Around 50 million women aged 18-74 in the EU, or 31%, experienced physical (including threats) or sexual violence in adulthood, based on the EU gender-based violence survey (wave 2021).

When comparing the prevalence of gender-based violence by age group, 35% of women in the youngest age group (aged 18 to 29) reported experiencing gender-based violence, compared with 24% in the oldest age group (aged 65-74). 

Data also show that home is not always a safe place for many women. In 2021, 18% of women who had ever had a partner experienced physical or sexual violence by their partner, and if psychological violence is also taken into account, 32% have or have had a violent partner in their lifetime.

Based on the EU gender-based violence survey (wave 2021), 20% of women experienced physical (including threats) or sexual violence by a non-partner, with 9% experiencing degrading or humiliating acts other than rape, another 7% pointing to physical and not sexual violence and 4% having experienced rape.

The percentage of women who said that they had experienced non-partner violence was higher in Finland (47%), Sweden (42%), Denmark (38%), the Netherlands (36%) and Luxembourg (34%). In contrast, Bulgaria (6%), Poland (8%) and Czechia (10%) registered the lowest percentages. 

The analysis of non-partner violence by type shows that the greatest differences between EU countries concerning non-partner violence are seen in the prevalence of degrading or humiliating sexual acts other than rape. Values ranged between 24% in Finland and 22% in Sweden and below 2% in Bulgaria, Czechia, and Poland. 

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20241125-3