Intimate partner violence drives a large share of domestic homicides across regions. Worldwide, 38% of murders of women are committed by intimate partners, and about 137 women are killed each day by a partner or family member. The same pattern shows up in the US, where 34% of female homicide victims in 2021 were killed by an intimate partner.
Key Takeaways
- Globally, 55% of homicides in 2017 were by firearm
- In the US, 34% of female homicide victims in 2021 were killed by an intimate partner
- Worldwide, 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners
- In 2021, US gun violence killed 48,830, highest on record
- 79% of US homicides in 2021 involved firearms
- In 2022, 44,290 gun deaths in US, including 27,000 suicides
- In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 homicides, marking a 6% increase from 2021
- Globally, approximately 464,000 people were homicide victims in 2017, equating to one every 68 seconds
- Latin America and the Caribbean had a regional homicide rate of 20.6 per 100,000 in 2021, the highest globally
- Globally, 120 million girls suffer sexual violence before 20
- In US, 81% sexual assaults unreported
- 1 in 3 women worldwide experience sexual violence lifetime
- Globally, 90% of children exposed to violence witness shootings
- In US, 1.7 million youth witness shootings yearly
- School violence: 75% of shooters aged 10-18
Intimate partner violence and firearms drive much of homicide worldwide, with severe domestic abuse affecting millions.
Related reading
01 · Category
Domestic Violence29 stats
01
Globally, 55% of homicides in 2017 were by firearm
02
In the US, 34% of female homicide victims in 2021 were killed by an intimate partner
03
Worldwide, 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners
04
In 2020, US intimate partner violence homicides totaled 1,185 women
05
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence
06
In England and Wales, 97 women killed by partners/ex-partners in 2022/23
07
58% of female homicide victims in South Africa killed by intimate partners
08
In Australia, 64 intimate partner homicides in 2021-22, 78% female victims
09
Canada reported 168 intimate partner homicides in 2021
10
In Brazil, 1,463 women killed by partners in 2022
11
India: 13,000+ dowry deaths (domestic violence related) annually
12
In Mexico, 947 women killed by partners in 2022
13
Russia: 1,000 women killed by partners yearly
14
In 2021, 75% of domestic violence homicides in US involved firearms
15
Globally, 137 women killed daily by partner/family
16
In France, 146 feminicides by partners in 2022
17
Spain: 49 women killed by partners/ex in 2023 so far
18
In 2020, 91% of domestic violence victims in India were women
19
US: 10 million adults experience domestic violence yearly
20
In Latin America, 1,914 femicides in 2021, mostly domestic
21
UK: 1.6 million women victim of domestic abuse yearly
22
In 2022, 4,000+ domestic violence homicides globally estimated
23
Australia: 1 in 6 women experience partner violence lifetime
24
In 2021, 50% of US homeless women reported domestic violence
25
Globally, domestic violence costs $1.5 trillion yearly in lost productivity
26
In 2023, Italy recorded 106 feminicides, 55% by partners
27
In 2020, 45% of female homicides in Europe domestic-related
28
US: Black women 4x more likely intimate partner homicide
29
In 2022, 2,500 women killed in India by family/partners
Interpretation
Domestic Violence Interpretation
The sheer volume of these numbers isn't just a statistic; it's the chilling, global soundtrack of a war being fought in bedrooms and kitchens, where the most common battlefield injury is death at the hands of someone who claimed to love you.
02 · Category
Gun Violence29 stats
01
In 2021, US gun violence killed 48,830, highest on record
02
79% of US homicides in 2021 involved firearms
03
In 2022, 44,290 gun deaths in US, including 27,000 suicides
04
Mass shootings in US: 633 in 2023, killing 693
05
Globally, 251,000 gun homicides yearly (2016)
06
US children/teens: 2,590 gun deaths in 2022
07
81% of US mass public shooters obtained guns legally
08
In 2021, 20,958 gun murders in US
09
Firearms used in 53% of US intimate partner homicides
10
US gun homicide rate 25x higher than other high-income countries
11
393 million guns in US civilian hands (2018)
12
In 2022, Chicago had 697 gun homicides
13
US: 1.4 million defensive gun uses yearly per CDC estimate
14
Globally, 45% of homicides by guns in Americas vs 4% in Europe
15
In 2023, 656 mass shootings in US by Oct
16
US gun suicides: 54% of all suicides, 26,993 in 2021
17
Brazil: 47,500 gun deaths yearly
18
Mexico: 70% of homicides by firearms in 2022
19
US police kill 1,000+ yearly, 96% by gun
20
In 2022, Philadelphia gun violence: 516 homicides
21
Yemen has 52.8 guns per 100 people, high violence link
22
US Black males aged 15-34: gun homicide rate 103.5 per 100k
23
In 2021, 105,000 Americans shot, 42% fatal
24
Globally, 1.3 million intentional gun injuries yearly
25
US: 4.6 gun deaths per 100,000 kids vs 0.06 in UK
26
In 2022, 240 school gun violence incidents in US
27
US youth (0-19): 4,733 gun deaths in 2021
28
In 2023, 346 school shootings worldwide, 82% in US
29
US students chance of gun death at school: 1 in 614 lifetime
Interpretation
Gun Violence Interpretation
America has tragically engineered a uniquely efficient and accessible machinery of self-destruction, where the tool intended for self-defense statistically ends more lives in bedrooms, classrooms, and town squares than it ever protects on the street.
03 · Category
Homicide Rates30 stats
01
In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 homicides, marking a 6% increase from 2021
02
Globally, approximately 464,000 people were homicide victims in 2017, equating to one every 68 seconds
03
Latin America and the Caribbean had a regional homicide rate of 20.6 per 100,000 in 2021, the highest globally
04
In 2020, El Salvador's homicide rate was 19.7 per 100,000, down from previous highs but still among the world's highest
05
The African homicide rate averaged 13.0 per 100,000 population between 2014-2019
06
In 2021, Jamaica reported 1,529 homicides, a rate of 52.9 per 100,000
07
US homicide rate in 2022 was 6.3 per 100,000, up 30% since 2019
08
Venezuela's homicide rate estimated at 36.7 per 100,000 in 2022
09
In Europe, the average homicide rate was 2.2 per 100,000 in 2020
10
South Africa's homicide rate reached 45 per 100,000 in 2022/23
11
Honduras homicide rate fell to 35.1 per 100,000 in 2022 from 93.1 in 2011
12
In 2019, Brazil had 41,635 homicides, rate of 20.9 per 100,000
13
Global male homicide victimization rate was 9.1 per 100,000 vs 2.1 for females in 2017
14
Mexico recorded 33,315 homicides in 2022, rate of 25.8 per 100,000
15
Philippines homicide rate was 4.4 per 100,000 in 2022
16
Russia's homicide rate dropped to 4.7 per 100,000 in 2021
17
In 2020, Colombia had 12,701 homicides, rate of 25.1 per 100,000
18
India's homicide rate stable at 2.1 per 100,000 in 2022
19
Canada's homicide rate was 1.94 per 100,000 in 2022
20
Australia's homicide rate was 0.86 per 100,000 in 2021-22
21
In 2021, Guatemala's homicide rate was 17.4 per 100,000
22
Nigeria estimated homicide rate of 34.5 per 100,000 in 2016 (latest comparable)
23
In 2022, Ecuador saw 4,382 homicides, rate surging to 25.9 per 100,000
24
UK's homicide rate was 1.15 per 100,000 in 2022/23
25
Argentina's homicide rate was 4.6 per 100,000 in 2022
26
In 2020, Peru had 1,046 homicides, rate of 3.2 per 100,000
27
Thailand's homicide rate was 2.6 per 100,000 in 2021
28
In 2022, Panama recorded 511 homicides, rate of 11.9 per 100,000
29
Costa Rica's homicide rate rose to 16.6 per 100,000 in 2022
30
In 2021, Trinidad and Tobago had a homicide rate of 39.5 per 100,000
Interpretation
Homicide Rates Interpretation
The grim global arithmetic reveals that while all human life is priceless, the statistical price of a life varies wildly by postal code, painting a morbid map where your safety is less a universal right and more a geographic lottery.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence28 stats
01
Globally, 120 million girls suffer sexual violence before 20
02
In US, 81% sexual assaults unreported
03
1 in 3 women worldwide experience sexual violence lifetime
04
US: 433,648 sexual assaults yearly
05
In conflict zones, 35% women raped
06
India: 31,677 rape cases reported 2022
07
Globally, 23% men admit perpetrating sexual violence
08
US college women: 1 in 5 assaulted
09
Sub-Saharan Africa: 33% women experienced sexual violence
10
In 2022, UK reported 70,330 rapes, conviction rate 1.5%
11
Globally, 6% boys experience sexual violence before 18
12
US: 91% campus sexual assaults by acquaintances
13
South Africa: 42,289 rapes reported 2022/23
14
In Europe, 5-10% women raped lifetime
15
Brazil: 66,000 rapes reported 2022
16
Globally, child sexual abuse affects 1 in 5 women, 1 in 13 men
17
US military: 1 in 4 women sexually assaulted
18
India: 90% sexual violence unreported
19
In DRC, 22% women raped lifetime
20
US: Native women 2.5x more likely raped
21
Globally, cyber sexual violence affects 16% young women
22
In Australia, 1 in 5 women sexually assaulted post-15
23
Sweden: 9,316 reported rapes 2022
24
In 2021, 50,000 child sex abuse images identified UK
25
Globally, 99% sexual violence impunity
26
US: 70% sexual assaults alcohol-related
27
In Kenya, 32% girls experience sexual violence before 18
28
France: 100,000 rapes yearly estimated
Interpretation
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Interpretation
This is the horrifying math of a global pandemic where violence against women and girls isn’t the tragic exception, but a calculated, and often unpunished, feature of our world.
05 · Category
Youth Violence25 stats
01
Globally, 90% of children exposed to violence witness shootings
02
In US, 1.7 million youth witness shootings yearly
03
School violence: 75% of shooters aged 10-18
04
US teen homicide rate doubled 2019-2022 to 11.4 per 100k
05
Globally, 36,000 children killed by violence yearly
06
In US, bullying leads to 15% of violent youth incidents
07
15% of US high school students carried weapon 2021
08
Latin America: 20% youth homicides regional rate 30+ per 100k
09
In 2022, 1,300 US youth gun homicides under 18
10
Gang violence: 2,000 US youth gang homicides yearly
11
Globally, 245 million children experience violence yearly
12
US: 1 in 5 girls, 1 in 10 boys sexually assaulted before 18
13
School fights: 8% US students in physical fights 2021
14
Africa: Youth violence rate 18.5 per 100k
15
In US, 40% violent youth victimizations unreported
16
Cyberbullying: 37% US youth experienced, links to violence
17
In 2021, 500+ youth suicides linked to bullying violence
18
Brazil: 10,000 youth homicides yearly
19
Europe: Youth violence declining 20% 2010-2020
20
US Native youth homicide 3x national average
21
Globally, violence causes 11% youth deaths
22
In 2022, 82 school shootings US, 147 injured/killed
23
59% US youth feel unsafe at school due to violence
24
Globally, 1 billion children aged 2-17 experienced violence 2022
25
US: 160,000 students skip school fearing attack
Interpretation
Youth Violence Interpretation
This barrage of statistics paints a horrifyingly clear picture: our global legacy is not one of playgrounds and potential, but a generation being systematically traumatized, injured, and killed, with our own homes and schools often serving as the front lines.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Violence Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/violence-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Violence Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/violence-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Violence Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/violence-statistics.
Sources & references
74 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level