Key Takeaways
- In the United States, approximately 50% of all intimate partner violence incidents experienced by women are never reported to police, based on data from the National Violence Against Women Survey conducted in 1995-1996
- Globally, up to 90% of women who experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner do not report it to authorities, according to the World Health Organization's 2021 report on violence against women
- In the UK, only 24% of domestic abuse incidents are reported to the police, leaving 76% unreported, per the Office for National Statistics Crime Survey for England and Wales 2022
- Globally, 85% of women experiencing sexual violence in marriage never report, WHO 2013 multi-country study
- In the US, women are 5 times more likely than men to be victims of unreported severe DV, NISVS 2016/2017
- 1 in 3 women worldwide face physical/sexual intimate partner violence, mostly unreported, UN Women 2022
- Children aged 0-17 witness 15-30% of DV, 90% unreported by adults, US HHS 2021
- US adults 18-24: 21% DV victimization, 75% unreported, NISVS 2016
- Elderly US victims 65+: 1 in 10 experience abuse incl DV, 85% unreported, NCEA 2022
- Fear of reprisal is cited by 60% of US DV victims as reason not to report, NIJ 2018 study
- Globally, shame and stigma prevent 50-70% of women from reporting DV, WHO 2021
- In UK, 45% don't report due to believing police ineffective, Crime Survey 2022
- Unreported DV costs US $8.3 billion annually in medical care, CDC 2003 updated 2022
- Globally, violence against women including unreported DV economic loss 1.5% GDP, WHO 2021
- UK unreported DV costs £66 billion yearly in health/services, Refuge 2022
Globally, the majority of domestic violence victims suffer without ever reporting it.
Age and Demographic Data
Age and Demographic Data Interpretation
Economic Impacts
Economic Impacts Interpretation
Gender-Specific Statistics
Gender-Specific Statistics Interpretation
Health Consequences
Health Consequences Interpretation
Prevalence of Unreported Cases
Prevalence of Unreported Cases Interpretation
Reasons for Non-Reporting
Reasons for Non-Reporting Interpretation
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