One in Four Women Worldwide Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

A recent report published by the World Health Organisation shines a light on the prevalence of violence against women worldwide. Released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marked every year on November 25, the landmark report estimates that nearly one in three women, or 840 million women globally, have experienced partner or sexual violence during their lifetime. Furthermore, 316 million women, or 11 percent of those aged 15 and older, are believed to have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the last 12 months alone. "Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices, yet still one of the least acted upon," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "No society can call itself fair, safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not only a matter of policy; it is a matter of dignity, equality and human rights."

As our infographic shows, physical or sexual intimate partner violence is estimated to be the most prevalent in the African region, where the WHO believes 32 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have faced such violence at some point in their life, followed by the South-East Asia region (31.5 percent). Globally, around a quarter of women in this age group are believed to have experienced intimate partner violence. These estimations are based on data collected between 2000 and 2023 from 168 countries. The WHO also emphasises that, while violence against women occurs in every country, women in least-developed, conflict-affected, and climate-vulnerable settings are disproportionately affected.