Domestic Violence Statistics

Our years of experience offering 24/7 support, information, and advocacy for people in abusive relationships have been informed by the hard realities of domestic violence. Relationship abuse is ugly, even (and especially) when it comes from the people we love. The more informed we keep ourselves and others, the more prepared we’ll be to recognize and stop abuse when it happens. The following domestic violence statistics help inform our work.

Domestic Violence Statistics
Domestic Violence Statistics

Get the facts about domestic violence. The domestic violence statistics on this page have been compiled from various sources. You can find the citations or source of the fact by clicking the drop down arrow next to the domestic violence statistic.

General domestic violence statistics

An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly 3 in 10 women (29%) and 1 in 10 men (10%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by a partner and reported it having a related impact on their functioning.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Just under 15% of women (14.8%) and 4% of men in the US have been injured as a result of intimate partner violence that included rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the US have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Intimate partner violence alone affects more than 12 million people every year.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Over 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Almost half of all women and men in the US have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime (48.4% and 48.8%, respectively).

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Women ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From 1994 to 2010, approximately 4 in 5 victims of intimate partner violence were female.

http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=261262

Most female victims of intimate partner violence were previously victimized by the same offender at rates of 77% for women ages 18 to 24, 76% for ages 25 to 34, and 81% for ages 35 to 49.

http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=261262

Sexual violence statistics

Nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) have been raped in their lifetime.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly 1 in 10 women (9.4%) in the US have been raped by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

81% of women who experienced rape, stalking, or physical violence from an intimate partner reported significant impacts (short-term or long-term) like injuries or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

35% of men reported the same significant impacts from experiences of rape, stalking, or physical violence from an intimate partner.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than half (51.1%) of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner; 40.8% reported being raped by an acquaintance.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For male victims, 52.4% reported being raped by an acquaintance; 15.1% reported being raped by a stranger.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Estimates suggest 13% of women and 6% of men will experience sexual coercion (unwanted sexual penetration after being pressured in a non-physical way) in their lifetime; 27.2% of women and 11.7% of men experience unwanted sexual contact.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stalking statistics

1 in 6 women (16.2%) and 1 in 19 men (5.2%) in the US have been a victim of stalking at some point during their lifetime in which they felt fearful or believed that they (or someone close to them) would be harmed or killed.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two-thirds (66.2%) of female stalking victims were stalked by current or former intimate partners.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Men who were stalked were primarily stalked by partners (41.4%) or acquaintances (40%).

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The most common stalking tactic experienced by both female (78.8%) and male (75.9%) victims of stalking was repeated unwanted phone calls, voice, or text messages.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Estimates suggest 10.7% of women and 2.1% of men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Child statistics

Children witnessed violence in nearly 1 in 4 (22%) intimate partner violence cases filed in state courts.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2009/BJS10007.htm

30% to 60% of intimate partner violence perpetrators also abuse children in the household.

https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/213503.pdf

40% of child abuse victims also report experiencing domestic violence.

http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

One study found that children exposed to violence in the home were 15 times more likely to be physically and/or sexually assaulted than the national average.

http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

According to the US Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, domestic violence may be the single major precursor to fatalities from child abuse and neglect in the US.

http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

Teen and young adult statistics

9.4% of high school students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt intentionally by their partner in the previous 12 months.

cdc

Approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men who experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner first experienced some form of partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age.

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/datingmatters_flyer_2012-a.pdf

More than a quarter (28%) of male victims of completed rape were first raped when they were 10 years old or younger.

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/cdc_nisvs_overview_insert_final-a.pdf

Approximately 35% of women who were raped as minors were also raped as adults, compared to 14% of women without an early rape history.

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/cdc_nisvs_overview_insert_final-a.pdf

The majority (79.6%) of female victims of completed rape experienced their first rape before the age of 25; 42.2% experienced their first completed rape before the age of 18.

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/cdc_nisvs_overview_insert_final-a.pdf

1 in 10 high school students has experienced physical violence from a dating partner in the past year.

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/datingmatters_flyer_2012-a.pdf

Most female (69%) and male (53%) victims of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner had their first experience with intimate partner violence before the age of 25.

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/cdc_nisvs_overview_insert_final-a.pdf

43% of dating college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behaviors including physical, sexual, digital, verbal, or other controlling abuse.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

Nearly 1 in 3 college women (29%) say they’ve been in an abusive dating relationship .

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

52% of college women report knowing a friend who’s experienced violent and abusive dating behaviors including physical, sexual, digital, verbal, or other controlling abuse.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

57% of college students who report experiencing dating violence and abuse said it occurred in college.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

58% of college students say they don’t know what to do to help someone who is a victim of dating abuse.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

38% of college students say they don’t know how to get help for themselves if they experience dating abuse as a victim.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

Over half of all college students (57%) say it’s difficult to identify dating abuse.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

36% of dating college students have given a dating partner their computer, email, or social media passwords; these students are more likely to experience digital dating abuse.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

1 in 5 college women has been verbally abused by a dating partner.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

1 in 6 college women (16%) has been sexually abused in a dating relationship.

https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf

Victims of digital abuse and harassment are twice as likely to be physically abused, twice as likely to be psychologically abused, and 5 times as likely to be sexually coerced.

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf

Almost 1 in 10 teens in relationships reports having a partner tamper with their social media account, which constitutes the most frequent form of harassment or abuse.

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf

Just 1 in 5 victims say they experienced digital abuse or harassment at school during school hours; most takes places away from school grounds.

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf

Approximately 84% of victims are psychologically abused by their partners; half are physically abused and one third experiences sexual coercion.

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf

Only 4% of victims experience only digital abuse or harassment. Social media, texts, and emails provide abusive partners with just another tool to cause harm.

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf

Mental health statistics

Survivors are 3 times as likely to meet the criteria for PTSD.

Fedovskiy, K., Higgins, S., Paranjape, A. (2008). Intimate partner violence: How does it impactmajor depressive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder among immigrant Latinas? Journalof Immigrant and Minority Health, 10(1), 45-51.

Survivors are 2 times more likely to develop symptoms of depression and 3 times more likely to develop a major depressive order.

Beydoun, H.A., Beydoun, M.A., Kaufman, J.S., Lo, B, Zonderman, A.B. (2012). Intimate partnerviolence against adult women and its association with major depressive disorder, depressivesymptoms and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science &Medicine, 75(6), 959-975.

Survivors are 3 times more likely to engage in self-harming behaviors.

Boyle, A., Jones, P., Lloyd, S. (2006). The association between domestic violence and self-harm inemergency medicine patients. Emergency Medicine Journal, 23, 604–607.

Survivors are 3 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 4 times more likely to attempt suicide.

Ellsberg, M., Jansen, H.A., Heise, L., Watts, C.H., Garcia-Moreno C; WHO Multi-country Study onWomen’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women Study Team. (2008). Intimate partnerviolence and women’s physical and mental health in the WHO multi-country study on women’shealth and domestic violence: An observational study. Lancet, 371(9619), 1165-1172.

Survivors are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Bonomi, A.E., Anderson, M.L., Reid, R.J., Rivara, F.P., Carrell, D., Thompson, R.S. (2009). Medicaland psychosocial diagnoses in women with a history of intimate partner violence. Archives ofInternal Medicine, 169(18), 1692-1697.

Survivors are 6 times more likely to have a substance use disorder.

Bonomi, A.E., Anderson, M.L., Reid, R.J., Rivara, F.P., Carrell, D., Thompson, R.S. (2009). Medicaland psychosocial diagnoses in women with a history of intimate partner violence. Archives ofInternal Medicine, 169(18), 1692-1697.

More statistics.

National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health.

Workplace statistics

Current or former intimate partners accounted for nearly 33% of women killed in US workplaces between 2003 and 2008.

http://www.annalsofepidemiology.org/article/S1047-2797(12)00024-5/abstract

In 2005, nearly 1 in 4 large private industry establishments reported at least one instance of domestic violence, including threats and assaults.

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osnr0026.pdf

44% of full-time employed adults in the US reported experiencing the effect of domestic violence in their workplace; 21% identified themselves as victims of intimate partner violence.

http://www.caepv.org/getinfo/facts_stats.php?factsec=3

A 2005 survey found that 64% of respondents who identified themselves as victims of domestic violence indicated that their ability to work was affected by the violence. 57% of domestic violence victims said they were distracted; almost half (45%) feared being discovered, and 2 in 5 were afraid of an unexpected visit by their intimate partner (either by phone or in person).

http://www.caepv.org/getinfo/facts_stats.php?factsec=3

Nearly two thirds of corporate executives (63%) say that domestic violence is a major problem in society; 55% cite its harmful impact on productivity in their companies.

http://www.caepv.org/about/program_detail.php?refID=34

91% of employees say that domestic violence has a negative impact on their company’s bottom line; just 43% of corporate executives agree. 71% of corporate executives do not perceive domestic violence as a major issue at their company.

http://www.caepv.org/about/program_detail.php?refID=34

Over 70% of US workplaces don’t have a formal program or policy to address workplace violence.

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osnr0026.pdf

Domestic violence issues lead to nearly 8 million lost days of paid work each year, the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/ipv_cost/IPVBook-Final-Feb18.pdf

96% of employed domestic violence victims experience problems at work because of the abuse.

http://www.clicktoempower.org/domestic-violence-facts.aspx

Firearm statistics

Women in the US are 11 times more likely to be killed with guns than women in other high-income countries.

http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20571454

Female intimate partners are more likely to be killed with a firearm than all other means combined.

http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2012.pdf

The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500%. More than half of women killed by gun violence are killed by family members or intimate partners.

http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12835191