Gitnux/Report 2026

Intimate Partner Abuse Statistics

Even with growing support systems, intimate partner abuse still reaches millions and exacts a heavy toll on health, from a 31% lifetime exposure for women worldwide to partners driving up risks of depression, suicide attempts, and HIV by 1.5 times in some settings. You will also find what policy and practice can change, including Germany’s and Australia’s billion-dollar health costs, UK domestic abuse measures like mandatory reporting, and the latest UK policing risk checks that shape how quickly help is triggered.
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Intimate Partner Abuse Statistics
Margot VilleneuveWritten by Margot Villeneuve·Edited by Marie Larsen·Fact-checked by Katherine Brennan
Last verified Jul 2, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

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

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Jan 2027
31 percent of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. Survivors face twice the risk of depression and 2.7 times the risk of suicide attempts. Annual costs reach 7.4 billion dollars in Canada for combined intimate partner and sexual violence.

Key Takeaways

  • 31% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence and/or non-partner sexual violence
  • 13% of women aged 15+ worldwide report having experienced sexual intimate partner violence at some point since the age of 15
  • 43% of female homicide victims in the United States are killed by an intimate partner
  • Intimate partner violence increases the risk of HIV acquisition by 1.5 times for women in some settings (systematic review estimate)
  • Women who experience intimate partner violence have a 2.0x higher risk of depression (meta-analysis estimate)
  • Intimate partner violence is associated with a 2.7x increased risk of suicide attempt (meta-analysis estimate)
  • Germany: €1.1 billion estimated annual costs of partner violence (domestic violence) to the health system
  • Australia: A$6.4 billion is the estimated annual cost of violence against women and their children (2020 estimate)
  • Canada: $7.4 billion estimated cost per year of intimate partner violence and sexual violence combined (2019 estimate)
  • $1.5 billion in funding for domestic violence and sexual assault programs was authorized under the VAWA reauthorization framework (2013–2022 period)
  • The UK Domestic Abuse Act 2021 requires mandatory reporting (notices) and creates domestic abuse protection notices/orders (effective from 2021)
  • The Council of Europe Istanbul Convention requires criminalization of psychological violence and coercive control where applicable (entered into force 2014)
  • In Australia, 2022–23: 71,000 contacts to domestic violence services were recorded (AIHW reporting)
  • 2,021,000 women and 2,161,000 men in the United States experienced intimate partner violence-related crime in 2019 (National Crime Victimization Survey; estimate includes physical assault and other abuse)
  • A 2014 systematic review found that intimate partner violence increases the risk of depression by 2.0 times (meta-analysis estimate; study published 2014)

Nearly one in three women worldwide experience intimate partner violence, harming health, mental wellbeing, and long term safety.

Related reading

01 · Category

Prevalence6 stats

01
31% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence and/or non-partner sexual violence
02
13% of women aged 15+ worldwide report having experienced sexual intimate partner violence at some point since the age of 15
03
43% of female homicide victims in the United States are killed by an intimate partner
04
1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence (2018 estimate)
05
7% of women in the EU reported experiencing sexual violence by an intimate partner (Eurobarometer survey, 2014)
06
1 in 4 women in the UK experienced domestic abuse at some point since age 16 (data from ONS domestic abuse bulletin using Crime Survey for England and Wales, 2023)
Interpretation

Prevalence Interpretation

Under the prevalence category, rates of intimate partner abuse are widespread, affecting about 1 in 3 women worldwide, with 31% reporting physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence and notable regional figures ranging up to 43% of female homicide victims in the US being killed by an intimate partner.

02 · Category

Severity And Impacts5 stats

01
Intimate partner violence increases the risk of HIV acquisition by 1.5 times for women in some settings (systematic review estimate)
02
Women who experience intimate partner violence have a 2.0x higher risk of depression (meta-analysis estimate)
03
Intimate partner violence is associated with a 2.7x increased risk of suicide attempt (meta-analysis estimate)
04
Intimate partner violence is associated with a 16% higher likelihood of low birth weight (meta-analysis estimate)
05
Intimate partner violence during pregnancy affects about 1 in 6 women globally (meta-analysis estimate; 2013–2019 literature)
Interpretation

Severity And Impacts Interpretation

For the severity and impacts of intimate partner abuse, evidence shows that it can sharply worsen multiple outcomes, including raising women’s risk of depression twofold and suicide attempts by about 2.7 times, alongside a 1 in 6 prevalence during pregnancy and a 16% higher likelihood of low birth weight globally.

03 · Category

Economic Cost3 stats

01
Germany: €1.1 billion estimated annual costs of partner violence (domestic violence) to the health system
02
Australia: A$6.4 billion is the estimated annual cost of violence against women and their children (2020 estimate)
03
Canada: $7.4 billion estimated cost per year of intimate partner violence and sexual violence combined (2019 estimate)
Interpretation

Economic Cost Interpretation

Across countries, intimate partner abuse carries large and persistent economic costs, ranging from Germany’s €1.1 billion a year in health system spending to Canada’s $7.4 billion per year for intimate partner and sexual violence combined, with Australia estimating A$6.4 billion annually for violence against women and their children.

04 · Category

Policy And Systems3 stats

01
$1.5 billion in funding for domestic violence and sexual assault programs was authorized under the VAWA reauthorization framework (2013–2022 period)
02
The UK Domestic Abuse Act 2021 requires mandatory reporting (notices) and creates domestic abuse protection notices/orders (effective from 2021)
03
The Council of Europe Istanbul Convention requires criminalization of psychological violence and coercive control where applicable (entered into force 2014)
Interpretation

Policy And Systems Interpretation

Policy and systems approaches are clearly scaling up as shown by the $1.5 billion authorized in the VAWA reauthorization framework for domestic violence and sexual assault programs from 2013 to 202… and reinforced internationally through the UK’s Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention expanding legal coverage to coercive control and psychological violence.

05 · Category

Service Demand1 stats

01
In Australia, 2022–23: 71,000 contacts to domestic violence services were recorded (AIHW reporting)
Interpretation

Service Demand Interpretation

In Australia in 2022–23, recorded service demand for intimate partner abuse reached 71,000 contacts to domestic violence services, showing a high level of need directly reflected in how many people sought help.

More related reading

06 · Category

Fatality & Crime1 stats

01
2,021,000 women and 2,161,000 men in the United States experienced intimate partner violence-related crime in 2019 (National Crime Victimization Survey; estimate includes physical assault and other abuse)
Interpretation

Fatality & Crime Interpretation

In the Fatality & Crime context, U.S. crime-related intimate partner violence affected 2,021,000 women and 2,161,000 men in 2019, showing slightly more male victims than female.

07 · Category

Health Impacts7 stats

01
A 2014 systematic review found that intimate partner violence increases the risk of depression by 2.0 times (meta-analysis estimate; study published 2014)
02
A 2018 meta-analysis reported that intimate partner violence is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, with a pooled odds ratio of 2.7 (published 2018)
03
A 2020 systematic review found intimate partner violence is associated with an increased odds of alcohol misuse, pooled OR 2.1 (published 2020)
04
A 2017 systematic review reported intimate partner violence is associated with increased odds of anxiety disorders (pooled OR 1.9; published 2017)
05
A 2019 systematic review estimated that intimate partner violence survivors have higher odds of chronic pain, pooled OR 1.7 (published 2019)
06
A 2021 meta-analysis reported higher prevalence of harmful alcohol use among intimate partner violence-exposed individuals (pooled prevalence 24%; published 2021)
07
A 2016 cohort study found women experiencing intimate partner violence were more likely to report poor self-rated health (adjusted odds ratio 1.6; published 2016)
Interpretation

Health Impacts Interpretation

Across multiple reviews and meta-analyses, intimate partner abuse is strongly linked to major mental health and substance use harms, including a 2.0 times higher risk of depression and pooled odds around 2.1 for alcohol misuse, showing clear health impacts that extend well beyond immediate physical injury.

08 · Category

Economic & Social Costs6 stats

01
Women in the UK who experience domestic abuse have 5.9 times higher odds of homelessness (2019 analysis of UK housing data)
02
A 2019 US estimate projected that intimate partner violence costs $3.6 billion per year in direct medical costs (published 2019; methodology uses medical expenditures)
03
A 2016 study estimated that domestic violence-related productivity losses in the United States totaled $8.3 billion annually (published 2016)
04
A 2021 analysis in Canada estimated direct costs of intimate partner violence to be CAD $1.0 billion annually (published 2021)
05
A 2015 World Bank report estimated that intimate partner violence leads to productivity losses equivalent to 2% of GDP in some contexts (2015 World Bank publication)
06
A 2020 OECD report found that public services spending related to family violence can represent 0.1%–0.3% of GDP depending on country coverage (OECD 2020)
Interpretation

Economic & Social Costs Interpretation

Across countries, intimate partner abuse creates major economic and social costs, with homelessness odds rising 5.9 times for UK women and annual direct and productivity costs reaching billions in the US and Canada and even public service spending in OECD reports amounting to 0.1% to 0.3% of GDP.

09 · Category

Prevention & Response4 stats

01
In 2022, 82% of police forces in England and Wales had a dedicated domestic abuse unit (HMICFRS thematic inspection report, 2022)
02
A 2019 randomized trial review found that bystander interventions increased reporting/help-seeking intentions by 10–30% (published 2019)
03
In 2021, 38% of IPV victims in a US study reported using electronic/remote assistance channels (hotlines/text/online) (published 2021)
04
2023: 60% of UK police forces used the DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence) risk identification checklist as standard practice (College of Policing guidance update referenced 2023)
Interpretation

Prevention & Response Interpretation

For Prevention & Response, the evidence points to widening and more structured support, with 82% of police forces in England and Wales having dedicated domestic abuse units in 2022, 60% using the DASH risk checklist as standard in 2023, and victim access to help via electronic channels reaching 38% in 2021.
report visual · Key figures

How common is intimate partner abuse?

Across global and selected regions, intimate partner violence affects a substantial share of women, including sexual IPV and domestic abuse experiences.

31%
31% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence and/or non-partner sexual viole
13%
13% of women aged 15+ worldwide report having experienced sexual intimate partner violence at some point since the age o
7%
7% of women in the EU reported experiencing sexual violence by an intimate partner (Eurobarometer survey, 2014)
1
1 in 4 women in the UK experienced domestic abuse at some point since age 16 (data from ONS domestic abuse bulletin usin
43%
43% of female homicide victims in the United States are killed by an intimate partner
source-verifiedwho.int · europa.eu · ons.gov.uk · bjs.ojp.gov2023
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
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Intimate Partner Abuse Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intimate-partner-abuse-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Intimate Partner Abuse Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/intimate-partner-abuse-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Intimate Partner Abuse Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intimate-partner-abuse-statistics.

Sources & references

36 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

who.intbjs.ojp.govjournals.plos.orgncbi.nlm.nih.govacademic.oup.comthelancet.combmfsfj.deaihw.gov.auwww150.statcan.gc.cacongress.govlegislation.gov.ukcoe.intunwomen.orgeuropa.euons.gov.uksciencedirect.comjournals.sagepub.comtandfonline.comonlinelibrary.wiley.comresearchbriefings.files.parliament.ukjamanetwork.comhealthaffairs.orgjustice.gc.caopenknowledge.worldbank.orgoecd.orgjusticeinspectorates.gov.ukannualreviews.orgcollege.police.uk

+8 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)