Intimate Partner Violence

Trends

In 2015, the rate of intimate partner violent victimization among women rose about 46% over the previous year. However, 

in the 20 years since 1995, the rates of violent intimate partner victimization among men and women have decreased by

98% and 65%, respectively. Because the personal nature of these victimizations often influences a victim’s decision to report 

the crime, victimizations by intimate partners are highly underreported. In 2015, violent victimizations committed by family 

members were reported more frequently than those committed by intimate partners, followed by acquaintances (either 

well-known or casual) and strangers.A

Did You Know?

10% of high schoolers who report being in a dating 

relationship experience physical violence by a boyfriend 

or girlfriend; 10% also experience sexual violence.

C

9% of homicides are committed by intimate partners.D

20% of women who identify as victims of intimate 

partner violence report that they experience 1 or more 

PTSD symptoms, compared to 5% of men.B

2017 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Resource Guide: Crime and Victimization Fact Sheets

Intimate partner violence (IPV), often called domestic violence, is generally described as abuse within the context of an 

intimate partner relationship, where one partner asserts power and control over the other. While legal definitions vary 

by state, IPV can include physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, as well as economic coercion. IPV affects millions of 

individuals, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, race, age, religion, education, or economic status. Because 

of the seriousness of this crime, the effects on victims and their families, and the difficulties in the criminal justice 

system response, victims of IPV may require sustained resources, including access to emergency shelter, housing assistance, protection orders, safety planning, support groups, financial assistance, and other forms of support.

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), an estimated 47% of men and women will 

be victims of psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime. In addition, 1/3 of women will be victims of 

physical violence, and 1/4 of contact sexual violence,* by an intimate partner. Almost 1/4 of men will be victims of physical 

violence by an intimate partner.B

Intimate Partner Victimization by SexA

rate per 1,000 people

1995

4.9

0.5

15.5

5.4

1.6

Men

Women

1997 1999 2003 2007 2009 2013

20

2001 2005 2011 2015

0

4

8

12

16

20

*“Contact sexual violence” includes rape, being made to penetrate a 

perpetrator, sexual coercion, and unwanted sexual contact.

Lifetime Estimate of Intimate Partner ViolenceB

by sex and type of victimization

50%

Men

Women

27.3

11.5

Contact sexual 

violence*

31.5

27.5

Physical 

violence

9.2

2.5

Stalking

46.5 47.1

Psychological 

aggression

Other family Intimate partner Acquaintance Stranger

Percent of Victimizations Reported to PoliceA

by victim’s relationship to offender

1995

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

46

43

31

34

67

40

1997 1999 2003 2007 2009 2013

80%

2001 2005 2011 2015

49 57

46 54

48

42

2.8
SOURCES

A Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Concatenated File, 1992-2015, (U.S. Department of Justice)

B Matthew J. Breiding et al., “Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization, NISVS 2011,” 

MMWR vol 63, 8(2014): www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6308.pdf

C CDC, Youth Behavior Surveillance System, 2015, https://nccd.cdc.gov/

Youthonline/App/Default.aspx

D FBI, Crime in the United States, 1995 - 2015, (U.S. Department of Justice), 

Table 10 

E Emily Waters, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence in 2015,” (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2016), www.avp.org/storage/documents/2015_ncavp_

lgbtqipvreport.pdf

Psychological aggression is the most common form of 

intimate partner violence, affecting men and women of all 

races and ethnicities. The percentage of American Indian 

and Alaska Native women estimated to be victimized by 

intimate partners is higher than any other race or ethnicity. 

(National estimates of IPV are not reported for men across all 

ethnicities.)B

Households earning between $15,000 and $24,999 reported 

slightly more intimate partner victimizations in 2015 than 

other households. However, intimate partner violence is not 

isolated to any particular income bracket.A

In 2015, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs 

collected information from almost 2,000 LGBTQ and HIVaffected individuals who had been victims of intimate 

partner violence. Of these, 43% identified as gay, 19% as 

lesbian, 10% as bisexual, and 9% as queer; and 41% were 

under 30 years old, while 30% were age 30–39.

E

Current Data on Intimate Partner Violence

In more than 80% of intimate partner violent victimizations, 

the victim did not receive assistance from victim service 

agencies in 2015.A

An estimated 71% of female intimate partner victims are 

victimized before age 25; 23% before age 18. Comparatively, 

58% of male intimate partner victims are victimized before 

age 25; 14% before age 18.B

100%

Estimate of Intimate Partner Violence against WomenB

by race/ethnicity

American Indian/

Alaska Native

Hispanic

41.2 30.5

31.8

43.9 53.8

29.7 42.4

24.2

47.2

28.0

43.1

White, Multiracial

Non-Hispanic

Black, 

Non-Hispanic

51.3

61.1

51.7

63.8

Contact 

sexual violence

Physical 

violence

Psychological 

aggression

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Hispanic Black, NonHispanicWhite, NonHispanicAmerican

Indian/Alaska

Native

Multiracial

Contact Sexual Violence Physical Violence Psychological Aggression

Percentage of Intimate Partner ViolenceE

by victim’s sexual orientation

Gay (43%)

Lesbian (19%)

Heterosexual (16%)

Bisexual (10%)

Queer (9%)

Other (3%)

ercentage of Intimate Partner Violence (By 

Sexual Orientation)

Gay

Lesbian

Bisexual

Heterosexual

Queer

Other

Intimate Partner Victimizations for 

which Victim Received ServicesA

from victim service agencies

Did not receive services (82%)

Received services (18%)

V Victims Who Recieved Service from Victim 

Service Agencies 

Received Did Not Receive

Age of First Intimate Partner VictimizationB

by sex

Before 18 Before 25

14.1

23.2

71.1

58.2

Men

Women

100%

81.9

51.2

65.1

108.9

112.0

36.1

144.0

$75,000 or more

$50,000–$74,999

$35,000–$49,999

$25,000–$34,999

$15,000–$24,999

$7,500–$14,999

Less than $7,500

150,000

Intimate Partner Violence by Household IncomeA

in thousands of victimizations