Around 840 million women worldwide, nearly one in three, have experienced partner or sexual violence in their lifetime.
The findings, based on data from 168 countries collected between 2000 and 2023, show that progress in reducing such violence has been minimal over the past two decades, with only a 0.2% annual decline.
Experts warn that these figures are likely under-reported due to stigma and fear, according to a new report released on Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners.
In the past 12 months alone, 316 million women, i.e. 11% of those aged 15 and older, were subjected to violence by an intimate partner, while 9% experienced sexual violence by someone other than a partner since age 15. The report also highlights a critically underfunded global response, as only 0.2% of global development aid in 2022 was allocated to programs addressing violence against women, a figure that has reportedly declined further in 2025.
“Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most widespread injustices, yet it remains one of the least addressed,” said Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“No society can call itself fair, safe, or healthy while half of its population lives in fear. Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been forever altered, he continued.
The study also draws attention to digital violence, which is growing rapidly due to artificial intelligence, anonymity, and inadequate laws. Fewer than 40% of countries have protections against online harassment or stalking, leaving 1.8 billion people without legal protection.
Digital abuse often spills into real life, silencing victims and, in severe cases, leading to physical violence or femicide.
“What begins online does not stay online,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, adding that “laws must keep pace with technology to ensure justice protects women both online and offline.”
