Violence against women in Australia affects 39% of women (3.9 million) who have experienced physical or sexual violence since age 15, according to the ABS Personal Safety Survey 2021-22, while police recorded 39,758 sexual assault victims in 2025, and 80% were female. Police also recorded 97,800 family and domestic violence offenders in 2024-25, a record rate of 403 per 100,000 people.
Violence Against Women Statistics in Australia 2026 – Introduction
Violence against women in Australia shows up in two very different sets of official numbers. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Personal Safety Survey asks adults about their own lives. Its latest results cover 2021-22 and show that 39% of women have experienced violence since age 15. Police-recorded crime data is newer. It covers 2025 and counts only offences that reach police. Together they give a much fuller overall view than either alone, as long as readers keep the periods straight.
This report keeps the two datasets apart. Survey figures describe how many women ever experienced violence. Police figures describe how many victims and offenders police recorded in one year. Mixing them would overstate certainty. Each section names its dataset and year, and every number is a floor, because many women never report.
Interesting Facts: Violence Against Women in Australia 2026
Women who experienced violence since age 15, PSS 2021-22 (each block = 2)
Any violence | ████████████████████ 39%
Intimate partner or family | ██████████████ 27%
Sexual violence | ███████████ 22%
Stalking | ██████████ 20%
| Fact | Confirmed Data | Dataset |
|---|---|---|
| Women who experienced violence since age 15 | 39% (3.9 million) | Survey, 2021-22 |
| Women who experienced sexual violence | 22% | Survey, 2021-22 |
| Women hurt by an intimate partner or family member | 27% | Survey, 2021-22 |
| Sexual assault victims recorded | 39,758, 80% female | Police, 2025 |
| Sexual assault rate | 144 per 100,000 | Police, 2025 |
| Family and domestic violence offenders | 97,800, up 8% | Police, 2024-25 |
| Family and domestic violence homicide victims | 133 | Police, 2025 |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Personal Safety, Australia 2021-22; ABS Recorded Crime – Victims 2025; ABS Recorded Crime – Offenders 2024-25.
The survey rows come from a 2021-22 study of adults and show lifetime prevalence. The police rows come from administrative records. The two cannot be added, compared year to year or treated as one current-year survey. They answer different questions. A reader who needs the share of women affected should use the survey. A reader who needs this year’s caseload should use police data.
Police figures also moved in different directions. Sexual assault victims fell by less than 1% in 2025, the first fall in 14 years. Family and domestic violence offenders rose 8% in 2024-25. Reporting rules, policing practice and willingness to report all affect these counts, so no single number tells the whole story. Police counts also move with how agencies record and report cases, so always compare years with care.
Violence Against Women in Australia 2026: Personal Safety Survey Prevalence (2021-22)
Prevalence since age 15, women vs men (each block = 2)
Any violence, women | ████████████████████ 39%
Any violence, men | ██████████████████████ 43%
Sexual violence, women | ███████████ 22%
Sexual violence, men | ███ 6.1%
Partner/family, women | ██████████████ 27%
Partner/family, men | ██████ 12%
| Measure Since Age 15 | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Any violence | 39% | 43% |
| Sexual violence | 22% | 6.1% |
| Physical violence | 31% | 42% |
| Stalking | 20% | 6.8% |
| Intimate partner or family member violence | 27% | 12% |
| Intimate partner violence | 23% | 7.3% |
| Cohabiting partner violence | 17% | 5.5% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Personal Safety, Australia 2021-22 (released March 2023).
Overall, 39% of women (3.9 million) and 43% of men (4.1 million) experienced violence since age 15. The gap flips once you look at type and perpetrator. Women reported sexual violence at 22% against 6.1% for men. Women reported partner or family violence at 27% against 12%. Men reported more physical violence at 42% against 31%, and more of it came from strangers. About 30% of men experienced violence from a stranger, against 11% of women.
Women faced violence from people they know. About 35% of women experienced violence from a known person against 25% of men. Violence by an intimate partner reached 23% for women, and 17% reported violence from a cohabiting partner. Stalking affected 20% of women. Women also reported emotional abuse by a cohabiting partner at 23% and economic abuse at 16%. These are lifetime figures from a survey held during the pandemic, so read them as a baseline. Twelve-month rates are much lower. About 1.5% of women experienced intimate partner violence in the year before the survey, down from 2.3% in 2016.
Sexual Assault Statistics in Australia 2026: Police-Recorded Victims (2025)
Sexual assault victimisation rate per 100,000 (each block = 3)
2021 | ████████████████████████████████████████ 121
2022 | ██████████████████████████████████████████ 126
2023 | █████████████████████████████████████████████ 136
2024 | █████████████████████████████████████████████████ 147
2025 | ████████████████████████████████████████████████ 144
| Measure, 2025 | Value |
|---|---|
| Victims recorded | 39,758 |
| Change from 2024 | -329 (less than 1%) |
| Rate per 100,000 | 144 (from 147) |
| Female victims | 80% (31,695) |
| Aged under 18 at incident | 54% (21,528) |
| Family and domestic violence related | 41% (16,146) |
| Occurred at a residence | 68% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Recorded Crime – Victims 2025 (released September 3, 2026).
Police recorded 39,758 sexual assault victims in 2025, a drop of 329 from 2024. It was the first fall in 14 years, and the rate fell from 147 to 144 per 100,000, its first decline since 2011. The rate had climbed every year from 121 in 2021. Recorded counts depend on reporting, so a fall does not prove less offending.
Women and girls made up 80% of victims. More than half of all victims, 54%, were under 18 when the incident happened. About 41% of cases were linked to family and domestic violence, and 68% took place at a residence. Police data counts only crimes reported, and about 66% were reported within a year. The rest were reported later, so annual counts can include older incidents.
Violence Against Women by State and Territory in Australia 2026: Police Sexual Assault Rankings (2025)
Sexual assault rate per 100,000, 2025 (each block = 10)
Northern Territory | ████████████████████ 202
New South Wales | ███████████████████ 194
Queensland | ████████████████ 162
Western Australia | ████████████ 119
South Australia | ███████████ 107
Victoria | ██████████ 95
ACT | █████████ 88
| Rank | State or Territory | Victims | Rate per 100,000 | Female Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Territory | 536 | 202 | 88% |
| 2 | New South Wales | 16,644 | 194 | 71% |
| 3 | Queensland | 9,173 | 162 | 86% |
| 4 | Western Australia | 3,634 | 119 | 86% |
| 5 | South Australia | 2,027 | 107 | 85% |
| 6 | Victoria | 6,722 | 95 | 86% |
| 7 | ACT | 424 | 88 | 80% |
| – | Tasmania | 585 | Not listed | 84% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Recorded Crime – Victims 2025.
The Northern Territory had the highest police-recorded rate at 202 per 100,000, followed by New South Wales at 194. New South Wales rate stayed at its highest level in the time series, unchanged from 2024. Queensland recorded 162, down from 167, its first fall since 2019. Victoria recorded the lowest large-state rate at 95, after a 6% drop. The Australian Capital Territory recorded 424 victims, only 4 fewer than in 2024.
Rankings reflect recording practices as much as risk. A new crime recording system in the Northern Territory affects comparisons from 2023 onward. In New South Wales, 71% of victims were female, below the 84% to 88% recorded in most other states. Tasmania recorded 585 victims, and its rate is not shown here.
Violence Against Women by State in Australia 2026: Survey Prevalence Rankings (2021-22)
Women who experienced violence since age 15, by state (each block = 2)
Northern Territory | ███████████████████████ 46%
Tasmania | ██████████████████████ 43%
Queensland | █████████████████████ 42%
Western Australia | █████████████████████ 42%
ACT | █████████████████████ 42%
Victoria | ████████████████████ 39%
South Australia | ████████████████████ 39%
New South Wales | ███████████████████ 37%
| State or Territory | Violence Since 15 | Sexual Violence | Cohabiting Partner Violence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 46% | 27% | 21% |
| Tasmania | 43% | 26% | 22% |
| Queensland | 42% | 24% | 20% |
| Western Australia | 42% | 23% | 19% |
| ACT | 42% | 25% | 15% |
| Victoria | 39% | 22% | 16% |
| South Australia | 39% | 21% | 17% |
| New South Wales | 37% | 21% | 15% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Personal Safety, Australia 2021-22, state and territory statistics for women.
This ranking uses the survey, not police data, so it differs from the police ranking above. The Northern Territory leads at 46% of women. Tasmania follows at 43%. Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT sit at 42%, and New South Wales is lowest at 37%. The ABS notes that figures reflect where women live now, not where violence happened.
Cohabiting partner violence ranges from 15% in New South Wales and the ACT to 22% in Tasmania, against 17% nationally. Several jurisdictions, including the Northern Territory and the ACT, have estimates with high error margins, so treat small differences with care. State and territory survey data is available only for women and only for 2021-22. A new Personal Safety Survey would update these numbers, but the ABS has not announced the next release date.
Family and Domestic Violence Statistics in Australia 2026: Offenders and Homicide
Family and domestic violence offenders (each block = 3,000)
2023-24 | ██████████████████████████████ 90,700
2024-25 | ████████████████████████████████ 97,800
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Offenders, 2024-25 | 97,800 |
| Offenders, 2023-24 | About 90,700 |
| Annual increase | +7,103 (+8%) |
| Offender rate | 403 per 100,000, highest since 2019-20 |
| Male share of offenders | About 78% |
| All offenders proceeded against | 344,620 |
| Family and domestic violence homicide victims, 2025 | 133 (down 42) |
| Share of all homicides, 2025 | 31% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Recorded Crime – Offenders 2024-25 (released March 18, 2026); ABS Recorded Crime – Victims 2025.
Police recorded 97,800 family and domestic violence offenders in 2024-25, up 8%, the largest annual rise since national reporting began in 2019-20. The rate reached 403 per 100,000 people, a record. About 78% of these offenders were men. This is offender data for the 2024-25 financial year, so it is not a measure of how many women experienced violence.
Homicide data from 2025 points the other way. Police recorded 133 family and domestic violence homicide victims, 42 fewer than in 2024, and they made up 31% of the 435 homicides. About 55% of those victims were female, or 73 people. Rising offender counts alongside fewer homicides shows the measures can move apart. Check the ABS methodology notes before quoting offender figures for any single state.
Family and Domestic Violence Assault by State in Australia 2026: Police Shares (2025)
Family and domestic violence share of recorded assaults, 2025 (each block = 3)
Northern Territory | ██████████████████████ 66.5%
Western Australia | ██████████████████████ 66.1%
Queensland | ██████████████████ 54.4%
South Australia | ████████████████ 50.6%
New South Wales | ████████████████ 49.4%
Tasmania | ███████████████ 46.5%
ACT | ██████████████ 41.5%
| State or Territory | Share of Assaults |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 66.5% |
| Western Australia | 66.1% |
| Queensland | 54.4% |
| South Australia | 50.6% |
| New South Wales | 49.4% |
| Tasmania | 46.5% |
| ACT | 41.5% |
| Victoria | Not published |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Recorded Crime – Victims 2025, family and domestic violence tables.
In the Northern Territory, 66.5% of recorded assaults were family and domestic violence, and in Western Australia the share was 66.1%. At the other end, the ACT recorded 41.5%. At least 2 in 5 assaults were family and domestic violence related in every jurisdiction with data. The ABS does not publish this share for Victoria, so no national figure exists. Victoria is Australia’s second most populous state, so the gap matters when comparing jurisdictions.
Among the states with data, victims of these assaults were most often female, between 62% and 80%, and 51% to 80% were assaulted by an intimate partner. Most happened at a residence. Homes are the most common setting, which is why family violence is often hidden from public view. A high share does not mean the highest rate of assault. It shows how much of recorded assault happens within family and partner relationships.
Family and Domestic Sexual Assault in Australia 2026: Intimate Partner Offenders by State
Intimate partner share of family sexual assault, 2025 (each block = 3)
South Australia | █████████████████████ 65.1%
ACT | █████████████████████ 65.1%
Queensland | ███████████████████ 58.6%
Tasmania | ███████████████████ 56.9%
Victoria | ██████████████████ 56.7%
New South Wales | ███████████████ 46.1%
| State or Territory | Intimate Partner | Other Family Member |
|---|---|---|
| South Australia | 65.1% | 29.0% |
| ACT | 65.1% | 31.5% |
| Queensland | 58.6% | 38.5% |
| Tasmania | 56.9% | 40.9% |
| Victoria | 56.7% | 35.7% |
| New South Wales | 46.1% | 45.6% |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Recorded Crime – Victims 2025, family and domestic violence related sexual assault.
Nationally, police recorded 16,146 family and domestic violence related sexual assault victims in 2025. About 88% of them were female, and 53% were under 18 at the time. Most, 91%, occurred at a residence. Where police recorded the relationship, the offender was an intimate partner in 46% of cases in New South Wales and up to 65% in South Australia and the ACT.
The split shows two patterns. In New South Wales, intimate partners and other family members each account for about 46%. In South Australia and the ACT, partners dominate. Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not publish the relationship, so they are missing from this table.
Violence Against Women in Australia 2026 FAQ
How many women in Australia have experienced violence?
The ABS Personal Safety Survey 2021-22 found 39% of women, or 3.9 million, had experienced physical or sexual violence since age 15.
What percentage of Australian women have experienced sexual violence?
The survey found 22% of women, or 2.2 million, had experienced sexual violence since age 15. Sexual assault alone was 20%.
How many sexual assault victims were recorded in Australia in 2025?
Police recorded 39,758 victims in 2025, and 80% were female. It was the first fall in 14 years.
What is the sexual assault rate in Australia?
The 2025 rate was 144 victims per 100,000 people, down from 147 in 2024.
Which state has the highest rate of violence against women in Australia?
By police-recorded sexual assault in 2025, the Northern Territory ranked highest at 202 per 100,000. By survey prevalence in 2021-22, it also led at 46% of women.
Which state has the lowest rate of sexual assault in Australia?
Among rates published, the ACT recorded 88 per 100,000 in 2025, followed by Victoria at 95.
How many family and domestic violence offenders are there in Australia?
Police recorded 97,800 offenders in 2024-25, up 8%, at a rate of 403 per 100,000 people.
How many women in Australia experience intimate partner violence?
The survey found 23% of women experienced violence from an intimate partner since age 15. Cohabiting partner violence reached 17%.
How many people were killed in family and domestic violence in Australia in 2025?
Police recorded 133 family and domestic violence homicide victims, down from 175 in 2024. About 55% were female.
Why can’t I compare survey and police numbers?
They measure different things. The survey covers lifetime experience in 2021-22, while police data covers recorded offences in one year.
Are police statistics a full count of violence against women?
No. Many survivors do not report to police, so recorded figures understate the problem.
Where can women in Australia get help?
Call 000 in an emergency. 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 and Lifeline on 13 11 14 offer support.
How many women in Australia experienced violence from a partner in the last 12 months?
The survey found about 1.5% of women experienced intimate partner violence in the 12 months before the 2021-22 interview, down from 2.3% in 2016.
How many Australian women have experienced stalking?
About 20% of women, or 2.0 million, experienced stalking since age 15, compared with 6.8% of men.
What percentage of sexual assault victims in Australia were under 18?
In 2025, 54% of recorded sexual assault victims were under 18 when the incident happened.
How many Australian women experienced abuse in childhood?
The survey found 18% of women experienced physical or sexual abuse by an adult before age 15, and 16% witnessed violence toward a parent.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
