Violence against women is experienced across all communities and cultures. However, its nature, prevalence and risk factors differ within population groups. Below are some key statistics related to the Australian population:
- 2 in 5 women (39%) have experienced violence since the age of 15.4
- Men are more commonly the perpetrators of physical violence, sexual harassment and sexual violence.5
- Women are more likely to experience violence from someone they know than by a stranger (35% vs 11%).6
- On average, one woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner.7
- In the year 2021/22, 4,620 women aged 15 years and over (average of 13 women/day) were hospitalised due to family and domestic violence.8
- 1 in 4 women (27%) has experienced violence, emotional abuse, or economic abuse by a cohabitating partner since the age of 15.9
- 1 in 3 women (31%) has experienced physical violence since the age of 15.10
- 1 in 5 women (22%) has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.11
- 1 in 2 women (53%) has experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime.12In most incidents of workplace sexual harassment, the harasser was male.13
- Women are at increased risk of experiencing violence from an intimate partner during pregnancy.14
- Women who have experienced violence are more likely to experience multiple incidents of violence.15
Certain people, identities and communities within Australia are at greater risk than others and experience violence thatintersects with other forms of discrimination and disadvantage. For example:
- Women with disability in Australia are twice as likely to have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 years than women without disabilities. The type of disability can intersect with gender and different forms of violence for example, 1 in 2 women with psychological and/or cognitive impairment has experienced sexual violence.16
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience disproportionally high rates of violence, and are .17 Anecdotal evidence suggests that non-Indigenous men make up a significant proportion of perpetrators.18
- Lesbian, bisexual and queer women experience higher rates of sexual violence than heterosexual women in Australia.19Transgender and gender diverse people also experience very high rates of family, domestic and sexual violence.20
- Elder abuse often occurs in relationships where there is an expectation of trust such as with family, friends and carers. In 2017-2018, the number of women making calls to elder abuse helplines across Australia exceeded the number of men in every state, with emotional and financial abuse most commonly reported.21
- Young women (18–34 years) experience significantly higher rates of physical and sexual violence than women in older age groups.22
- In addition to physical and sexual violence, women from migrant and refugee backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to financial abuse, reproductive coercion and immigration related violence, for example withholding documents, threats of visa cancellations or deportation.23
