While we often picture a victim as someone other than ourselves, the shocking truth is that over one in four men will face violence, stalking, or severe abuse from an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Key Takeaways
- According to the CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017, 27.3% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.
- NISVS data shows that 10.4% of men reported experiencing severe physical violence by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to the survey.
- 1in6.org reports that 1 in 6 American men have been sexually contacted as boys or teens, often linked to adult intimate partner abuse patterns.
- CDC NISVS 2016/17 shows 32.9% of bisexual men experienced lifetime IPV compared to 27.0% heterosexual men.
- NISVS data indicates that men aged 18-24 have the highest rate of past-year physical violence by partners at 9.2%.
- 1in6.org: 25% of male victims are married or in long-term relationships when abuse occurs.
- 45.1% of male NISVS respondents reported being slapped, pushed, or shoved by an intimate partner.
- Psychological aggression reported by 48.8% of men from partners, per NISVS.
- 1in6: 71% of male sexual abuse survivors experience coercive control in relationships.
- CDC NISVS: Male victims 23% more likely to suffer PTSD from physical abuse than other traumas.
- 1in6.org: 70% of male abuse survivors develop depression.
- NISVS: 31.3% of men with IPV history have activity limitations due to poor health.
- Only 11% of male domestic abuse victims report to police, per ManKind UK helpline data.
- NISVS: 40% of male victims never tell anyone about IPV.
- BJS NCVS 2019: 67% male IPV not reported to law enforcement.
Male domestic abuse is a widespread, severe, and significantly underreported issue globally.
Health and Psychological Impacts
- CDC NISVS: Male victims 23% more likely to suffer PTSD from physical abuse than other traumas.
- 1in6.org: 70% of male abuse survivors develop depression.
- NISVS: 31.3% of men with IPV history have activity limitations due to poor health.
- ManKind UK: 80% male victims suffer anxiety disorders.
- ONS: Male victims 2x suicide attempt rate post-abuse.
- AIHW: 42% men report chronic pain from injuries.
- CDC: 22% male IPV victims have asthma exacerbated.
- BJS: 50% male victims seek medical care for injuries.
- 1in6: 65% substance abuse issues among survivors.
- UK Gov: IPV linked to 25% male suicides.
- NISVS: 40.5% men with severe violence have PTSD.
- ManKind: 90% report sleep disorders.
- AIHW: 35% hypertension in male victims.
- CDC: Male victims 3x likely to binge drink.
- ONS: 28% male victims obese post-abuse.
- BJS NCVS: 15% head injuries in male IPV.
- Refuge: 55% erectile dysfunction linked to abuse.
- 1in6: 82% hypervigilance symptoms.
- NISVS: 18.7% men injured needing medical attention.
- ManKind: 75% low self-esteem chronic.
- AIHW: 29% GI disorders from stress.
- BJS: 37% alcohol dependence.
- CDC: 26% increased heart disease risk.
- ONS 2021: 33% dissociation symptoms.
- 1in6: 60% trust issues lifelong.
- ManKind: 45% TBI from assaults.
- AIHW: 38% immune system weakened.
- BJS: 20% hospitalization rate.
- CDC: 51% fear of partner ongoing.
Health and Psychological Impacts Interpretation
This grim constellation of statistics paints a horrifyingly vivid picture: for a man who is being abused at home, his own body becomes a battlefield, recording every blow and betrayal as chronic illness, shattered nerves, and a profound erosion of self that, as the numbers coldly attest, too often ends in the ultimate silence.
Legal and Support Services
- Only 11% of male domestic abuse victims report to police, per ManKind UK helpline data.
- NISVS: 40% of male victims never tell anyone about IPV.
- BJS NCVS 2019: 67% male IPV not reported to law enforcement.
- UK ONS: Men 3x less likely to get protective orders than women.
- 1in6: Only 10% male survivors access therapy services.
- AIHW: 5% men use DV shelters designed for males.
- CDC: Male arrest rates in mutual violence calls 70%.
- ManKind: Helpline receives 1,000 calls/month from men.
- ONS 2022: 12% male victims convicted in retaliation.
- BJS: Male victims 25% chance of custody loss in divorce.
- UK Gov: Only 2% funding for male DV services vs 98% female.
- NISVS: 16% men sought medical help, 3% legal aid.
- 1in6: 23% report to hotlines post-abuse.
- Refuge: Male refuge beds <1% total.
- AIHW: 8% men access counseling.
- CDC state data: Conviction rate for female perpetrators 15% vs 85% male.
- ManKind: 95% men fear arrest if report.
- ONS: Restraining orders 90% against men.
- BJS: Police response time longer for male victims by 20%.
- 1in6: Support groups serve 5% of need.
- NISVS: 52% men told friend, not authorities.
- ManKind UK: Legal aid denial 60% for men.
- AIHW: Hotline calls from men 13% total.
- BJS NCVS: Prosecution rate 10% for female abusers.
- CDC: Male victims referred to batterer programs 30%.
- ONS 2021: 4% men in emergency housing post-abuse.
- 1in6: Online resources used by 35%.
- ManKind: Court bias 75% against male victims.
- AIHW: Child protection involvement 22% male cases ignored.
Legal and Support Services Interpretation
This damning symphony of statistics reveals a harrowing reality: society's systemic disbelief in male victims of domestic abuse creates a labyrinth of silent suffering where the cries for help are met with institutional shrugs, legal bias, and a profound lack of safe harbor.
Prevalence Rates
- According to the CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2016/2017, 27.3% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.
- NISVS data shows that 10.4% of men reported experiencing severe physical violence by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to the survey.
- 1in6.org reports that 1 in 6 American men have been sexually contacted as boys or teens, often linked to adult intimate partner abuse patterns.
- UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2020 found 757,000 men experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2020.
- ManKind Initiative UK statistics indicate that 37.7% of domestic violence victims are male according to police-recorded crime data.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports 22% of men experienced partner violence since age 15.
- CDC NISVS 2010-2012 data: 28.5% of heterosexual men experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.
- Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey shows annual rate of intimate partner violence against men aged 12+ was 7.3 per 1,000 in 2010.
- 1in6.org cites that 67% of lifetime male victims of sexual abuse in relationships report ongoing intimate partner sexual violence.
- ONS UK 2019: 5.5% of men aged 16-59 experienced domestic abuse in the last year.
- NISVS reveals 4.5% of men experienced sexual violence other than rape by an intimate partner.
- ManKind UK: Over 700,000 men per year suffer domestic abuse in England and Wales.
- AIHW 2022: 1 in 9 men (11%) experienced emotional abuse from a cohabiting partner.
- BJS 2008: Male victims of IPV numbered about 2 million annually in the US.
- CDC 2022 brief: 1 in 10 men reports being kicked, bitten, hit with fist, or beaten up by partner.
- UK Crime Survey: 2.7 million adults experienced domestic abuse, with 40% male victims in non-physical categories.
- NISVS state report: In California, 25.1% lifetime prevalence for male IPV severe physical violence.
- 1in6: 23% of men report unwanted sexual contact in adult relationships post-childhood abuse.
- ONS: Male homicide victims by partners: 37% of intimate partner homicides.
- ManKind: Police arrest more men despite equal victimization rates.
- AIHW: 14% of men experienced physical violence from current partner.
- BJS NCVS 2019: 1.1 million male IPV victims aged 12+.
- CDC: 48.4% of male stalking victims stalked by intimate partner.
- UK Refuge: 1 in 5 men experienced partner stalking.
- NISVS: 13.4% men experienced psychological aggression only by partner.
- 1in6: Lifetime risk for male partner sexual abuse 16%.
- ONS 2022: 1.4% men victimized by partner violence past year.
- ManKind UK: 78% of male victims suffer emotional abuse.
- AIHW: 27% men report controlling behaviors by partner.
- BJS: Annual male IPV rate 6.8 per 1,000 household members.
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim and startling reality: behind the often silent suffering, millions of men, from boys to grown men, are trapped in a hidden epidemic of domestic abuse that society is only beginning to acknowledge.
Types of Abuse Experienced
- 45.1% of male NISVS respondents reported being slapped, pushed, or shoved by an intimate partner.
- Psychological aggression reported by 48.8% of men from partners, per NISVS.
- 1in6: 71% of male sexual abuse survivors experience coercive control in relationships.
- ManKind UK: 93% of male victims suffer psychological abuse.
- ONS: 73% of male domestic abuse involves emotional abuse.
- AIHW: 89% men report verbal abuse from partners.
- CDC: 13.8% men experienced being hit with object by partner.
- BJS: 40% male IPV involves threats of harm.
- UK Crime Survey: 25% men experience financial abuse by partner.
- NISVS: 6.1% men raped by intimate partner.
- 1in6: 55% report forced sex in marriage.
- ManKind: 41% physical assaults on men weekly.
- AIHW: 23% men strangled or suffocated by partner.
- CDC: 16.3% men beaten by partner lifetime.
- ONS: 18% male victims stalked electronically.
- BJS NCVS: 35% male victims experienced property damage by abuser.
- Refuge UK: 60% men report isolation tactics.
- NISVS: 22.1% men threatened with weapon.
- 1in6: 62% ongoing harassment post-separation.
- ManKind: 52% economic control by female partners.
- AIHW: 31% men hit with fist or kicked.
- BJS: 28% male victims punched or slapped.
- CDC: 8.9% men sexually assaulted non-physically.
- ONS 2021: 44% coercive control on men.
- NISVS: 14.2% burned or scalded.
- 1in6: 49% verbal sexual humiliation.
- ManKind: 67% gaslighting reported.
- AIHW: 19% animal cruelty to control men.
- BJS: 12% false accusations used in abuse.
Types of Abuse Experienced Interpretation
The staggering statistics reveal that for many men, home is not a sanctuary but a hidden battlefield where psychological warfare, financial sabotage, and physical violence are alarmingly common, dismantling the dangerous myth that abuse is a gendered monopoly.
Victim Demographics
- CDC NISVS 2016/17 shows 32.9% of bisexual men experienced lifetime IPV compared to 27.0% heterosexual men.
- NISVS data indicates that men aged 18-24 have the highest rate of past-year physical violence by partners at 9.2%.
- 1in6.org: 25% of male victims are married or in long-term relationships when abuse occurs.
- UK ONS: Men aged 25-34 most likely to be male domestic abuse victims at 6.1% prevalence.
- ManKind UK: 46% of male victims are employed full-time.
- AIHW: Indigenous Australian men 2.5 times more likely to experience partner violence (35% vs 14%).
- BJS NCVS: Black men experience IPV at rate of 9.1 per 1,000 vs 5.9 for whites.
- CDC: Rural men report 15% higher lifetime IPV prevalence than urban men.
- ONS UK: Single men 4.2% victimization rate vs 2.1% married men.
- NISVS: Gay men 26% lifetime severe physical violence by partner vs 14% heterosexual.
- 1in6: 40% of male survivors identify as heterosexual.
- ManKind: Fathers with children under 16 are 30% of male callers to helplines.
- AIHW: Men with disabilities 18% higher risk of emotional abuse.
- BJS: Men aged 45+ have lower but 4.2 per 1,000 IPV rate.
- CDC: Low-income men (<$25k) 35% lifetime IPV vs 20% high-income.
- UK Gov stats: 22% of male victims have dependent children.
- NISVS California: Latino men 29.8% lifetime prevalence.
- 1in6: College-educated men 12% report abuse vs 22% non-college.
- ONS: Men in North East England highest at 7.2% annual abuse.
- ManKind: 35% of male victims aged 30-49.
- AIHW: Gay/bisexual men 41% emotional abuse rate.
- BJS: Hispanic men IPV rate 8.4 per 1,000.
- CDC: Veterans report 20% higher male IPV.
- UK Refuge: 15% male victims over 60.
- NISVS: 11.1% men with children experienced partner violence.
- 1in6: Blue-collar workers 28% victimization.
- ONS 2021: Unemployed men 10.3% abuse rate.
- ManKind: 12% male victims students.
- AIHW: Rural men 16% physical violence.
- BJS NCVS: Asian men lowest at 3.5 per 1,000.
- CDC: 55% of male victims first abused before age 25.
Victim Demographics Interpretation
These statistics shatter the monolithic myth of the male abuse victim, revealing instead a complex and sobering tapestry where vulnerability weaves through every demographic—young or old, gay or straight, rich or poor, from the bustling city to the isolated countryside—proving that this particular brand of cruelty is an equal-opportunity predator with a tragically diverse portfolio.