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People who experienced intimate partner violence
Measure: Proportion of people who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 12 months
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Baseline value
1.1%
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Latest value
1.1%in 2021–22
Last updated:
Interpretation
Intimate partner violence includes physical and/or sexual violence from a current partner (living with), previous partner (has lived with), boyfriend/girlfriend/date and ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend (never lived with).
A decrease in the prevalence of violence by an intimate partner over time will indicate that people are choosing to use less or no violence.
Prevalence data relate to the number of people who have experienced violence, not the number of people who have perpetrated violence, or the severity or frequency of violence in an intimate relationship.
Outcome: 3 Community attitudes and beliefs embrace gender equality and condemn all forms of gendered violence without exception
Sub-outcome: 3.3 People have equal, healthy, and respectful relationships
Indicator: Decreased prevalence of violence and abuse in family and domestic relationships
Baseline: 2021–22
Latest year:
Data source: ABS Personal Safety Survey
Source: DSS 2024.
For information about how this measure is derived, please refer to the Technical specifications for National Plan Outcomes.
Additional National Plan Outcomes data are available from the Data downloads page.
Time series
People aged 18 years and over who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 12 months, 2005 to 2021–22
| Year | Per cent |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1.5^% |
| 2012 | 1.5^% |
| 2016 | 1.8^% |
| 2021–22 | 1.1% |
Notes:
- Intimate partner includes current partner (living with), previous partner (has lived with), boyfriend/girlfriend/date and ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend (never lived with).
- Violence includes physical and/or sexual violence.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
State and territory
State and territory data are not available for this measure for 2021–22 due to sampling issues. However, supplementary data are available for the proportion of women who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 2 years. See the Supplementary tables for the National Plan Outcomes.
Population characteristics
Sex
People aged 18 years and over who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 12 months, by sex, 2016 and 2021–22
| Sex | 2016 | 2021–22 (baseline) |
|---|---|---|
| Females | 2.3^% | 1.5% |
| Males | 1.3^% | 0.6*% |
| Persons | 1.8^% | 1.1% |
Notes:
- Intimate partner includes current partner (living with), previous partner (has lived with), boyfriend/girlfriend/date and ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend (never lived with).
- Violence includes physical and/or sexual violence.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
*: estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
Age
Data are not available for this measure for 2021–22 due to sampling issues. However, supplementary data are available for reporting on the proportion of women who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 2 years. See the Supplementary tables for the National Plan Outcomes.
Country of birth
Data disaggregated by country of birth are only available for violence prevalence over the last 2 years (rather than 12 months).
People aged 18 years and over who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 2 years, by country of birth, 2016 and 2021–22
| Country of birth | 2016 | 2021–22 (baseline) |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 3.2^% | 2.1% |
| Born overseas | 2.0^% | 1.0*% |
Notes:
- Intimate partner includes current partner (living with), previous partner (has lived with), boyfriend/girlfriend/date and ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend (never lived with).
- Violence includes physical and/or sexual violence.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
*: estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
Disability status
Data disaggregated by disability status are only available for violence prevalence over the last 2 years (rather than 12 months).
People aged 18 years and over who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 2 years, by disability status, 2016 and 2021–22
| Disability status | 2016 | 2021–22 (baseline) |
|---|---|---|
| Has disability | 3.7^% | 1.7% |
| Does not have disability | 2.5^% | 1.7% |
Notes:
- Intimate partner includes current partner (living with), previous partner (has lived with), boyfriend/girlfriend/date and ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend (never lived with).
- Violence includes physical and/or sexual violence.
- Disability refers to any limitation, restriction or impairment which restricts everyday activities and has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least six months.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
Sexual orientation
Data are not available for this measure for 2021–22 due to sampling issues. However, supplementary data are available for reporting on the proportion of women who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 5 years. See the Supplementary tables for the National Plan Outcomes.
Remoteness
Data disaggregated by remoteness are only available for violence prevalence over the last 2 years (rather than 12 months).
People aged 18 years and over who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 2 years, by remoteness, 2016 and 2021–22
| Remoteness area | 2016 | 2021–22 (baseline) |
|---|---|---|
| Major Cities | 2.8^% | 1.7% |
| Inner Regional | 2.8^% | 1.5% |
| Outer Regional/Remote | 2.9% | 1.8*% |
Notes:
- Intimate partner includes current partner (living with), previous partner (has lived with), boyfriend/girlfriend/date and ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend (never lived with).
- Violence includes physical and/or sexual violence.
- Remoteness refers to remoteness area at the time of interview. 'Other areas' includes inner regional, outer regional and remote areas.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
*: estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
Related material
See the related content in the AIHW Family, domestic and sexual violence website:
More information
DSS (2024) Performance measurement plan, DSS, accessed 8 May 2024.
Related measures
See the related National Plan Outcomes measures:
- Previous page People who experienced family and domestic violence
- Next page People who experienced emotional abuse from a partner