials
22
In 2019, WHO estimated that 1 in 3 women will experience IPV or sexual violence in their lifetime
23
8% of women globally experience sexual violence by an intimate partner (WHO global estimate)
24
24% of women globally experience physical violence by an intimate partner (WHO global estimate)
25
30% of women globally have experienced at least one form of IPV (WHO global analysis figure presented)
26
Estimated global annual number of women experiencing IPV is 133 million (WHO estimate)
27
In 2012–2014, surveys in selected settings found 30%–45% of women experienced IPV at some point (range reported across study sites in WHO materials)
28
In a 2017 global study, 15%–20% of women reported experiencing IPV in their lifetime in higher-income settings studied (range reported)
29
In a 2019 global review, 25%–35% of women experienced IPV in sub-Saharan Africa across included surveys (range reported)
30
In a systematic review, prevalence of IPV among women in refugee and displaced populations ranged from 20% to 30% across included studies (range)
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
Across the world, about 1 in 3 women experience intimate partner physical and or sexual violence or non-partner sexual violence over their lifetime, and WHO estimates this still translates into around 133 million women being affected every year.
More related reading
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Global Domestic Violence Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-domestic-violence-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Global Domestic Violence Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/global-domestic-violence-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Global Domestic Violence Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-domestic-violence-statistics.
Sources & references
9 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+6 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)