Intimate partner violence affects more than bruises, it follows people into housing, workplaces, and even health systems. Around 1 in 3 women who experience IPV report stalking, and that same pattern of control shows up across studies alongside a 7.0% global rate of IPV in the past 12 months. When you line up these gendered realities with costs and barriers like housing insecurity and missed work, the statistics feel less like separate facts and more like one connected system.
Key Takeaways
- Stalking prevalence among women who experience IPV is reported as substantial in multiple surveys; one WHO fact sheet cites around 1 in 3 women experiencing IPV report stalking (summary figure)
- 2020 saw a 20% increase in reported domestic violence calls in many countries during COVID-19 lockdowns (OECD/COVID domestic violence monitoring)
- In the U.S., the proportion of women experiencing coercive control increased during the COVID-19 period (survey estimate)
- 7.0% of women worldwide reported experiencing intimate partner violence in the past 12 months
- 38% of murders of women globally are committed by an intimate partner or family member
- 80% of women killed by intimate partners in the U.S. are killed by firearms
- $3.1 billion estimated annual cost of intimate partner violence and sexual assault in Canada (2023 dollars)
- $10.6 billion estimated total cost of intimate partner violence in the U.S. attributable to healthcare utilization (2017 estimate)
- $4.1 billion estimated economic burden of domestic violence in Brazil (2015 estimate)
- $18 million allocated in 2024 for the U.S. Domestic Violence Hotline (US HHS/Administration for Children & Families)
- In Australia, 66% of service providers reported that demand for domestic and family violence services exceeds supply (sector survey)
- WHO guideline implementation includes a minimum package of services for IPV survivors in healthcare settings (minimum package scope described in guideline)
- In Germany, 14,000+ women received counseling for domestic violence in 2022 (German Federal Ministry report)
- In the U.S., 1 in 5 IPV survivors experiencing homelessness report that IPV was the cause of housing loss (HUD survey estimate)
Nearly one in three women experiencing IPV report stalking, underscoring how pervasive and dangerous partner violence is worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Trends & Risk Factors11 stats
01
Stalking prevalence among women who experience IPV is reported as substantial in multiple surveys; one WHO fact sheet cites around 1 in 3 women experiencing IPV report stalking (summary figure)
02
2020 saw a 20% increase in reported domestic violence calls in many countries during COVID-19 lockdowns (OECD/COVID domestic violence monitoring)
03
In the U.S., the proportion of women experiencing coercive control increased during the COVID-19 period (survey estimate)
04
Alcohol consumption is implicated in intimate partner violence in about 25–30% of cases (meta-analysis estimate)
05
Substance use disorders are associated with increased IPV perpetration risk (pooled effect estimate of increased risk reported in meta-analysis)
06
Prior IPV exposure in childhood increases risk of later IPV perpetration by 2–3x (systematic review estimate)
07
Unemployment increases IPV risk; one systematic review found the odds of IPV are higher among unemployed individuals (pooled odds ratio reported)
08
In the U.S., 6.4% of students report experiencing sexual dating violence in the past 12 months (CDC YRBS)
09
In the WHO multi-country study, 15–49 women reported lifetime IPV ranging from 15% to 71% by setting (range reported in the study)
10
In the U.S., 51% of IPV victims report that the abuse started or worsened during the pandemic period (survey estimate)
11
In the U.S., 56% of IPV survivors report increased surveillance by the abuser during COVID-19 (survey estimate)
Interpretation
Trends & Risk Factors Interpretation
Across multiple Trends & Risk Factors indicators, COVID-19 and related circumstances appear linked to worsening IPV patterns, with 20% more domestic violence calls reported in many countries, 51% of U.S. victims saying abuse started or worsened during the pandemic, and 56% of IPV survivors reporting increased abuser surveillance during COVID-19.
02 · Category
Prevalence & Burden3 stats
01
7.0% of women worldwide reported experiencing intimate partner violence in the past 12 months
02
38% of murders of women globally are committed by an intimate partner or family member
03
80% of women killed by intimate partners in the U.S. are killed by firearms
Interpretation
Prevalence & Burden Interpretation
Within the Prevalence and Burden category, the data show that intimate partner violence is both common and lethal, with 7.0% of women reporting it in the past 12 months and 38% of murders of women worldwide involving an intimate partner or family member.
03 · Category
Economic Costs6 stats
01
$3.1 billion estimated annual cost of intimate partner violence and sexual assault in Canada (2023 dollars)
02
$10.6 billion estimated total cost of intimate partner violence in the U.S. attributable to healthcare utilization (2017 estimate)
03
$4.1 billion estimated economic burden of domestic violence in Brazil (2015 estimate)
04
57% of employers cite domestic/intimate partner violence as a workplace health and safety risk (survey result)
05
1 in 3 survivors of intimate partner violence experience housing insecurity attributable to the violence (US survey estimate)
06
11.5% of women reported that IPV led to job loss or inability to work (cross-national survey estimate)
Interpretation
Economic Costs Interpretation
The economic burden of intimate partner violence is substantial and cuts across systems, from an estimated $3.1 billion annually in Canada to $10.6 billion in the U.S. linked to healthcare use, with workplace and housing impacts showing up as well such as 57% of employers viewing it as a safety risk and 1 in 3 survivors facing housing insecurity.
More related reading
04 · Category
Policy & Response5 stats
01
$18 million allocated in 2024 for the U.S. Domestic Violence Hotline (US HHS/Administration for Children & Families)
02
In Australia, 66% of service providers reported that demand for domestic and family violence services exceeds supply (sector survey)
03
WHO guideline implementation includes a minimum package of services for IPV survivors in healthcare settings (minimum package scope described in guideline)
04
In Canada, 10.2% of women who experienced partner violence accessed community services (2021 survey result)
05
In the U.S., 30% of victims contacted law enforcement (survey estimate)
Interpretation
Policy & Response Interpretation
Across Policy and Response, the data show that even with targeted investments like the U.S. allocating $18 million in 2024 to the Domestic Violence Hotline, many survivors still face major service gaps and limited help-seeking reach, such as Australia’s 66% of providers reporting demand exceeds supply and only 30% of U.S. victims contacting law enforcement, while Canada reports just 10.2% accessing community services in 2021.
05 · Category
Service Access & Outcomes2 stats
01
In Germany, 14,000+ women received counseling for domestic violence in 2022 (German Federal Ministry report)
02
In the U.S., 1 in 5 IPV survivors experiencing homelessness report that IPV was the cause of housing loss (HUD survey estimate)
Interpretation
Service Access & Outcomes Interpretation
In the Service Access & Outcomes category, Germany’s 14,000+ women getting domestic violence counseling in 2022 and the U.S. estimate that 1 in 5 IPV survivors experiencing homelessness lost housing due to the abuse show how service reach matters but outcomes remain shaped by the severity of violence.
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
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Intimate Partner Violence Gender Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intimate-partner-violence-gender-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Intimate Partner Violence Gender Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/intimate-partner-violence-gender-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Intimate Partner Violence Gender Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intimate-partner-violence-gender-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)