1 in 3
women in the EU have experienced physical and/or sexual violence.
The Data
Finding clear numbers on gender-based violence shouldn't be hard. We've gathered the figures country by country and put them in one place, in plain language, for anyone who needs them.
Europe at a glance
Fewer than 1 in 7
women who experience violence report it to the police.
Half of women
abused by a partner never tell anyone at all.
Around 2,300 women
are killed by a partner or family member across Europe every year.
The cost of violence against women
€289 billion
Violence against women costs the EU an estimated €289 billion every year, in policing, courts, healthcare, lost work, and lives. It is one of the largest hidden costs in Europe, paid by all of us.
Femicide: UN Women & UNODC, 2024 · Cost: EIGE, 2021
Last reviewed: September 2026.
A Closer Look
What gets reported
Only about 1 in 8 victims go to the police, and half of women abused by a partner never tell anyone. Why? Across the EU, the most common reasons women give for not reporting are shame or self-blame (around 50%), fear of the perpetrator (around 24%), and the belief that police could not or would not help (around 24%). What we can count is a fraction of what actually happens.
Source: EU Gender-Based Violence Survey, FRA.
Data in your country
Sometimes the numbers exist but are almost impossible to find. Here, we've made them available, country by country.
Much of this data is missing, out of date, or hard to find. Gathering it, and pushing governments for better data, is part of our work.
Netherlands — the numbers
2 in 5 women (41%)
have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
1 in 6 women
experienced sexual harassment or violence in the past year. Among women aged 18–24, more than 2 in 5.
22 women
are killed by a partner or ex-partner every year. This number has not changed in 15 years.
Compared with the rest of Europe
The Netherlands sits in the middle range for femicide in Europe — around 2.6 women killed per million, higher than Spain (2.0) but lower than Finland (5.2). As across the whole continent, most violence is never reported. That silence is not a failure of victims; it is a failure of the systems meant to protect them. Part of VERA's work is to change that: to build first-contact processes that are victim-centred, so coming forward is safe and leads somewhere.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Note: the 41% figure is lifetime; the sexual-harassment figure is annual; the 22 killings are annual.
Sources: EU Gender-Based Violence Survey 2024 · CBS Prevalentiemonitor Huiselijk Geweld en Seksueel Grensoverschrijdend Gedrag 2024 · CBS: Number of women killed by partner or ex unchanged in 15 years (2025)
These figures are drawn from official European and national sources. We make them readable. Always check the linked source for detail.
Source: EU Gender-Based Violence Survey 2024 (Eurostat, FRA, EIGE).
Femicide: UN Women & UNODC, 2024 · Cost: EIGE, 2021
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Behind these numbers, laws are being written, debated, and delayed. See what's in motion, and when your voice counts.
What's changing