840 million women faced partner or sexual violence

Violence against women remains one of the world's most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises, with very little progress in two decades, according to report on sights announced today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners.

Nearly 1 in 3 women – an estimated 840 million worldwide – have experienced intimate partner or sexual violence in their lifetime, a figure that has barely changed since 2000. In the past 12 months alone, 316 million women – 11% of those aged 15 or older – experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner. Progress in reducing intimate partner violence has been painfully slow with only a 0.2% annual decline over the past two decades.

For the first time, the report includes national and regional estimates of non-partner sexual violence. It reveals that 263 million women have experienced non-partner sexual violence since the age of 15, a figure experts warn is vastly under-reported due to stigma and fear.

“Violence against women is one of humanity's oldest and most pervasive injustices, but still one of the least addressed,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “No society can be called just, safe or healthy while half the population lives in fear. Stopping this violence is not only a matter of politics; it is a matter of dignity, equality and human rights. Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been changed forever. Empowering women and girls is not optional, it is a prerequisite for peace, development and health. A safer world for women is a better world for everyone.”

The effort is facing funding cuts amid growing needs

A new report, published on the eve International Day against Violence against Women and Girls observed on November 25, represents the most comprehensive study on the prevalence of these two forms of violence against women. Updates 2018 estimates published in 2021. Analyzes data between 2000 and 2023 from 168 countries, revealing a stark picture of a deeply overlooked crisis and a critically underfunded response.

Despite growing evidence of effective strategies to prevent violence against women, the report warns that funding for such initiatives is collapsing – just as humanitarian emergencies, technological advances and growing socioeconomic inequality further increase the risks for millions of women and girls. For example, in 2022, only 0.2% of global development aid was allocated to programs aimed at preventing violence against women, and funding declined further in 2025.

Widespread and lifelong risks

Women who are exposed to violence face unwanted pregnancy, a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and experience depression. Sexual and reproductive health services are an important entry point for survivors to receive the high-quality care they need.

The report highlights the reality that violence against women starts early and that the risks last a lifetime. For example, in the past 12 months alone, 12.5 million adolescent girls aged 15-19, or 16%, experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner.

Although violence occurs in every country, women in least developed, conflict-affected and climate-sensitive settings are disproportionately affected. For example, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) reports a 38% incidence of intimate partner violence in the past year – more than 3 times the global average of 11%.

A call to action – and responsibility

More countries than ever now collect data to inform policy, but significant gaps remain – particularly on non-partner sexual violence, marginalized groups such as indigenous women, migrant women and women with disabilities, and data from sensitive and humanitarian settings.

Progress has been made in countries where there is a political commitment to do so. For example, Cambodia is implementing a national project that will update domestic violence legislation, improve service delivery, quality and access, renovate shelters, and use digital solutions in schools and communities to promote prevention, especially among adolescents.

Ecuador, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda have developed national action plans with cost estimates. Legislative and advocacy actions in these countries have contributed to some domestic funding for the issue, signaling increased political commitment at a time of shrinking aid budgets.

To accelerate global progress and make a meaningful difference to the lives of affected women and girls, the report calls for decisive government action and funding to:

• increase evidence-based prevention programs
• strengthen health, legal and social services aimed at survivors
• invest in data systems to monitor progress and reach the most vulnerable groups
• implement laws and policies to empower women and girls.

The report was accompanied by the launch of the second edition RESPECTING Women: a framework for preventing violence against womenoffering updated guidelines for violence prevention, including in humanitarian contexts.

There can be no more silence or inaction. We need leaders who will commit and act now to end violence against women and girls.

Quotes from partners

“Ending violence against women and girls requires courage, commitment and collective action. Advancing gender equality is how we build a more equal, safer world for all, where every woman and every girl can live a life free of violence.” dr. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women

“Violence against women causes deep and lasting damage that affects their lives, health and dignity. For many, violence is compounded by discrimination based on poverty, disability and other factors, putting them at even greater risk. The devastating cycle of abuse often stretches through families and communities and across generations. The data paint a grim picture of the toll of inaction. This must change now. We must urgently act together to end this violence and ensure that every woman and girl, in all her diversity, can realize their rights, realize their potential and fully contribute to fairer, more equal and more advanced societies.” Diene Keita, Executive Director, UNFPA

“Data shows that many women experience violence from their partners for the first time when they are adolescents. And many children grow up watching their mothers push, hit or humiliate them, and violence is part of everyday life. The key is to break this pattern of violence against women and girls.” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell

Notes to editors

About the report

report, Global, regional and national prevalence estimates of intimate partner violence against women and non-partner sexual violence against women, 2023. developed by WHO and UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) on behalf of and with the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Assessment and Data on Violence against Women. The working group includes representatives from WHO, UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD).

Modeling is used to increase the comparability of estimates across countries and regions to the extent that existing data allow. All research probably underestimates the true prevalence of violence against women because there will always be women who do not disclose their experiences, especially where this violence is highly stigmatized. Sexual violence in particular is underreported in many communities. Poorly designed or conducted research in some places further exacerbates this underestimation.

About regional and state assessments

The report and database present regional data in the following categories: Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) regions, World Health Organization regions, Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions, UNFPA regions and UNICEF regions. Data for 168 countries and territories for women aged 15 to 49 are also presented. The report presents data on lifetime and last 12-month prevalence estimates.

Prevalence rates of intimate partner violence in the past 12 months among women who have ever been married/partnered over 15 years according to United Nations SDG regional and subregional classifications are listed below from highest to lowest prevalence:

• Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand): 38%
• Central and South Asia: 18%
• Least developed countries – 18%
• Sub-Saharan Africa – 17%
• Small Island Developing States – 17%
• North Africa and West Asia – 14%
• Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand) – 13%
• East and Southeast Asia – 8%
• Latin America and the Caribbean – 7%
• Europe and North America – 5%

ABOUT RESPECT

RESPECT is an abbreviation for: Rstrengthening relationship skills, Eempowering women and girls, WITHservices provided, Preduced excess weight, Eenvironment (i.e. schools, workplaces, public places), Cprevented abuse of children and adolescents, i Tchanged gender attitudes, beliefs and norms. RESPECT women is supported by 13 agencies and is intended for policy makers.