Around a quarter of women worldwide have faced domestic violence from a partner at some point in their lives, a topic explored in depth in a recent Lancet article.
Mathieu Mae-Gyroux of McGill University in Canada notes that physical and sexual abuse by husbands and boyfriends remains widespread across the globe.
Across surveys conducted between 2000 and 2018, researchers found that about one in seven women experienced domestic violence in the past year. The data show that younger women are at higher risk, with about 24 percent among those aged 15 to 19. The study brought together findings from 366 studies covering roughly 2 million women across 161 countries. It is important to remember that these figures come from survey data, not from law enforcement records or medical examinations.
Researchers observed clear regional differences in exposure to violence. In high income nations, lifetime exposure tends to be lower, while the highest rates are seen in parts of Africa, South Asia, and South America. In contrast, Central Asia and Central Europe report comparatively lower levels of reported violence.
Looking at recent shifts, the proportion of women who report surviving violence in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region has risen from around 5 percent to about 30 percent in some areas of Africa over the studied period, indicating evolving patterns of risk and resilience across regions.
These findings underscore the global scale of domestic violence and highlight the need for culturally informed prevention, protection, and support services that address the unique circumstances of women in different parts of Canada and the United States, as well as worldwide. The Lancet study, which synthesizes large survey datasets, provides a foundational overview for policymakers, health professionals, and communities aiming to reduce violence and improve safety for women.