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 violencehttps://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
02
13% of women aged 15+ worldwide report having experienced sexual intimate partner violence at some point since the age of 15https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564625
03
43% of female homicide victims in the United States are killed by an intimate partnerhttps://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv14.pdf
04
1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence (2018 estimate)https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
05
7% of women in the EU reported experiencing sexual violence by an intimate partner (Eurobarometer survey, 2014)https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2130
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)https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2024
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)https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0037174
02
Women who experience intimate partner violence have a 2.0x higher risk of depression (meta-analysis estimate)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690467/
03
Intimate partner violence is associated with a 2.7x increased risk of suicide attempt (meta-analysis estimate)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4110176/
04
Intimate partner violence is associated with a 16% higher likelihood of low birth weight (meta-analysis estimate)https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/48/1/31/5617804
05
Intimate partner violence during pregnancy affects about 1 in 6 women globally (meta-analysis estimate; 2013–2019 literature)https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30155-1/fulltext
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 systemhttps://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/service/publikationen/gewalt-gegen-frauen-grundlagen-und-ergebnisse-einer-expertenbefragung-102484
02
Australia: A$6.4 billion is the estimated annual cost of violence against women and their children (2020 estimate)https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/domestic-family-violence/violence-against-women-and-children-in-australia/contents/summary
03
Canada: $7.4 billion estimated cost per year of intimate partner violence and sexual violence combined (2019 estimate)https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/85-002-x/2020001/article/00014-eng.pdf
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)https://www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ4/PLAW-113publ4.htm
02
The UK Domestic Abuse Act 2021 requires mandatory reporting (notices) and creates domestic abuse protection notices/orders (effective from 2021)https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/contents/enacted
03
The Council of Europe Istanbul Convention requires criminalization of psychological violence and coercive control where applicable (entered into force 2014)https://www.coe.int/en/web/istanbul-convention/text-of-the-convention
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)https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/domestic-family-violence/total-people-supported
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)https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv19.pdf
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)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673614000221
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)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1524838018762086
03
A 2020 systematic review found intimate partner violence is associated with an increased odds of alcohol misuse, pooled OR 2.1 (published 2020)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08870446.2020.1748115
04
A 2017 systematic review reported intimate partner violence is associated with increased odds of anxiety disorders (pooled OR 1.9; published 2017)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/16549716.2017.1338879
05
A 2019 systematic review estimated that intimate partner violence survivors have higher odds of chronic pain, pooled OR 1.7 (published 2019)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638288.2019.1602035
06
A 2021 meta-analysis reported higher prevalence of harmful alcohol use among intimate partner violence-exposed individuals (pooled prevalence 24%; published 2021)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijcp.15412
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)https://academic.oup.com/ije/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ije/dyw300
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.
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)https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/domestic-abuse-2022.pdf
02
A 2019 randomized trial review found that bystander interventions increased reporting/help-seeking intentions by 10–30% (published 2019)https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050718-095650
03
In 2021, 38% of IPV victims in a US study reported using electronic/remote assistance channels (hotlines/text/online) (published 2021)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8640840/
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)https://www.college.police.uk/rank-structure/forces/police-integrity/Pages/dash-domestic-abuse-stalking-honour-based-violence.aspx
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
+8 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)