Global Study Reveals 840 Million Women Have Faced Violence in Their Lifetimes
A new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations partners has revealed that 840 million women worldwide have experienced partner or sexual violence during their lifetime, underscoring the persistence of one of the world’s most entrenched human rights crises.
The study, published ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on November 25, indicates that nearly one in three women globally has endured such abuse, with little change in prevalence since 2000.
In the past year alone, 316 million women aged 15 and older suffered physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner. The report, for the first time, also offers estimates on sexual violence by non-partners, revealing that 263 million women have faced such abuse since the age of 15. Experts caution that these figures are likely under-reported due to stigma and fear.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described violence against women as “one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices,” adding that no society can claim fairness or safety while half its population lives in fear.
He stressed that ending violence against women is not merely a policy issue but a matter of dignity, equality, and human rights. “Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been irreversibly affected,” he said.
Despite evidence supporting effective prevention strategies, the report highlighted a dramatic shortfall in funding. In 2022, just 0.2 per cent of global development aid was allocated to programmes tackling violence against women, with support declining further in 2025, even as socio-economic inequality and humanitarian crises amplify risks.
The study also emphasised the lifelong impacts of such violence, including unintended pregnancies, elevated risks of sexually transmitted infections, and depression. Alarmingly, violence often begins early: 12.5 million adolescent girls aged 15–19, representing 16 per cent of that age group, experienced intimate partner violence in the past year.
The WHO called on governments to strengthen survivor-centred services, scale up prevention programmes, invest in data systems, and enforce laws that empower women and girls, warning that sustained inaction risks further entrenching this global crisis.
