EU gender-based violence survey : main findings : 2024 edition.
Date: 2024-12-06
Institutions: Eurostat
Subjects: data collection, domestic violence, gender equality, physical aggression, position of women, sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual offence, sexual violence, social statistics, social survey, statistical method, violence, woman, women's rights

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EU gender-based 
violence survey

Main findings

2024 edition

S TAT I S T I C A L
R E P O R T

2023 edition 
EU gender-based 
violence survey 

2024 edition 

   Main findings 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Manuscript completed in November 2024  

This document should not be considered as representative of the European Commission’s official 
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Theme: Population and social statistics 
Collection: Statistical report 

ISBN 978-92-68-21807-5   ISSN 2529-3222   doi: 10.2785/3573355    KS-01-24-012-EN-N 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 

Introduction and background information 

Table of contents 

1. Introduction and background information .................................................................................................... 4 

2. Interpreting the EU-GBV survey results ...................................................................................................... 6 

3. Prevalence of disclosed violence ................................................................................................................ 9 
Prevalence of GBV against women by type of perpetrator ..................................................................... 9 
Prevalence of GBV against women by age of respondent ................................................................... 11 
Prevalence of sexual harassment at work ............................................................................................ 12 

4. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................... 15 

 
1 

Chapter Name  

1 

Introduction and  
background information 

Introduction and background information 
This publication provides background information on the methodology development, and on the 
implementation of the EU survey on gender-based violence against women and other forms of 
inter-personal violence (EU-GBV). It also gives some initial results from the survey.  

Violence directed against a person because of that person's gender, or violence that affects 
persons of a particular gender disproportionately, can be defined as gender-based violence 
(GBV). Women and girls, of all ages and backgrounds are the most affected by GBV (1). 
Eliminating GBV and improving knowledge on the topic is one of the priorities of the European 
Commission, as the lack of comparable and reliable data can impede further policy 
developments.  

The need for regular data on gender-based violence is highlighted in Directive (EU) 2024/1385 (2) 
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against 
women, and domestic violence, that includes a provision to conduct population-based surveys at 
regular intervals to assess the prevalence and trends. 

Development of the EU-wide survey on GBV started in 2016, pre-testing of the questionnaire was 
carried out in eight countries from October 2017 to March 2018. A pilot survey was conducted in 
14 countries over the period 2018–2019. The main survey implementation started in 2020 and 
data collection was from September 2020 to March 2024 (wave 2021).  

To ensure that high quality and comparable data are produced, the implementation of EU-GBV is 
based on a common questionnaire and methodology. The main concepts and definitions, as well 

1 For further details, see European Commission webpage, What is gender-based violence 
2 See Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women 
and domestic violence 

4 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 

Introduction and background information  

as guidance on all technical and methodological aspects of this survey, are provided in the 
Methodological manual for the EU survey on gender-based violence against women and other 
forms of inter-personal violence (EU-GBV) (3). 

Eurostat coordinated the data collection in 18 Member States (BE, BG, DK, EE, EL, ES, FR, HR, 
LV, LT, MT, NL, AT, PL, PT, SI, SK, FI), where the survey was implemented by National 
Statistical Authorities. Italy shared comparable data for the main indicators based on its national 
survey. For eight Member States (CZ, DE, IE, CY, LU, HU, RO, SE) the European Union Agency 
for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) coordinated 
the data collection, which was carried out by private companies in accordance with the EU-GBV 
survey guidelines. 

As the data collection (wave 2021) was planned over the period 2020-2023, based on national 
timetables, the survey data were published by Eurostat in batches (groups of countries) shortly 
after the validation process was finalised. The first dissemination included the countries who 
finalised the data collection in September 2022 (4) (BG, FR, LV, LT, NL, AT, SI), while EU-wide 
data was disseminated in November 2024. The publication of initial findings has been updated, 
now providing results for all Member States and at EU-level in the current publication. 

3 Eurostat, Methodological manual for the EU survey on gender-based violence against women and other forms of inter-personal vio-
lence (EU-GBV), Eurostat, 2021 (publication is available here). 
4 Eurostat, EU survey on gender-based violence against women and other forms of inter-personal violence – first results, Eurostat, 
2022 (publication is available here). 

 EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
Interpreting the EU-GBV survey results 

2 

2 

Interpreting the EU-GBV 
survey results 

Interpreting the EU-GBV survey results 
Based on UN studies (5), a substantial amount of violent experience is not reported or officially 
recorded; it is therefore important to rely on a population survey in addition to police statistics.  

Results of a violence against women survey conducted in 2013 (6) showed that only one third of 
victims of partner violence and one quarter of victims of non-partner violence contacted police or 
a support organisation following the most serious incidents of violence.  

The EU-GBV survey (wave 2021) shows a similar trend: more victims of partner violence contact 
the police or a support organisation compared to victims of non-partner violence. However, when 
taking into account violent experiences carried out by any type of perpetrator over a lifetime, 
around one quarter of women contacted police or a support organisation as a result of at least 
one incident of physical or sexual violence (27 % out of all women who have experienced 
physical or sexual violence during their lifetime). 

Most cases of violence experienced are not reported to the police, therefore not officially 
recorded. 

Another comparison could be made between the number of police recorded violent sexual 
offences (7) and the number of women who reported any sexual violence in the survey. The 
number of women in the EU-GBV survey (wave 2021) who reported experience of sexual 
violence during the last five years is much higher than the number of violent sexual offences 
reported to the police during the same period. Of the ten countries where both figures are 

5 For further details, see UN Women webpage, Facts and figures: Ending violence against women. 
6 FRA, Violence against women: and EU-wide survey. Main results, FRA 2014 (publication is available here). 
7 Eurostat, database, table on number of police recorded violent sexual offences (crim_hom_soff). 

6 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 

Interpreting the EU-GBV survey results  

available, the number of offences reported to the police accounts for less than 5 % (8) of the total 
number of women who, in the survey, said that they had experienced any sexual act of violence. 

However, it is necessary to point out that survey data itself might only be a close proxy to the real 
prevalence, as survey data depend on the willingness of the respondent to disclose any violence 
experienced. 

FIGURE 1  

To understand the prevalence of violence and disclosure rates by survey respondents, it is 
important to take into account the extent to which violence is tolerated in the wider community (9). 
Research has shown that respondents’ attitudes might reflect earlier individual experiences of 
violence and thus normalisation over time, or socially desirable norms in the community, and 
therefore might not be comparable between countries (10). 

For example, in societies where people are more willing to talk about violent experiences, 
answers may reflect more accurately such experiences, whereas in less aware communities it 
could be that people are less inclined to discuss violent experiences which do not reflect socially 
desirable norms. 

The extent to which violence is tolerated in the wider community might influence the number 
of women who are willing to share violent experiences in the survey. Therefore, survey data 
itself might only be a close proxy to the real prevalence. 

8 It is important to highlight that the counting unit for the police and survey data are different: number of offences are recorded by po-
lice (not persons), while number of persons who have experienced violence is counted in the survey. One person might report more 
than one offence to the police. 
9 Waltermaurer, E., Public justification of intimate partner violence: a review of the literature, Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 2012, vol-
ume 13 pages 167-175 (publication is available here) and United Nations, Guidelines for Producing Statistics on Violence against 
Women. Statistical Surveys, New York 2014 (publication is available here). 
10 Jansen H.A.F.M., Prevalence surveys on violence against women. Challenges around indicators, data collection and use, UN 
women, 2012 (publication is available here) and Nayak, M.B., Byrne, C.A., Martin, M.K. et al., Attitudes Toward Violence Against 
Women: A Cross-Nation Study, 2003, Sex Roles 49, pages 333–342 (publication is available here). 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interpreting the EU-GBV survey results 

2 

Based on the EU-GBV survey (wave 2021), women who said that they had never experienced 
intimate partner violence in their lifetime were less of the opinion that intimate partner violence 
against women is common in their country (67 % at EU level), compared with women who have 
shared intimate partner violence experiences in their lifetime (83 % at EU level) (see Figure 2). 

FIGURE 2  

The share of women who believe that violence against women is common in their country varies 
significantly between different countries: this is the case for one third of women in Czechia who 
said they had not experienced any violence compared with 89 % in Greece. Women who have 
experienced intimate partner violence, are more likely than women who have not experienced 
intimate partner violence, to believe that such violence is common in their country, from 56 % in 
Czechia to 96 % in Malta. 

Women who said that they had never experienced violence tend to believe that intimate 
partner violence against women is less common in their country. 

8 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

 
 
 
3 

Prevalence of disclosed violence  

3 

Prevalence of disclosed  
violence 

Prevalence of disclosed violence 

Prevalence of GBV against women by type of 
perpetrator 

Results of the EU-GBV survey (wave 2021) show that 31 % of all women in the EU have 
experienced violence by any type of perpetrator during their lifetime. That is similar to what had 
been noted earlier, as based on previous research (11), one in three women has experienced 
physical or sexual violence from the age of 15 years old. 

Based on the EU-GBV survey (wave 2021), at least 12 % of women in Bulgaria and up to 57 % of 
women in Finland have said that they had experienced physical violence (including threats) or 
sexual violence during adulthood (see Figure 3). 

11 FRA, Violence against women: and EU-wide survey. Main results, FRA 2014 (publication is available here) and The World Bank 
webpage Gender-based violence. 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prevalence of disclosed violence 

3 

FIGURE 3  

The prevalence of gender-based violence is highest in Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Denmark and 
Luxembourg, where more than 45 % of women said that they had experienced physical violence 
(including threats) or sexual violence during adulthood by any type of perpetrator. 

Regarding violence by a non-partner, 6 % of women in Bulgaria and up to 47 % of women in 
Finland have said that they had experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual 
violence during adulthood (see Figure 4) by a person other than an intimate partner. The 
analyses of non-partner violence by type shows that the greatest differences between Member 
States concerning non-partner violence are seen in the prevalence of degrading or humiliating 
sexual acts other than rape. 

10 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

 
 
 
3 

Prevalence of disclosed violence  

FIGURE 4  

This tendency could be related to the general opinion of the wider community in the country 
regarding what level of violence is ‘tolerated’. 

The prevalence of non-partner violence might be higher in some countries because women in 
these countries are more aware of what constitutes violence and do not consider acceptable 
degrading or humiliating sexual acts by any type of perpetrator. 

Prevalence of GBV against women by age of 
respondent 

Based on the EU-GBV survey (wave 2021), 35 % of the youngest women in the EU (18-29) 
disclosed violent experiences by any type of perpetrator compared with every fourth woman 
(24 %) in the oldest age group (65-74).  

This trend can be seen in the majority of countries (except for CZ and DE) when comparing the 
prevalence of non-partner violence by age group (see Figure 5). 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

11 

 
 
 
 
Prevalence of disclosed violence 

3 

FIGURE 5  

As an example, in Finland where more women, than in other countries, shared experiences of 
physical violence, including threats, or sexual violence by a non-partner from the age of 15, 59 % 
of 18–29 year old women said that they had experienced violence by a non-partner compared 
with 26 % of women aged 65–74. 

Prevalence rate for younger women (18-29) is higher compared with oldest age group (65-
74). 

Prevalence of sexual harassment at work 
The EU Directive (2006/54/EC) (12) requires the monitoring of the important phenomenon of 
violence, with a specific focus on working life. The Directive defines sexual harassment as ‘any 
form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, with the purpose or 
effect of violating the dignity of a person, in particular when creating an intimidating, hostile, 

12 For more information, see Directive (EU) 2006/54/EC of 5 July 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities 
and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation (recast). 

12 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

 
 
 
 
 
 
3 

Prevalence of disclosed violence  

degrading, humiliating or offensive environment’ (Article 2, 1 (d)).  

Based on the EU-GBV survey (wave 2021), of all women who have ever worked, at least every 
third women in the EU (31 %) has experienced unwanted behaviour with a sexual connotation in 
the workplace. The proportion of women who have ever worked and who have experienced any 
unwanted behaviour with a sexual connotation in the workplace varies between 11 % in Latvia to 
55 % in Sweden.  

Most perpetrators are male and in the majority of countries, most sexual harassment happens 
between colleagues (except in BE, SI, FI): from 4 % in Latvia to 34 % in Sweden and 16 % at EU 
level. Many women have also experienced unwanted behaviour with a sexual connotation by 
their male boss in the workplace. The percentage of women in the EU who have reported such 
an experience during their lifetime is 7 %. 

FIGURE 6  

Similarly, as with other types of violence, younger women are reporting more experiences of 
unwanted behaviour with a sexual connotation in the workplace. In the EU, 42 % of women who 
have ever worked in the youngest age group (18-29) reported in the survey that they had 
experienced unwanted behaviour with a sexual connotation during their working life, this 
percentage is half the amount (20 %) for the oldest age group (65-74).  

The trend is more visible in countries where less women shared their experiences of unwanted 
behaviour with a sexual connotation in the workplace i.e. Bulgaria, Latvia and Portugal. In 
Bulgaria, 30 % of women aged 18–29 reported in the survey that they had experienced unwanted 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

13 

 
 
 
 
Prevalence of disclosed violence 

3 

behaviour with a sexual connotation during their working life compared with 5.5 % in the age 
group 65–74. 

FIGURE 7  

A lower prevalence rate for older age groups might be connected with social norms existing in 
their country: several researchers have pointed out that when sexual harassment is more 
accepted as a socially normal behaviour, women do not consider this kind of behaviour as sexual 
harassment at work. 

14 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

 
 
4

Conclusions

Conclusions 
The aim of the EU-GBV survey is to address the data collection requirements of the Istanbul 
Convention (13) by developing a survey questionnaire and methodology in order to measure 
gender-based violence (as defined by the Convention), which is expanded to also cover the types 
of violence and perpetrators.  

However, it is important to point out that the survey data itself serves as a close proxy to the real 
prevalence of gender-based violence, as the successful conclusion of the survey depends on 
multiple factors, but mostly on the willingness of the respondent to disclose any violence 
experienced. To understand the real prevalence of violence and disclosure rate, it is, firstly, 
important to take into account the extent to which violence is ‘tolerated’ in the wider community. It 
appears, for example, that in some countries the prevalence of non-partner violence might be 
higher because women in these countries are more aware of what is acceptable behaviour and 
do not consider degrading or humiliating sexual acts acceptable.  

Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the data disseminated can only be considered as an 
important proxy of prevalence rates since direct comparison between countries needs to take into 
account the important differences in national contexts, such as cultural differences, ‘tolerance’ of 
certain types of violence, trust in governmental institutions, etc.  

As the prevalence rates do not reflect the differing dynamics and consequences of violence, a 
wide range of indicators collected in the survey are disseminated in the Eurostat’s online 

13 For more information about the text of the Istanbul Convention, see Council of Europe, Convention on preventing and combating 
violence against women and domestic violence, Istanbul 2011. 

 EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

15 

 
4 

Conclusions 

database (14) that will allow a deeper analysis of the types of violence, the frequency, severity, 
seriousness and reporting of partner and non-partner violence, as well as the indicators on sexual 
harassment at work (prevalence, frequency, reporting, opinion), violence in childhood and the 
indicators on knowledge of support services and general opinion. 

14 Data are disseminated in Eurostat’s online database under sub-domain Gender-based violence against women 

16 

EU gender-based violence survey. Main findings 

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EU gender-based 
violence survey

This report provides background information on the methodology 
development and on the implementation of the EU gender-based violence 
survey. It also gives some main findings from the survey. The survey 
implementation started in 2020 and data collection took place from 
September 2020 to March 2024 (wave 2021). To ensure that high quality and 
comparable data are produced, the survey is implemented based on common 
questionnaire and methodology. The first results were disseminated in 
September 2022, while EU-wide data was published in November 2024.

For more information
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/

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PDF: ISBN 978-92-68-21807-5

2023 edition