Largest increase in the number of victims of gender-based violence since 2011 in Spain

by Lorraine Williamson
victims of gender-based violence

 

The number of female victims of gender-based violence has risen for the ninth year to 36,582. This has been announced by the Spanish Statistical Office (INE). Only the year 2020, which was dominated by the corona pandemic, was an exception. The number of victims of domestic violence also increased.

It is an increase of 12.1% compared to the figures recorded by INE in 2022, when it counted 32,644 female victims. It is also the highest figure since the beginning of the INE series in 2011, followed by 2022 (32,644) and 2011 (32,242).

Increase comes after earlier decline

From 2011 onwards, the number of women who were victims of gender-based violence in Spain decreased. Until 2014, when 27,087 women were victims. Since then, the numbers have continued to rise year on year – with the exception of 2020, which was dominated by the pandemic – to 36,582 victims in 2023.

Age of the victims

INE’s data over the past year also show that almost half (47.8%) of female victims of gender-based violence were between 30 and 44 years old. This is broadly in line with the age of the perpetrators (48.4% between 30 and 44 years old). 1.7 in 1,000 women aged 14 and over were victims of gender-based violence in 2023.

The autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and eleven autonomous communities were above the national average. These are the following regions; 

  • La Rioja
  • Cantabria
  • Balearic Islands
  • Murcia
  • Canary Islands
  • Extremadura
  • Valenca region
  • Andalucia
  • Castilla-La Mancha
  • Aragón
  • Castilla y León

Partners and minor children victims of gender-based violence

The research also shows that 42.2% of female victims of gender violence were in a relationship or ex-partnership with the reported man. 34.7% were girlfriends or ex-girlfriends. In addition, 22.1% of the cases involved spouses or ex-spouses and 1% were in the process of divorce.

In 2023, 1,816 minors (children, in care or guardianship or cohabiting) were registered as victims of gender-based violence. Of these, 909 were boys and 907 were girls.

Victims of domestic violence

The INE has also published figures on domestic violence in Spain. Thus, in 2023, 9,126 victims were registered in domestic violence cases with a protection order or precautionary measures, 12% more than the previous year. Of these, 61.1% were women and 38.9% were men. 399 persons were registered as both victims and accused. In 37.8% of cases, the victims of domestic violence were the parent, in 25.3% the children and in 9.8% the siblings.

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