Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Statistics

  1. One in four women in the UK will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. (Source: Women's Aid)
  2. Domestic abuse costs the UK an estimated £23 billion a year. (Source: Refuge)
  3. In England and Wales, the highest ever number of rapes was recorded in 2022: 70,330. (Source: Office for National Statistics)
  4. Only 2,223 rape cases resulted in charges in England and Wales in 2022. (Source: Crown Prosecution Service)
  5. Between April and June 2020, there was a 65% increase in calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline in England and Wales. (Source: Refuge)  
  6. Young girls in the UK report high incidence of sexual violence. (Source: Office for National Statistics)
  7. 41% of UK girls aged 14 to 17 in an intimate relationship experienced some form of sexual violence from their partner. (Source: Office for National Statistics)
  8. 93% of defendants in domestic abuse cases are male; 84% of victims are female. (Source: Crown Prosecution Service)
  9. Women are three times more likely to be arrested for incidents of abuse. (Source: Women's Aid)
  10. About 20% of women in Refuge's services are pregnant or have recently given birth. (Source: Refuge)
  11. Harmful practices like virginity testing, hymenoplasty, and breast ironing are carried out in the UK. (Source: Women's Aid)
  12. Forced marriage is a form of VAWG that affects women and girls in the UK. (Source: Forced Marriage Unit)
  13. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is illegal in the UK, but it still occurs. (Source: NHS)
  14. Honor-based abuse is a form of VAWG that can include forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and violence. (Source: Women's Aid)
  15. Online abuse, including cyberbullying and trolling, is a growing problem for women and girls in the UK. (Source: Women's Aid)
  16. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in VAWG, as women and girls are spending more time at home with their abusers. (Source: Women's Aid)

Here are some resources where you can find more information about VAWG: