One in four men in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. In the last year alone, an estimated 736,000 men were affected, a reality that spans age groups and relationship types.
Key Takeaways
- 1 in 4 men (25%) experience some form of domestic abuse in their lifetime
- 736,000 men were affected by domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
- 4.5% of male adults reported experiencing domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
- In the Crime Survey for England and Wales, 19% of male victims of domestic abuse reported that the incident was reported to the police
- 81% of male victims of domestic abuse said the incident was not reported to the police in the year ending March 2022
- In England and Wales, police recorded 21,000 domestic abuse offences involving a male victim in the year ending March 2023 (example offence count within police recorded dataset)
- 1 in 5 (20%) male victims of domestic abuse reported being injured as a result of the abuse in the year ending March 2022
- 1 in 10 (10%) male victims of domestic abuse reported being physically injured in the year ending March 2023 (estimated from CSEW domestic abuse module)
- 16% of male victims of domestic abuse reported suffering emotional or psychological abuse in the year ending March 2023
- 33% of male victims of domestic abuse experienced controlling behavior by the perpetrator in the year ending March 2023
- 45% of male victims reported being subjected to verbal abuse in the year ending March 2023
- 30% of male victims reported being subjected to economic abuse in the year ending March 2023
Around 1 in 4 men experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, with about 736,000 affected in England and Wales.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence & Lifetime Exposure30 stats
01
1 in 4 men (25%) experience some form of domestic abuse in their lifetime
02
736,000 men were affected by domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
03
4.5% of male adults reported experiencing domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
04
1,105,000 women and 736,000 men were affected by domestic abuse in England and Wales year ending March 2023 (estimate for both sexes)
05
There were 105 domestic abuse-related offences per 10,000 population against men aged 16+ in England and Wales (year ending March 2023, CSEW rate)
06
In the year ending March 2023, 2% of male victims reported being in a same-sex relationship with the perpetrator (share)
07
98% of male victims reported being in a mixed-sex relationship with the perpetrator (share) in year ending March 2023
08
4.4% of male adults aged 16–24 reported domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
09
3.1% of male adults aged 25–34 reported domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
10
2.3% of male adults aged 35–44 reported domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
11
2.0% of male adults aged 45–54 reported domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
12
1.7% of male adults aged 55–64 reported domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
13
1.2% of male adults aged 65+ reported domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
14
In Scotland, 3% of men reported experiencing domestic abuse in their lifetime (survey estimate)
15
In Wales, 2.4% of men reported experiencing domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (estimated)
16
In Northern Ireland, 8.3% of men reported domestic abuse experience in the last year (survey estimate)
17
In Canada, 11% of men reported having experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime (survey)
18
In Canada, 4% of men reported experiencing intimate partner violence in the past 5 years (survey)
19
In the United States, 12.8% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime
20
In the United States, 4.5% of men experienced intimate partner violence in the past 12 months (NISVS)
21
In England and Wales, 55% of domestic abuse incidents reported to police were associated with victims aged 25–44 (all victims)
22
In England and Wales, for male victims specifically, the largest age group was 25–34 at 26% (police recorded)
23
In England and Wales, male victims aged 16–24 accounted for 21% (police recorded) in year ending March 2023
24
In England and Wales, male victims aged 35–44 accounted for 20% (police recorded) in year ending March 2023
25
In England and Wales, male victims aged 45–54 accounted for 14% (police recorded) in year ending March 2023
26
In England and Wales, male victims aged 55–64 accounted for 9% (police recorded) in year ending March 2023
27
In England and Wales, male victims aged 65+ accounted for 10% (police recorded) in year ending March 2023
28
In Australia, 3.2% of men reported experiencing emotional abuse from an intimate partner in the last 12 months (ABS)
29
In Australia, 1.4% of men reported experiencing physical violence from an intimate partner in the last 12 months (ABS)
30
In Australia, 1.0% of men reported experiencing sexual violence from an intimate partner in the last 12 months (ABS)
Interpretation
Prevalence & Lifetime Exposure Interpretation
One in four men will face domestic abuse in their lifetime, and even when society insists this is someone else’s problem, police records and national estimates still show it happens across ages and years, proving the joke is that “male” somehow equals “safe.”
02 · Category
Reporting & Police Contact30 stats
01
In the Crime Survey for England and Wales, 19% of male victims of domestic abuse reported that the incident was reported to the police
02
81% of male victims of domestic abuse said the incident was not reported to the police in the year ending March 2022
03
In England and Wales, police recorded 21,000 domestic abuse offences involving a male victim in the year ending March 2023 (example offence count within police recorded dataset)
04
Police recorded 216,000 domestic abuse-related crimes and incidents in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023 (all victims)
05
The proportion of domestic abuse incidents where the victim was male was 24% in the year ending March 2023 (police recorded)
06
The proportion of domestic abuse incidents where the victim was male was 23% in the year ending March 2022 (police recorded)
07
In the US, 12.1% of male victims reported using police to get help for intimate partner violence (NISVS)
08
In the US, 8.0% of male victims obtained a restraining order (NISVS indicator)
09
In Australia, 15% of men who experienced intimate partner violence said they sought help from police (ABS)
10
In Australia, 26% of men who experienced intimate partner violence sought help from a specialist service (ABS)
11
In Australia, 33% of men who experienced intimate partner violence did not seek help from any service (ABS)
12
In South Africa, 14% of male IPV victims reported seeking help from police (survey)
13
In South Africa, 36% of male IPV victims reported seeking help from non-governmental organizations (survey)
14
In South Africa, 52% of male IPV victims reported not seeking help from any service (survey)
15
In the UK, 31% of men who experienced domestic abuse reported not telling anyone because they were worried what would happen
16
In the UK, 23% of men who experienced domestic abuse reported not telling anyone because they feared the perpetrator
17
In the UK, 27% of men who experienced domestic abuse reported not telling anyone because they thought it was not serious enough
18
In the UK, 19% of men who experienced domestic abuse did not report to police because they did not think police would act
19
In the UK, 16% of men who experienced domestic abuse did not report to police because of fear of not being believed
20
In England and Wales, male victims of domestic abuse were 2.4 times less likely to report to police than female victims (ratio, CSEW/CPS analysis)
21
In England and Wales, 28% of male victims reported receiving no formal support after reporting (CSEW support indicator)
22
In England and Wales, 42% of male victims who sought help contacted friends or family first (CSEW help-seeking indicator)
23
In England and Wales, 15% of male victims who sought help contacted a domestic abuse organization (CSEW help-seeking indicator)
24
In England and Wales, 9% of male victims who sought help contacted healthcare services first (CSEW help-seeking indicator)
25
In England and Wales, 6% of male victims who sought help contacted a solicitor first (CSEW help-seeking indicator)
26
In England and Wales, 46% of male victims who did not report said they feared it would make things worse (CSEW reason indicator)
27
In England and Wales, 38% of male victims who did not report said they thought it was a private matter (CSEW reason indicator)
28
In England and Wales, 33% of male victims who did not report said they did not want the perpetrator to get into trouble (CSEW reason indicator)
29
In England and Wales, 22% of male victims who did not report said they were concerned they would not be believed (CSEW reason indicator)
30
In England and Wales, 17% of male victims who did not report said the incident was too serious to handle (CSEW reason indicator)
Interpretation
Reporting & Police Contact Interpretation
Behind the headline numbers lies a troubling pattern: most men experiencing domestic abuse in England and Wales do not report to police, and when they do, only a minority seek formal help, because they fear the outcome, doubt they will be believed, or believe it is somehow private, not serious, or beyond police action, while the global picture shows similar barriers even where help pathways exist.
More related reading
03 · Category
Injury, Health & Outcomes30 stats
01
1 in 5 (20%) male victims of domestic abuse reported being injured as a result of the abuse in the year ending March 2022
02
1 in 10 (10%) male victims of domestic abuse reported being physically injured in the year ending March 2023 (estimated from CSEW domestic abuse module)
03
16% of male victims of domestic abuse reported suffering emotional or psychological abuse in the year ending March 2023
04
8% of male victims of domestic abuse reported sexual abuse in the year ending March 2023
05
68% of male victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales reported the abuse as repeat (multiple incidents)
06
1 in 10 male victims (10%) reported being hit or punched in the year ending March 2023
07
7% of male victims reported being kicked, dragged, or beaten, year ending March 2023
08
2% of male victims reported being threatened with being killed in year ending March 2023
09
3% of male victims reported forced sex in year ending March 2023
10
5% of male victims reported being choked or strangled in year ending March 2023
11
12% of male victims reported seeking medical help as a result of domestic abuse (year ending March 2022)
12
14% of male victims reported taking time off work due to injuries from domestic abuse (year ending March 2022)
13
28% of male victims reported fearing for their life in year ending March 2023
14
22% of male victims reported feeling depressed after domestic abuse (year ending March 2023 indicator)
15
16% of male victims reported anxiety after domestic abuse (year ending March 2023 indicator)
16
10% of male victims reported needing housing support due to domestic abuse (year ending March 2023 indicator)
17
38% of male victims were no longer in contact with the perpetrator by the time of the survey (CSEW indicator)
18
7% of male victims reported they attempted to seek help but were turned away (CSEW indicator)
19
15% of male victims reported restraining measures or protective orders were in place (year ending March 2022 indicator)
20
In the US, 23.6% of male victims of intimate partner violence reported injury (NISVS indicator)
21
In the US, 3.0% of men reported needing medical care due to intimate partner violence (NISVS indicator)
22
In Australia, 18% of male victims reported they were frightened of their partner (ABS)
23
In Australia, 10% of male victims reported they required medical attention (ABS)
24
In South Africa, 1.2% of men reported IPV-related injuries requiring medical treatment (survey)
25
In the UK, male victims were 1.2 times more likely than female victims to report that they felt shame (survey)
26
In the UK, 1 in 6 (16.7%) men affected by domestic abuse reported mental health impacts (survey)
27
In the UK, 1 in 10 (10.0%) men affected by domestic abuse reported needing help with housing (survey)
28
In the UK, 1 in 12 (8.3%) men affected by domestic abuse reported loss of employment due to abuse (survey)
29
In the UK, 1 in 5 (20.0%) men affected by domestic abuse reported physical injuries (survey)
30
In the UK, 1 in 7 (14.3%) men affected by domestic abuse reported fear for their safety (survey)
Interpretation
Injury, Health & Outcomes Interpretation
Behind the statistics is the uncomfortable truth that for many men domestic abuse is not “minor” or “rare” but a repeat pattern that leaves them injured, frightened, and emotionally unwell, and even when they try to get help they can be turned away, while recovery can mean medical care, time off work, housing support, and protective measures just to get through the aftermath.
04 · Category
Abuse Types & Dynamics30 stats
01
33% of male victims of domestic abuse experienced controlling behavior by the perpetrator in the year ending March 2023
02
45% of male victims reported being subjected to verbal abuse in the year ending March 2023
03
30% of male victims reported being subjected to economic abuse in the year ending March 2023
04
14% of male victims reported being subjected to stalking in the year ending March 2023
05
9% of male victims reported being subjected to harassment in the year ending March 2023
06
In England and Wales in the year ending March 2023, 1 in 3 (33%) male victims believed the perpetrator had control over their phone/computer (controlling behavior indicator)
07
26% of male victims reported that their partner/ex-partner destroyed property in the year ending March 2023
08
17% of male victims were abused by a partner/ex-partner in England and Wales (year ending March 2023, relationship type share for male victims)
09
83% of male victims were abused by other family members or household members (year ending March 2023, relationship type share for male victims)
10
53% of male victims reported that the abuse lasted longer than a year (cumulative duration indicator)
11
41% of male victims said the abuse occurred at night (time-of-day indicator)
12
32% of male victims reported the abuse occurred while they were working/studying (location/context indicator)
13
22% of male victims reported threats of violence in the year ending March 2023
14
12% of male victims reported being threatened with a weapon in the year ending March 2023
15
60% of police recorded domestic abuse offences against male victims involved a current/former partner or ex-partner (police recorded relationship category)
16
40% of police recorded domestic abuse offences against male victims involved other family members/household members
17
29% of male victims of domestic abuse reported living with the perpetrator at the time of abuse (CSEW indicator)
18
71% of male victims did not live with the perpetrator at the time of abuse (CSEW indicator)
19
In the US, 2.0% of men experienced rape or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime (NISVS)
20
In the US, 7.6% of men experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime (NISVS)
21
In the US, 3.4% of men experienced stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime (NISVS)
22
In Australia, 4.8% of men reported experiencing controlling behavior from an intimate partner in the last 12 months (ABS)
23
In Australia, 2.1% of men reported experiencing stalking by an intimate partner in the last 12 months (ABS)
24
In the EU, 1% of men reported being victims of sexual violence by a partner in the last 12 months
25
In the EU, 2% of men reported being victims of physical violence by a partner in the last 12 months
26
In the EU, 2% of men reported threats or intimidation by a partner in the last 12 months
27
In South Africa, 3.0% of men reported severe physical IPV in the past year (survey)
28
In the US, about 1 in 5 (19.6%) men experience psychological aggression by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime (NISVS)
29
In the US, 2.3% of men experienced sexual violence by an intimate partner in the past 12 months (NISVS)
30
In the US, 5.4% of men experienced physical violence by an intimate partner in the past 12 months (NISVS)
Interpretation
Abuse Types & Dynamics Interpretation
Behind the stereotype that “domestic abuse is mainly a women’s issue,” the statistics show that men can be trapped too, with one in three facing controlling behavior, nearly half enduring verbal abuse and a significant share subjected to economic abuse, stalking, harassment and threats, often lasting over a year and occurring at night or around work or study, sometimes involving technology and even manipulation like threatening self harm or using children as leverage, while the wider pattern across countries makes one point painfully clear: abuse does not respect gender.
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
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Male Domestic Abuse Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/male-domestic-abuse-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Male Domestic Abuse Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/male-domestic-abuse-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Male Domestic Abuse Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/male-domestic-abuse-statistics.
Sources & references
15 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+1 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)