WHO: One in Five Indian Women Faced Partner Violence in 2023

By: WE Staff | Saturday, 22 November 2025

• Over 20% of Indian women aged 15–49 experienced intimate partner violence in 2023
• Almost 30% of the Indian women in this age group have experienced such violence at least once in their lifetime

A recent WHO report has revealed that in India, over 20 percent of women aged 15-49 have faced intimate partner violence during 2023 and nearly 30 percent have faced intimate partner violence since the beginning of their lives.

It has been estimated that around the world, almost 1 in 3 women, or approximately 840 million women, have endured partner or sexual violence and that the percentage has barely shifted since the year 2000.

The report additionally found an estimated 8.4 percent of women worldwide aged 15-49 years has experienced sexual violence from non-partners. In India, an estimated 4 percent of women aged 15 years and older have experienced sexual violence from non-partners.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated that violence against women is widespread and long-lasting, stating that "one of the worst injustices least addressed.

“He added that "women's and girls' empowerment is a crucial ingredient to peace, development, and health."

The report indicates that all nations and regions continue to experience violence against women, according to the authors.

According to the authors, there is no indication that advancements toward the worldwide aspiration of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030 will happen at a pace fast enough to attain it.

The report replaced the earlier estimates made in 2021 of violence against women based on observations in 168 countries from surveys and studies conducted between 2000 and 2023.

Furthermore, this report stated that as humanitarian crises and climate-related disasters are increasing the global development funding for violence prevention is decreasing.

Global development funding to prevent violence against women was only 0.2 percent in 2022, and will decline as the funding declines for 2025.

As a result, the report called for priority for rapid action, which included: increased investment for prevention based upon the evidence, increased healthcare, legal and supports for survivors, better systems to measure progress, and making stronger enforcement of laws and policies to support women and girls.