Latest domestic violence statistics paint a picture where help is not keeping pace with harm. For example, women worldwide still face lifetime exposure at an estimated 37%, while in Australia only 15% of women who experienced IPV sought help from formal services, and in the US domestic violence-related ED visits were up 9% in 2020 compared with 2019. The mix of huge economic burdens and shifting incident trends across countries makes one thing clear, the challenge does not look the same everywhere, even when the impact is.
Key Takeaways
- 37% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives (IPV prevalence estimate)
- 1 in 4 women (25%) have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime according to UN Women’s global estimates
- In Australia, 15% of women who experienced IPV sought help from formal services (2016 ABS Personal Safety Survey)
- In the UK, police-recorded domestic abuse incidents increased by 14% in the year ending March 2022 compared with the year ending March 2021 (ONS)
- In the UK, 72% of perpetrators of domestic abuse were male (CSEW-based analyst summary in UK report)
- During 2020 (early COVID-19), calls for help related to domestic violence increased by 8% in the United States compared with 2019 in a national dataset analysis by AHRQ (where reported)
- $3.6 billion in annual direct costs from domestic violence in the United States for healthcare utilization and services (estimate from peer-reviewed economic analyses)
- Domestic violence costs are estimated at 1.3% of global GDP in a World Bank/WHO synthesis (global economic cost estimate)
- A 2019 peer-reviewed study estimated the lifetime cost per victim of intimate partner violence at approximately $103,767 (2017 dollars; healthcare and productivity components)
- 37% of homicide victims are women and intimate partner homicide accounts for a substantial share of female homicides globally — percentage of female homicide victims killed by partners/related contexts
- 2021 had 9% higher domestic violence-related ED visits than 2020 in the same US multi-hospital dataset analysis — change in ED visits
- In Australia (from 2021 police data), police recorded 132,234 domestic violence-related incidents in 2021 — police recorded incidents
- In Australia (NSW), 2021 had 32,000 apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) applications — number of ADVO applications
- 40% of women in the US who had experienced IPV reported experiencing coercive control — prevalence of coercive control among IPV survivors (survey study)
- 22% of IPV victims reported experiencing stalking by an intimate partner in the US (survey estimate) — stalking prevalence among IPV victims
Worldwide, intimate partner violence affects about 1 in 4 women and costs billions globally, with millions seeking help.
Related reading
01 · Category
Global Prevalence2 stats
01
37% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives (IPV prevalence estimate)
02
1 in 4 women (25%) have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime according to UN Women’s global estimates
Interpretation
Global Prevalence Interpretation
Under the Global Prevalence lens, the data show that 37% of women worldwide have faced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some point in their lives, with 25% experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetime per UN Women estimates.
02 · Category
Reporting & Response1 stats
01
In Australia, 15% of women who experienced IPV sought help from formal services (2016 ABS Personal Safety Survey)
Interpretation
Reporting & Response Interpretation
In Australia, only 15% of women who experienced intimate partner violence sought help from formal services, showing that reporting and response systems reach a relatively small share of those affected.
03 · Category
Trends & Drivers6 stats
01
In the UK, police-recorded domestic abuse incidents increased by 14% in the year ending March 2022 compared with the year ending March 2021 (ONS)
02
In the UK, 72% of perpetrators of domestic abuse were male (CSEW-based analyst summary in UK report)
03
During 2020 (early COVID-19), calls for help related to domestic violence increased by 8% in the United States compared with 2019 in a national dataset analysis by AHRQ (where reported)
04
In England and Wales, police-recorded domestic abuse incidents fell by 1% in the year ending March 2021 compared with the year ending March 2020 (ONS)
05
In Canada, reported spousal violence decreased by 6% between 2009 and 2019 in police-reported data (StatsCan time series)
06
Alcohol is implicated in about 31% of intimate partner violence incidents in a global review synthesis (WHO/peer-reviewed review)
Interpretation
Trends & Drivers Interpretation
Across the Trends & Drivers landscape, domestic violence pressures appear to be shifting rather than improving steadily, with UK police-recorded incidents rising 14% to the year ending March 2022 even as an earlier England and Wales fall of 1% to the year ending March 2021 suggests a fluctuating pattern likely shaped by underlying drivers such as perpetrator demographics and substance involvement.
04 · Category
Economic Impact4 stats
01
$3.6 billion in annual direct costs from domestic violence in the United States for healthcare utilization and services (estimate from peer-reviewed economic analyses)
02
Domestic violence costs are estimated at 1.3% of global GDP in a World Bank/WHO synthesis (global economic cost estimate)
03
A 2019 peer-reviewed study estimated the lifetime cost per victim of intimate partner violence at approximately $103,767(2017 dollars; healthcare and productivity components)
04
Intimate partner violence is responsible for an estimated 2.3% of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost worldwide (WHO burden estimate)
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
Economic impacts from domestic violence are enormous, with $3.6 billion in annual US direct healthcare costs and a global toll estimated at 1.3% of GDP, showing that this harm reaches far beyond personal safety into widespread economic loss.
05 · Category
Epidemiology1 stats
01
37% of homicide victims are women and intimate partner homicide accounts for a substantial share of female homicides globally — percentage of female homicide victims killed by partners/related contexts
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
From an epidemiology perspective, women make up 37% of homicide victims and intimate partner homicide forms a substantial share of those cases, underscoring how frequently domestic violence is tied to partner related killing.
More related reading
06 · Category
Prevalence & Reporting3 stats
01
2021 had 9% higher domestic violence-related ED visits than 2020 in the same US multi-hospital dataset analysis — change in ED visits
02
In Australia (from 2021 police data), police recorded 132,234 domestic violence-related incidents in 2021 — police recorded incidents
03
In Australia (NSW), 2021 had 32,000 apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) applications — number of ADVO applications
Interpretation
Prevalence & Reporting Interpretation
Across the Prevalence and Reporting landscape, domestic violence signals were clearly rising, with US emergency department visits increasing by 9% in 2021 versus 2020, and Australia recording 132,234 police-recorded incidents in 2021 along with 32,000 ADVO applications in NSW.
07 · Category
Risk & Impact3 stats
01
40% of women in the US who had experienced IPV reported experiencing coercive control — prevalence of coercive control among IPV survivors (survey study)
02
22% of IPV victims reported experiencing stalking by an intimate partner in the US (survey estimate) — stalking prevalence among IPV victims
03
A 2021 systematic review found that IPV is associated with a 16% higher risk of adverse birth outcomes — relative risk estimate
Interpretation
Risk & Impact Interpretation
In the Risk and Impact category, the data show that among women in the US who experienced IPV, 40% reported coercive control and 22% reported intimate partner stalking, while a 2021 review links IPV to a 16% higher risk of adverse birth outcomes.
08 · Category
Economic Burden2 stats
01
$4.3 billion in annual economic costs of domestic violence in the United States (2005–2016 adjusted estimate from a peer-reviewed cost study) — total economic burden
02
US direct medical costs from intimate partner violence were estimated at $5.0 billion annually (adjusted to 2016 dollars) — healthcare cost burden
Interpretation
Economic Burden Interpretation
For the economic burden of domestic violence, annual costs in the United States totaled $4.3 billion from 2005 to 2016 and direct healthcare expenses from intimate partner violence alone were about $5.0 billion per year, underscoring how deeply this harm strains finances well beyond immediate health impacts.
09 · Category
Services & Response1 stats
01
In England and Wales, there were 122,000 domestic abuse-related incidents per month on average in the year ending March 2023 — monthly average police recorded incidents
Interpretation
Services & Response Interpretation
In England and Wales, police recorded an average of 122,000 domestic abuse-related incidents each month in the year ending March 2023, underscoring the intense and ongoing demand on Services and Response efforts.
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
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Latest Domestic Violence Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/latest-domestic-violence-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Latest Domestic Violence Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/latest-domestic-violence-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Latest Domestic Violence Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/latest-domestic-violence-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+9 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)