Behind these numbers are billions of shattered lives, as evidenced by the staggering fact that globally, one in three women has endured physical or sexual violence.
Key Takeaways
- Globally, 1 in 3 women (about 736 million) have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime according to WHO data from 2021
- In the United States, 41% of women and 26% of men have experienced some form of coercive control by an intimate partner in their lifetime per CDC's 2016-2017 NISVS report
- Approximately 10 million people in the US experience domestic violence annually, with physical abuse accounting for 48% of cases as reported by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 2022
- In the United States, women aged 18-24 are most likely to experience physical intimate partner violence at rates of 47.1 per 1,000 per CDC NISVS 2016/17
- Among US child physical abuse victims, 17.6% are under age 3, with higher fatality rates per HHS CM 2021 report
- Globally, adolescent girls aged 15-19 are 50% more likely to experience physical violence than older women per WHO 2021
- Globally, men aged 18-24 perpetrate physical IPV at rates 25% higher than older men per WHO 2021 analysis
- In the US, 97% of physical domestic abusers are male per DOJ BJS 2020 report
- Alcohol use involved in 40-60% of physical IPV incidents per NIAAA 2022 meta-analysis
- Physical abuse victims are 3 times more likely to experience depression per CDC 2021 meta-analysis
- In the US, child physical abuse leads to 1,750 child deaths annually per HHS 2021
- Women experiencing physical IPV have 16% higher risk of heart disease per AJPM 2020 study
- Protective orders reduce physical re-abuse by 80% in first year per NIJ 2021 evaluation
- Batterer intervention programs reduce recidivism by 33% per Campbell Review 2016 updated 2022
- In the US, mandatory arrest policies decreased physical IPV homicides by 60% post-1986 per DOJ 2020
Globally, physical abuse remains alarmingly common across all ages and communities.
Consequences and Impacts
- Physical abuse victims are 3 times more likely to experience depression per CDC 2021 meta-analysis
- In the US, child physical abuse leads to 1,750 child deaths annually per HHS 2021
- Women experiencing physical IPV have 16% higher risk of heart disease per AJPM 2020 study
- Global physical violence causes 42% of female homicides per WHO 2022
- In the UK, physical abuse survivors have 2.5x PTSD rates per NHS 2022 review
- Elder physical abuse increases mortality risk by 3x within 1 year per JAMA 2017
- Physical IPV linked to 1.5x preterm birth risk per ACOG 2021
- In Australia, physical abuse victims miss 8.3 workdays/year on average per ABS 2021
- Child physical abuse victims 59% more likely to be arrested as juvenile per CDC 2020
- Physical violence increases suicide attempt risk by 4x in women per Lancet 2019
- In India, physical spousal abuse linked to 25% miscarriage rate per NFHS-5 analysis 2022
- US physical abuse costs $5.8 billion annually in medical care per CDC 2018 updated 2023
- Physical IPV survivors have 70% higher chronic pain incidence per Pain Journal 2021
- In Canada, physical abuse leads to 30% higher healthcare utilization per CMAJ 2020
- Global burden of physical violence: 1.6 million DALYs lost annually per WHO 2021
- In the EU, physical violence victims 2x likely to have anxiety disorders per FRA 2022
- South Africa physical IPV increases HIV risk by 1.5x per The Lancet 2021
- Child physical abuse linked to 2.4x adult obesity risk per Pediatrics 2019
- In Brazil, physical abuse correlates with 40% alcohol dependence in victims per BMJ 2020
- UK physical domestic abuse causes £66 billion economic loss yearly per Refuge 2022
- Mexico physical violence leads to 20% permanent disability in severe cases per INEGI 2021
- Nigeria physical abuse victims 3x suicide ideation per NDHS 2018 analysis
- Japan physical IPV linked to 15% higher maternal depression per JMAJ 2021
- Egypt physical violence increases anemia risk 2x in women per EDHS 2022
- Philippines child physical abuse raises dropout rate 25% per DepEd 2020
- China physical elder abuse shortens life by 5 years avg per Lancet 2022
- Germany physical abuse victims 50% more hospitalizations per Destatis 2021
- Turkey physical IPV linked to 35% infertility issues per 2021 study
- Kenya physical violence increases child stunting 18% per KDHS 2022
- US physical abuse raises stroke risk 2.7x in women per Stroke Journal 2020
- Sweden physical victims have 40% higher sick leave per SCB 2022
Consequences and Impacts Interpretation
This chilling numerical echo reveals that physical abuse is not merely a moment of violence but a lifelong sentence, systematically exacting its cost on the human body, mind, and society across the globe.
Incidence and Prevalence
- Globally, 1 in 3 women (about 736 million) have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime according to WHO data from 2021
- In the United States, 41% of women and 26% of men have experienced some form of coercive control by an intimate partner in their lifetime per CDC's 2016-2017 NISVS report
- Approximately 10 million people in the US experience domestic violence annually, with physical abuse accounting for 48% of cases as reported by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 2022
- In 2020, child protective services in the US received 3.9 million referrals alleging child maltreatment, with 18.3% substantiated as physical abuse per HHS Children's Bureau
- Worldwide, 1 billion children aged 2-17 years have experienced physical, sexual, emotional or multiple types of violence in the past year per UNICEF 2020 report
- In the EU, 22% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a current or previous partner since age 15, according to FRA 2014 survey updated 2021
- In India, 31.9% of ever-married women aged 15-49 have experienced spousal physical violence per NFHS-5 2019-21 survey
- In Australia, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced physical violence since age 15 per ABS 2016 Personal Safety Survey updated 2022
- In the UK, 5% of adults experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2022, with physical violence in 27% of cases per ONS Crime Survey
- In South Africa, 27.6% of women aged 18+ reported lifetime physical or sexual intimate partner violence per SAMRC 2017 study
- In Brazil, 10.6% of women experienced physical violence by an intimate partner in the past 12 months per WHO multi-country study update 2020
- In Canada, 22% of women and 7% of men reported experiencing physical or sexual violence from a partner per 2014 GSS updated 2021
- In Mexico, 43.9% of women aged 15+ have suffered physical violence from their partner per ENDIREH 2021 survey
- In Russia, 16% of women experienced physical violence by partner in past year per WHO 2018 STEPS survey
- In Egypt, 31% of ever-married women aged 15-49 experienced physical violence since marriage per EDHS 2014 updated 2022
- In the US, 1 in 7 children experience physical abuse annually per CDC 2023 vital signs report
- Globally, 120 million girls under 20 (about 10%) have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forced sexual acts per WHO 2021
- In Japan, 17.4% of women reported lifetime physical violence by partner per 2017 National Survey on Violence
- In Nigeria, 30% of women aged 15-49 experienced physical violence by partner per NDHS 2018
- In the Philippines, 23.1% of women ever-married experienced physical violence per NDHS 2017
- In the US, elder physical abuse affects 1 in 10 older adults annually per NCEA 2022 statistics
- In China, 24.7% of women experienced physical domestic violence per 2011 national survey updated 2020
- In Germany, 13% of women experienced physical violence by partner since age 16 per 2019 LIfBi survey
- In Turkey, 38% of women experienced physical violence at least once per 2014 Research on Domestic Violence
- In the US, 35.6% of high school students experienced physical dating violence per CDC 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
- Globally, physical violence contributes to 38% of all murders of women per UNODC 2018 Global Study on Homicide
- In Sweden, 14% of women reported physical violence by partner per 2017 NTU survey
- In Kenya, 38% of women experienced physical violence by partner per KDHS 2014 updated 2022
- In the US, workplace physical violence affects 2% of workers annually per BLS 2022 survey
- In France, 218,000 women victims of physical/sexual violence by partner in 2020 per INSEE
Incidence and Prevalence Interpretation
This isn't a constellation of isolated tragedies, but a single, glaring epidemic that spares no geography, gender, or generation, proving our world remains profoundly unsafe for the most vulnerable among us.
Perpetrator Characteristics
- Globally, men aged 18-24 perpetrate physical IPV at rates 25% higher than older men per WHO 2021 analysis
- In the US, 97% of physical domestic abusers are male per DOJ BJS 2020 report
- Alcohol use involved in 40-60% of physical IPV incidents per NIAAA 2022 meta-analysis
- In the UK, 75% of physical domestic abuse perpetrators have prior criminal records per ONS 2022
- US child physical abusers are 70% male parents or partners per HHS CM 2021
- Perpetrators with unemployment rates 2x higher than average in IPV physical cases per CDC 2019
- In Australia, 85% of physical violence against women by known male perpetrators per ABS 2022
- In India, perpetrators of spousal physical abuse often have low education (45%) per NFHS-5
- Mental health disorders present in 50% of physical IPV perpetrators per APA 2021 review
- In Canada, 60% of male perpetrators of physical IPV have witnessed parental violence per StatCan 2021
- In the EU, young male perpetrators (18-29) account for 40% of physical violence cases per FRA 2021
- In South Africa, 65% of physical abusers report childhood abuse history per SAMRC 2022
- In the US, 30% of physical elder abusers are adult children per NCEA 2023
- Drug use involved in 25% of physical domestic violence arrests per BJS 2021
- In Brazil, male perpetrators with controlling behaviors in 80% of physical IPV per Lancet 2020
- In the UK, ex-partners perpetrate 50% of physical murders of women per ONS 2022
- In Mexico, 55% of physical abusers are current spouses per ENDIREH 2021
- In Nigeria, rural male perpetrators more likely (38%) than urban per NDHS 2018
- In Japan, salarymen with overtime >60hrs/week 3x more likely to physically abuse per 2021 study
- In Egypt, male perpetrators without education 50% of physical cases per EDHS 2014
- In the Philippines, stepfathers perpetrate 25% of child physical abuse per DSWD 2020
- In China, migrant male workers perpetrate 40% physical abuse in families per 2022 survey
- In Germany, immigrant male perpetrators overrepresented at 35% of cases per 2021 police stats
- In Turkey, unemployed men perpetrate 60% physical spousal violence per 2019 study
- In Kenya, men with multiple partners 4x more likely physical abusers per KDHS 2022
- In the US, veteran perpetrators have PTSD in 45% of physical IPV cases per VA 2023
- In Sweden, male perpetrators aged 30-49 peak at 35% of physical violence reports per NTU 2022
Perpetrator Characteristics Interpretation
Globally, physical abuse paints a grim, cross-cultural portrait of a crisis primarily driven by men—often young, economically strained, and wrestling with trauma or substance use—who wield control violently within the very relationships meant to be their sanctuary.
Prevention and Legal Responses
- Protective orders reduce physical re-abuse by 80% in first year per NIJ 2021 evaluation
- Batterer intervention programs reduce recidivism by 33% per Campbell Review 2016 updated 2022
- In the US, mandatory arrest policies decreased physical IPV homicides by 60% post-1986 per DOJ 2020
- School-based violence prevention programs lower child physical abuse reports 20% per CDC 2023
- In the UK, Clare's Law disclosures prevented 100+ physical abuses in 2022 per Home Office
- Home visitation programs like Nurse-Family Partnership reduce child physical abuse 48% per JAMA 2019
- In Australia, family violence courts reduced recidivism 25% per AIC 2021
- Bystander intervention training cuts physical assaults 17% on campuses per meta-analysis 2022
- In India, One Stop Centres handled 500k+ cases preventing escalation 70% in 2022 per WCD
- US VAWA funding led to 64% increase in prosecutions for physical abuse 1994-2020
- In Canada, risk assessment tools predict lethal physical violence 85% accuracy per 2021 study
- EU Istanbul Convention ratified countries saw 15% drop in physical femicide per GREVIO 2022
- South Africa Thuthuzela Care Centres increased convictions 85% for physical GBV per NPA 2022
- Elder abuse hotlines in US prevent 30% repeat physical incidents per NCEA 2023
- Alcohol treatment for perpetrators reduces physical re-offending 50% per NIAAA 2022
- In Brazil, Lei Maria da Penha law decreased physical homicides 10% post-2006 per IPEA 2021
- UK Multi-Agency Risk Panels reduced high-risk physical cases 45% in 2022 per College of Policing
- Mexico alert button app prevented 1,200 physical assaults in 2022 per SSPC
- Nigeria VAPP law increased physical abuse reporting 40% with faster responses per 2022 eval
- Japan DV Prevention Law amendments 2017 reduced physical recidivism 20% per Cabinet 2022
- Egypt 132 hotline handled 1M calls averting physical violence in 50% cases 2022
- Philippines Barangay VAWC desks resolved 70% physical cases pre-court 2021 per DSWD
- China anti-DV law 2016 led to 30% more physical abuse interventions per 2022 stats
- Germany White Ring support prevented 25% repeat physical victimizations 2021
- Turkey KADES app blocked 120k physical risks in 2022 per Interior Ministry
- Kenya GBV courts convicted 90% physical cases faster in 2022 per Judiciary
- US gun removal laws in 10 states reduced physical IPV deaths 12% per Everytown 2023
- Sweden gun surrender policy post-physical threat reduces femicide 40% per 2022 study
Prevention and Legal Responses Interpretation
The data screams that while monsters don't come with blueprints, we've actually gotten alarmingly good at building better mousetraps—from protection orders to apps—proving that systematic intervention, not just sympathy, is what truly stops the hitting.
Victim Characteristics
- In the United States, women aged 18-24 are most likely to experience physical intimate partner violence at rates of 47.1 per 1,000 per CDC NISVS 2016/17
- Among US child physical abuse victims, 17.6% are under age 3, with higher fatality rates per HHS CM 2021 report
- Globally, adolescent girls aged 15-19 are 50% more likely to experience physical violence than older women per WHO 2021
- In the US, 88% of physical abuse victims in shelters are women per NNEDV 2022 factsheet
- Black women in the US experience physical IPV at rates 35% higher than white women per CDC NISVS 2010-2012
- In the UK, 74% of domestic abuse victims are female per ONS 2022, with physical abuse predominant
- US indigenous women face physical violence rates 1.7 times higher than other races per NIJ 2021
- In Australia, 31% of physical violence victims since age 15 are aged 15-24 per ABS 2021
- In India, rural women experience physical spousal violence at 32.6% vs 23.4% urban per NFHS-5
- In the US, pregnant women face 1.5 times higher risk of physical abuse per CDC 2020
- Elderly women over 60 in the US are 3 times more likely to be physically abused than men per NCEA 2023
- In Canada, LGBTQ+ individuals experience physical IPV at 11% lifetime rate vs 6% heterosexual per StatCan 2018
- In the EU, women with lower education levels experience physical violence 1.5 times more per FRA 2021
- In South Africa, unemployed women report physical IPV at 40% vs 25% employed per SAMRC 2020
- In the US, 60% of physical abuse victims in families have children present per NCADV 2022
- In Brazil, women in favelas experience physical violence 2x higher than urban average per IPEA 2019
- In the UK, disabled women are twice as likely to experience physical domestic abuse per ONS 2021
- In Mexico, indigenous women face physical violence rates of 52% vs 40% non-indigenous per CONAPRED 2021
- In Nigeria, women with no education experience physical violence at 44% per NDHS 2018
- In the US, military women experience physical abuse at 28% rate vs 22% civilians per VA 2022
- In Japan, single mothers report physical abuse at 25% per Cabinet Office 2020
- In Egypt, separated/divorced women experience physical violence at 49% vs 28% married per EDHS 2014
- In the Philippines, women aged 25-34 highest at 28% physical spousal violence per NDHS 2017
- In China, migrant women workers face physical abuse at 35% per 2020 study
- In Germany, migrant women experience physical IPV 2.5x higher per BMFSFJ 2021
- In Turkey, women with children under 18 report 42% physical violence per 2018 survey
- In Kenya, women in polygamous marriages experience physical violence at 45% per KDHS 2022
- In the US, low-income women (<$25k) experience physical IPV at 37% lifetime per NISVS 2017
- In Sweden, women aged 20-24 highest physical violence victimization at 8% past year per BRA 2022
Victim Characteristics Interpretation
The stark data paints a relentlessly consistent portrait: from cradle to old age, across nations and circumstances, the world is systematically failing to protect women and girls, with violence following the fault lines of youth, poverty, and marginalization with predatory precision.
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