Intimate partner violence extends into housing loss and workplace disruption for many survivors. One in three women who experience it also report stalking. Seven percent of women worldwide faced such violence in the past year.
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 key trends and risk factors for IPV, stalking is reported by about 1 in 3 women who experience IPV and COVID-19 periods saw roughly a 20 percent rise in domestic-violence calls, while substance-related factors account for about 25 to 30 percent of cases and childhood IPV exposure raises later perpetration risk by 2 to 3 times.
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
The prevalence and burden of intimate partner violence are stark, with 7.0% of women reporting abuse in the past year and an especially lethal impact shown by intimate partners or family members accounting for 38% of murders of women globally and by 80% of such U.S. killings involving firearms.
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
Across countries, the economic costs of intimate partner violence are substantial, ranging from $3.1 billion in Canada to $10.6 billion in the U.S. linked to healthcare use, showing that IPV is not only a personal safety issue but also a major financial burden that reaches employment and housing through costs like 57% of employers citing it as a workplace 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, funding and service mandates are clearly not keeping pace with need, as shown by the U.S. allocating $18 million to the Domestic Violence Hotline while only about 30% of victims contact law enforcement and Canada reports just 10.2% accessing community services, alongside Australia’s 66% of providers saying demand exceeds supply.
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
Across “Service Access & Outcomes,” Germany’s 14,000+ women receiving domestic violence counseling in 2022 and the U.S. estimate that 1 in 5 IPV survivors experiencing homelessness lose housing because of IPV show that access to support services and their outcomes remain critical, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
report visual · Comparison
How widespread IPV is and what share of violence is committed by partners
IPV is reported by a measurable share of women worldwide, and a large portion of murders of women are committed by intimate partners or family members.
38% of murders of women globally are committed by an intimate partner or family member38%
7.0% of women worldwide reported experiencing intimate partner violence in the past 12 months
7%
Stalking prevalence among women who experience IPV is reported as substantial in multiple surveys; one WHO fact sheet ci
1
source-verifiedwho.int · unodc.org
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)