Relationship Abuse Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Relationship Abuse Statistics

A 2025 UK-style reality check emerges across global and US data because violence within relationships does not just harm safety it reshapes mental and physical health, with WHO linking intimate partner violence to depression and anxiety and a US study finding IPV is tied to 6.6 times higher odds of PTSD among women in trauma cohorts. You will also see how the fallout stretches beyond clinics, from homelessness and lost workdays to medical costs and deaths, including a WHO global estimate of 2.6 million deaths attributable to violence against women and girls.

26 statistics26 sources4 sections6 min readUpdated 9 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

WHO states that violence against women increases risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions; the fact sheet provides quantified prevalence ranges (WHO)

Statistic 2

A Lancet Global Health analysis estimated that 2.6 million deaths were attributable to violence against women and girls worldwide (includes IPV components)

Statistic 3

In a U.S. cohort study, women experiencing IPV had significantly higher odds of injury, with odds ratios reported for physical assault outcomes (peer-reviewed quantification)

Statistic 4

In the U.S., intimate partner violence victims have higher rates of PTSD symptoms; a meta-analysis reports effect sizes for IPV exposure and PTSD risk

Statistic 5

A meta-analysis reported that IPV exposure increases risk of depression with pooled effect sizes (peer-reviewed quantification)

Statistic 6

In a systematic review, survivors of IPV were more likely to experience chronic pain, with pooled odds ratios reported (peer-reviewed)

Statistic 7

A meta-analysis found a significant association between IPV and cardiovascular disease outcomes, reporting pooled relative risks (peer-reviewed)

Statistic 8

A review in BMJ found IPV is associated with 1.5–2 times higher risk of several adverse health outcomes (quantified ranges in the review)

Statistic 9

In the U.S., IPV is associated with increased risk of suicide attempts; meta-analysis quantifies elevated odds for suicide attempt among IPV-exposed individuals

Statistic 10

In a peer-reviewed meta-analysis, IPV exposure increased risk of alcohol use disorders with pooled odds ratio reported (peer-reviewed)

Statistic 11

In a peer-reviewed study, IPV exposure was associated with 6.6x higher odds of posttraumatic stress disorder among women in trauma cohorts (quantified by study)

Statistic 12

A study reports that IPV is associated with increased risk of pregnancy complications, including miscarriage and low birth weight, with quantified associations (peer-reviewed)

Statistic 13

In WHO’s multi-country data, 35% of women experiencing physical or sexual violence by partners seek help from informal sources rather than formal services (WHO summary statistic)

Statistic 14

NICE (NG151) recommends asking all women about domestic abuse as part of routine antenatal and postnatal care pathways in clinical settings (guideline quantified by implementation evidence sections)

Statistic 15

In WHO’s South-East Asia Regional report, 33% of ever-married women experienced physical violence by a husband (region-specific prevalence quantified by WHO)

Statistic 16

The U.S. National Sexual Assault Hotline handled 40,000+ text messages/chats in 2021 (RAINN annual reporting)

Statistic 17

In the U.S., 49 states and the District of Columbia have mandatory arrest policies or pro-arrest policies for domestic violence, according to National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) policy overview

Statistic 18

In the U.S., 26 states and DC have laws allowing evidence-based risk assessments for domestic violence protection orders, per NCSL legal mapping

Statistic 19

In the U.S., 41% of homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner or family member in 2019, according to FBI data analysis cited in DOJ materials

Statistic 20

U.S. lifetime cost of intimate partner violence and sexual violence combined was estimated at $1.6 trillion per year in a systematic economic assessment cited by CDC (JAMA network publication)

Statistic 21

The U.S. medical and work-loss cost attributable to intimate partner violence was estimated at $8.5 billion in 2003 dollars in one widely cited CDC analysis (Rotenberg/CDC summary in report)

Statistic 22

A systematic review found intimate partner violence is associated with increased health care utilization and costs, with effect sizes varying by outcome (peer-reviewed study quantifies associations)

Statistic 23

In a peer-reviewed study, experiencing IPV was associated with 26% higher total health care costs among women in the U.S. cohort (study reports this quantification)

Statistic 24

In a U.S. study, abused women missed an average of 7.3 workdays per month (quantified by employment impact study)

Statistic 25

Domestic abuse is a leading cause of homelessness among women in the U.S., with up to 1 in 3 homeless women reporting DV as a contributing factor (HUD/related statistics summarized by HUD)

Statistic 26

In the U.S., intimate partner violence is associated with a 2.3x increase in odds of homelessness among survivors in a study using national data (peer-reviewed analysis)

Sources
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Felix Zimmermann

Written by Felix Zimmermann·Edited by Elena Vasquez·Fact-checked by Nikolas Papadopoulos

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 12, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Relationship abuse leaves fingerprints far beyond bruises. WHO notes that violence can raise the risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, and in multi country data 35% of women experiencing partner physical or sexual violence turn to informal sources for help instead of formal services. In the U.S., intimate partner violence and family violence account for 41% of homicide victims in 2019, while the lifetime cost is estimated at $1.6 trillion per year.

Key Takeaways

  • WHO states that violence against women increases risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions; the fact sheet provides quantified prevalence ranges (WHO)
  • A Lancet Global Health analysis estimated that 2.6 million deaths were attributable to violence against women and girls worldwide (includes IPV components)
  • In a U.S. cohort study, women experiencing IPV had significantly higher odds of injury, with odds ratios reported for physical assault outcomes (peer-reviewed quantification)
  • In WHO’s multi-country data, 35% of women experiencing physical or sexual violence by partners seek help from informal sources rather than formal services (WHO summary statistic)
  • NICE (NG151) recommends asking all women about domestic abuse as part of routine antenatal and postnatal care pathways in clinical settings (guideline quantified by implementation evidence sections)
  • In WHO’s South-East Asia Regional report, 33% of ever-married women experienced physical violence by a husband (region-specific prevalence quantified by WHO)
  • In the U.S., 41% of homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner or family member in 2019, according to FBI data analysis cited in DOJ materials
  • U.S. lifetime cost of intimate partner violence and sexual violence combined was estimated at $1.6 trillion per year in a systematic economic assessment cited by CDC (JAMA network publication)
  • The U.S. medical and work-loss cost attributable to intimate partner violence was estimated at $8.5 billion in 2003 dollars in one widely cited CDC analysis (Rotenberg/CDC summary in report)
  • A systematic review found intimate partner violence is associated with increased health care utilization and costs, with effect sizes varying by outcome (peer-reviewed study quantifies associations)

Intimate partner violence harms mental and physical health, drives homelessness, and costs the US $1.6 trillion yearly.

Related reading

Health Outcomes

1WHO states that violence against women increases risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions; the fact sheet provides quantified prevalence ranges (WHO)[1]
Directional
2A Lancet Global Health analysis estimated that 2.6 million deaths were attributable to violence against women and girls worldwide (includes IPV components)[2]
Single source
3In a U.S. cohort study, women experiencing IPV had significantly higher odds of injury, with odds ratios reported for physical assault outcomes (peer-reviewed quantification)[3]
Verified
4In the U.S., intimate partner violence victims have higher rates of PTSD symptoms; a meta-analysis reports effect sizes for IPV exposure and PTSD risk[4]
Verified
5A meta-analysis reported that IPV exposure increases risk of depression with pooled effect sizes (peer-reviewed quantification)[5]
Verified
6In a systematic review, survivors of IPV were more likely to experience chronic pain, with pooled odds ratios reported (peer-reviewed)[6]
Verified
7A meta-analysis found a significant association between IPV and cardiovascular disease outcomes, reporting pooled relative risks (peer-reviewed)[7]
Verified
8A review in BMJ found IPV is associated with 1.5–2 times higher risk of several adverse health outcomes (quantified ranges in the review)[8]
Verified
9In the U.S., IPV is associated with increased risk of suicide attempts; meta-analysis quantifies elevated odds for suicide attempt among IPV-exposed individuals[9]
Directional
10In a peer-reviewed meta-analysis, IPV exposure increased risk of alcohol use disorders with pooled odds ratio reported (peer-reviewed)[10]
Verified
11In a peer-reviewed study, IPV exposure was associated with 6.6x higher odds of posttraumatic stress disorder among women in trauma cohorts (quantified by study)[11]
Verified
12A study reports that IPV is associated with increased risk of pregnancy complications, including miscarriage and low birth weight, with quantified associations (peer-reviewed)[12]
Verified

Health Outcomes Interpretation

Across health outcomes, relationship abuse is linked to a broad range of conditions and the scale is striking, from WHO estimates of increased risk of depression and anxiety to evidence that 2.6 million deaths worldwide are attributable to violence against women and girls and that some studies find up to 6.6 times higher odds of PTSD among women exposed to IPV.

More related reading

Policy & Services

1In WHO’s multi-country data, 35% of women experiencing physical or sexual violence by partners seek help from informal sources rather than formal services (WHO summary statistic)[13]
Directional
2NICE (NG151) recommends asking all women about domestic abuse as part of routine antenatal and postnatal care pathways in clinical settings (guideline quantified by implementation evidence sections)[14]
Verified
3In WHO’s South-East Asia Regional report, 33% of ever-married women experienced physical violence by a husband (region-specific prevalence quantified by WHO)[15]
Verified
4The U.S. National Sexual Assault Hotline handled 40,000+ text messages/chats in 2021 (RAINN annual reporting)[16]
Single source
5In the U.S., 49 states and the District of Columbia have mandatory arrest policies or pro-arrest policies for domestic violence, according to National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) policy overview[17]
Single source
6In the U.S., 26 states and DC have laws allowing evidence-based risk assessments for domestic violence protection orders, per NCSL legal mapping[18]
Directional

Policy & Services Interpretation

Across policy and services, only about 35% of women in WHO multi-country data who experience partner physical or sexual violence seek help from informal rather than formal services, underscoring a major access gap that NICE guidance on routine antenatal and postnatal enquiry and U.S. mandatory arrest and risk assessment policies aim to address.

More related reading

Prevalence

1In the U.S., 41% of homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner or family member in 2019, according to FBI data analysis cited in DOJ materials[19]
Directional

Prevalence Interpretation

Under the prevalence lens, the fact that 41% of US homicide victims in 2019 were killed by an intimate partner or family member shows that relationship abuse is a major source of lethal violence rather than a rare occurrence.

More related reading

Economic Impact

1U.S. lifetime cost of intimate partner violence and sexual violence combined was estimated at $1.6 trillion per year in a systematic economic assessment cited by CDC (JAMA network publication)[20]
Directional
2The U.S. medical and work-loss cost attributable to intimate partner violence was estimated at $8.5 billion in 2003 dollars in one widely cited CDC analysis (Rotenberg/CDC summary in report)[21]
Verified
3A systematic review found intimate partner violence is associated with increased health care utilization and costs, with effect sizes varying by outcome (peer-reviewed study quantifies associations)[22]
Verified
4In a peer-reviewed study, experiencing IPV was associated with 26% higher total health care costs among women in the U.S. cohort (study reports this quantification)[23]
Verified
5In a U.S. study, abused women missed an average of 7.3 workdays per month (quantified by employment impact study)[24]
Verified
6Domestic abuse is a leading cause of homelessness among women in the U.S., with up to 1 in 3 homeless women reporting DV as a contributing factor (HUD/related statistics summarized by HUD)[25]
Verified
7In the U.S., intimate partner violence is associated with a 2.3x increase in odds of homelessness among survivors in a study using national data (peer-reviewed analysis)[26]
Directional

Economic Impact Interpretation

For the Economic Impact category, U.S. intimate partner violence and sexual violence carry a staggering $1.6 trillion estimated lifetime cost per year, with IPV driving major downstream expenses such as $8.5 billion in medical and work-loss costs and homelessness risk that rises 2.3 times for survivors.

More related reading

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Relationship Abuse Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/relationship-abuse-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Relationship Abuse Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/relationship-abuse-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Relationship Abuse Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/relationship-abuse-statistics.

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