Domestic violence statistics

This note presents some of the available statistics on the extent and nature of domestic violence. Measuring the extent of domestic violence is hampered by the absence of a statutory definition of the problem, the reluctance of victims to report their experiences, and the framing of a single meaningful statistic on the ‘level’ of domestic abuse.

Estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) indicate that 2.0m adults experienced domestic abuse in the year 2011/12.

Details of legislation and government policy on domestic violence, and contact information for organisations supporting those affected by this issue, can be found in the Library Standard Note SN/HA/3989 Domestic Violence.