Domestic Violence Statistics
Domestic violence is a taboo subject.
Nobody wants to confront it. Take the time out to read these domestic violence
statistics - they may surprise you.
UK
A woman is raped, stabbed or beaten every six seconds.
In England and Wales two women are murdered each week through domestic violence.
One in four UK women will become domestic violence victims at some point in their lives.
One in nine is experiencing domestic violence NOW.
Statistics suggest that world-wide, 52 per cent of women have been assaulted by a partner at some point in their lives.
The world health organisation claims that, worldwide, violence causes as many deaths among women as traffic accidents, malaria and cancer put together.
According to a recent survey UK police forces receive more than 1,300 domestic violence related calls every day - that's more than 570,000 each year.
In 2000, the Women's Aid National Domestic Violence Helpline took 35,000 calls from abused women. In the first six months of 2001 the number of calls to this helpline was 32,600, roughly double the figure for 2000.
There are more animal sanctuaries in Britain than refuges for women fleeing domestic violence.
Domestic violence first begins during pregnancy in 30% of cases.
In London a minimum of £278m is spent each year responding to domestic violence, without even taking into account medical and legal costs.
In a local authority with a population of over a million people, there are currently around 19 refuge spaces.
79% of violent children have witnessed violence between their parents. Violent juvenile delinquents are four times more likely than are nonviolent juveniles to come from homes in which their fathers beat their mothers.
The World Health Organisation estimates that, in some parts of the world, two out of three women are abused by their partner.
It is worth bearing in mind that the statistics above are likely to be underestimates. They are only compiled on the basis of those women that have spoken out. Social prejudice, fear and feelings of shame conspire against many women to prevent them speaking out about the abuse they have suffered. In reality, the above statistics are likely to be far higher.
National Crime Victimization Survey (United States)
Over two-thirds of violent victimizations against women are committed by someone they know.
White and Black women experience equal rates of violence committed by intimates (boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or ex-spouse) and other relatives (parents, siblings, grandparents, in-laws, cousins).
Among women who survived a violence crime, injuries occurred almost twice as frequently when the offender was an intimate than when a stranger. Injured women were also more likely to require medical care if the attacker was an intimate.
For rape survivors, women raped by a stranger sustained more serious injuries than women raped by someone they knew.
Rape is more likely committed by someone a woman knows (55%) than by a stranger (44%).
Women aged 20-24 were more likely to experience all types of violent crime.
Risk of rape or assault decreases after age 34.
Women over age 65 were just as likely to be robbery victims as those between ages 35-64.
Women who were victimized by strangers were more likely to face an armed attacker (33%) compared to those who faced intimates (18%).
Rapes were more likely to take place between the hours of 6pm and midnight.
Violence Against Women Survey (Canada)
Half of all women have experienced 1 incident of violence since age 16.
More than 1 in 10 women who reported violence in their present marriage, have at some point felt their lives were in danger.
60% of Canadian women who walk alone after dark feel "very" or "somewhat" worried about doing so.
25% of all women have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a marital partner.
21% of women abused by a current or previous partner were assaulted during pregnancy.
The most prevalent form of marital violence is pushing, grabbing, or shoving followed by threats, slapping, throwing objects, kicking, biting, and hitting with fists.
In more than 40% of violent episodes with intimates, alcohol was involved.
UK
A woman is raped, stabbed or beaten every six seconds.
In England and Wales two women are murdered each week through domestic violence.
One in four UK women will become domestic violence victims at some point in their lives.
One in nine is experiencing domestic violence NOW.
Statistics suggest that world-wide, 52 per cent of women have been assaulted by a partner at some point in their lives.
The world health organisation claims that, worldwide, violence causes as many deaths among women as traffic accidents, malaria and cancer put together.
According to a recent survey UK police forces receive more than 1,300 domestic violence related calls every day - that's more than 570,000 each year.
In 2000, the Women's Aid National Domestic Violence Helpline took 35,000 calls from abused women. In the first six months of 2001 the number of calls to this helpline was 32,600, roughly double the figure for 2000.
There are more animal sanctuaries in Britain than refuges for women fleeing domestic violence.
Domestic violence first begins during pregnancy in 30% of cases.
In London a minimum of £278m is spent each year responding to domestic violence, without even taking into account medical and legal costs.
In a local authority with a population of over a million people, there are currently around 19 refuge spaces.
79% of violent children have witnessed violence between their parents. Violent juvenile delinquents are four times more likely than are nonviolent juveniles to come from homes in which their fathers beat their mothers.
The World Health Organisation estimates that, in some parts of the world, two out of three women are abused by their partner.
It is worth bearing in mind that the statistics above are likely to be underestimates. They are only compiled on the basis of those women that have spoken out. Social prejudice, fear and feelings of shame conspire against many women to prevent them speaking out about the abuse they have suffered. In reality, the above statistics are likely to be far higher.
National Crime Victimization Survey (United States)
Over two-thirds of violent victimizations against women are committed by someone they know.
White and Black women experience equal rates of violence committed by intimates (boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or ex-spouse) and other relatives (parents, siblings, grandparents, in-laws, cousins).
Among women who survived a violence crime, injuries occurred almost twice as frequently when the offender was an intimate than when a stranger. Injured women were also more likely to require medical care if the attacker was an intimate.
For rape survivors, women raped by a stranger sustained more serious injuries than women raped by someone they knew.
Rape is more likely committed by someone a woman knows (55%) than by a stranger (44%).
Women aged 20-24 were more likely to experience all types of violent crime.
Risk of rape or assault decreases after age 34.
Women over age 65 were just as likely to be robbery victims as those between ages 35-64.
Women who were victimized by strangers were more likely to face an armed attacker (33%) compared to those who faced intimates (18%).
Rapes were more likely to take place between the hours of 6pm and midnight.
Violence Against Women Survey (Canada)
Half of all women have experienced 1 incident of violence since age 16.
More than 1 in 10 women who reported violence in their present marriage, have at some point felt their lives were in danger.
60% of Canadian women who walk alone after dark feel "very" or "somewhat" worried about doing so.
25% of all women have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a marital partner.
21% of women abused by a current or previous partner were assaulted during pregnancy.
The most prevalent form of marital violence is pushing, grabbing, or shoving followed by threats, slapping, throwing objects, kicking, biting, and hitting with fists.
In more than 40% of violent episodes with intimates, alcohol was involved.