Archive · 10 Dec 2025
1 Billion Women Faced Childhood Sexual Violence in 2023: Lancet Study
A new report says that in 2023, over a billion women around the world who are 15 or older experienced sexual violence when they were children.
Also, about 608 million women faced violence from their partners.
The worst places for this are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
In India, about 23% of women have faced partner violence, and 30% of women and 13% of men have faced sexual violence as children.
This violence can cause serious health problems like depression, anxiety, and even schizophrenia.
The report says we need to do more to stop this violence and help the people who have been hurt by it.
Over 1 billion women aged 15 and above experienced sexual violence during childhood in 2023.
Around 608 million women were exposed to intimate partner violence in 2023.
Highest prevalence of both intimate partner and sexual violence were found in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
In India, 23% of women aged 15 and above faced intimate partner violence, while 30% of women and 13% of men experienced sexual violence as children.
Intimate partner violence and childhood sexual violence are linked to various health issues, including mental health disorders and chronic illnesses.
- Who
- Women and children worldwide, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
- What
- High prevalence of intimate partner violence and childhood sexual violence
- When
- In 2023
- Where
- Globally, with specific focus on sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
- Why
- To highlight the urgent need for preventive measures and support services for survivors
- Total women exposed to intimate partner violence in 2023
- 608 million
- Total individuals who experienced sexual violence during childhood in 2023
- 1.01 billion
- Prevalence of intimate partner violence in India (women aged 15 and above)
- 23%
- Prevalence of sexual violence during childhood in India (women aged 15 and above)
- 30%
- Prevalence of sexual violence during childhood in India (men aged 15 and above)
- 13%
- Leading causes of disability due to intimate partner violence
- Anxiety and major depressive disorders
- Leading causes of disability due to childhood sexual violence
- Self-harm and schizophrenia
- Regions with highest prevalence of intimate partner and sexual violence
- Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
Sources
Over 1 Billion Women Faced Childhood Sexual Violence In 2023: Report
Sexual violence against women & children among top health threats: new study
Over 1 billion women faced childhood sexual violence in 2023: Lancet
Over 1 billion women faced childhood sexual violence globally in 2023: Lancet study - Telegraph India
