The Reality of Domestic Violence: 7 Eye-Opening Statistics
Trigger Warning: This content discusses sensitive topics, including domestic violence and sexual assault, which may be triggering for some individuals. Reader discretion is advised. If you are currently in distress or feel overwhelmed by these subjects, please prioritize your well-being and consider seeking support from a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional. You are not alone, and help is available.
Domestic violence is a troubling issue that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Despite increased awareness and efforts to combat it, domestic violence continues to have profound and far-reaching impacts on individuals, families, and communities. In this blog post, we’ll explore the reality of domestic violence through the numbers we see.
Approximately 1 in 3 women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.1
While both men and women can be victims of domestic violence, women are disproportionately affected. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) reports that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.2
Domestic violence is significantly underreported. The NCADV estimates that only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.3
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, including medical care, mental health services, and lost productivity.4
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) found that in the United States, more than half of female homicide victims were killed in connection to intimate partner violence.5
Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of nearly 8 million days of paid work each year, according to the CDC, highlighting the impact of domestic violence on productivity and safety in the workplace.6
The likelihood of repeat victimization is high in cases of domestic violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that on average, a victim will leave and return to an abusive relationship seven times before leaving for good.7
These statistics paint a stark picture of the prevalence and impact of domestic violence on individuals, families, and communities. As we strive to address this issue, it's essential to raise awareness, support survivors, and advocate for policies and resources that promote prevention and intervention. Together, we can work towards creating a world where domestic violence is no longer tolerated, and all individuals can live free from fear and harm.
Citations:
4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Intimate partner violence: Consequences. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/consequences.html
1World Health Organization. (n.d.). Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2018: Global, regional and national prevalence estimates for intimate partner violence against women and global and regional prevalence estimates for non-partner sexual violence against women. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022256
3National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Domestic violence and psychological well-being: A review of the literature. https://ncadv.org/files/Domestic%20Violence%20and%20Psychological%20Well-being.pdf
2National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Domestic violence national statistics. https://ncadv.org/statistics
6National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Economic abuse. https://ncadv.org/economic-abuse
7National Domestic Violence Hotline. (n.d.). Statistics. https://www.thehotline.org/resources/statistics/
5National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. (n.d.). United States National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 summary report. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/NISVS-StateReportBook.pdf
