Stats on Domestic Violence in the US

Threats and attacks

On average since 2001, for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

• about one-third of female and male victims reported that they were physically attacked.
  
  
• approximately two-thirds of female and male victims stated that they were threatened with attack.

Average annual percent of threats, attempted attacks, and physical attacks in nonfatal intimate partner victimization, 2001-2005

		Percent of victims of intimate partner violence
Type of violence		Female		Male
Total		100	%	100	%
	Attempt or threat	67.2		66.3
	Physically attacked	32.8		33.7

To the top

Type of threat

Between 2001 and 2005, for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

• 27% of female victims and 15% of male victims reported that the offender threatened to kill them.
  
  
• 23% of male victims were threatened with a weapon and 7% had an object thrown at them.
  
  
• about 1 in 10 female and male victims reported that the offender tried to hit, slap, or knock them down.
  

Average annual percent of threats, by type, in nonfatal intimate partner violence crime, by gender, 2001-2005

	Percent of victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence, 2001-2005
Type of threat	Female		Male
Threatened to kill	26.9	%	15.1	%*
Threatened to rape	0.5	*	--
Threatened with harm	59.3		55.3
Threatened with a weapon	17.6		22.9
Threw object at victim	7.5		7.4	*
Followed/surrounded victim	5.9		1.8	*
Tried to hit, slap, or knock down victim	14.1		12.6	*
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases. Note: Detail may not add to total because victims may have reported more than one type of threat. --Information is not provided because the small number of cases is insufficient for reliable estimates.

To the top

Type of attack

On average between 2001 and 2005, for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

• about two-thirds of female and male victims reported they were hit, slapped, or knocked down.
  
  
• male victims were more likely than female victims to be grabbed, held, or tripped.

Average annual percent of attacks, by type, in nonfatal intimate partner violent crime, 2001-2005

		Percent of victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence who were attacked
Type of attack		Female		Male
Raped		7.2	%	0.8	%*
Sexual assault		1.9		0.9
Attacked with firearm		0.5	*	--
Attacked with knife		2.5		8	*
Hit by thrown object		2.1		4.5	*
Attacked with other weapon		0.8	*	1.8	*
Hit, slapped, knocked down		62.7		62.2
Grabbed, held, tripped		54.9		26
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases. --Information is not provided because the small number of cases is insufficient for reliable estimates. Note: Detail may not add to total because victims may have reported more than one type of attack.

To the top

Injury

On average between 2001 and 2005, half of all females experiencing nonfatal intimate partner violence suffered an injury from their victimization.

Of female victims —

• about 5% were seriously injured and about 44% suffered minor injuries.
  
  
• about 3% were raped or sexually assaulted.

Average annual number and percent of injuries sustained by female victims as a result of nonfatal intimate partner violence, 2001-2005

			Average annual
Intimate partner victim			Number	Percent
Total			510,970	100	%
Not injured			248,805	48.7	%
Injured			262,170	51.3	%
	Serious injury		25,710	5	%
		Gunshot wound	595	0.1	*
		Knife wounds	4,940	1	*
		Internal injuries	3,440	0.7	*
		Broken bones	12,155	2.4
		Knocked unconscious	3,730	0.7	*
		Other serious injuries	855	0.2	*
	Rape/sexual assault without additional injuries		13,350	2.6
	Minor injuries only		222,670	43.6
Injuries unknown			435	0.1	*
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases. Note: Total may not add to 100% due to rounding.

On average between 2001 and 2005, more than one-third of male victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence were injured; 4% were seriously injured and 36% suffered minor injuries.

Average annual number and percent of injuries sustained by male victims as a result of nonfatal intimate partner violence, 2001-2005

		Average annual
		Number	Percent
Total intimate partner victims		104,820	100	%
Not injured		61,285	58.5	%
Injured		43,540	41.5	%
	Serious injury	4,335	4.1	*
	Minor injuries only	38,050	36.3
	Rape/sexual assault without other injuries	580	0.6	*
Injuries unknown		570	0.5	%*
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases. Note: Detail may not add to totals due to rounding.

To the top

Medical care

On average between 2001 and 2005 for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

• less than one-fifth of victims reporting an injury sought treatment following the injury.
  
  
• about 8% of female and 10% of male victims were treated at the scene of the injury or in their home.
  
  
• females experiencing an injury were more likely than their male counterparts to seek treatment at a hospital.

Average annual percent of medical treatment sought as a result of nonfatal intimate partner violence, by gender, 2001-2005

				Average annual
				Female		Male
Not injured				48.7	%	58.5	%
Injured				51.3	%	41.5	%
	Injured, not treated			32.8		27.9
	Treated for injury			18.5		13.1
		At scene or home		8.3		9.8
		Doctor's office or clinic		1.3		0.6	*
		Hospital		8.7		2.8	*
			Not admitted	8.4		2.8	*
			Admitted	0.3		--
		Other locale		0.2		--
Don't know				--		0.5	%*
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases. -- Information is not provided because the small number of cases was insufficient for reliable estimates. Note: Detail may not add to totals due to rounding.