Statistics

National Data on Intimate Partner Violence

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Intimate Partner Homicide


Between 1993 and 2007 the overall rate of murders of women fell 43%, from 4.18 to 2.38 homicides per 100,000 female U.S. residents.13


About 1/3 of female murder victims aged 12 or older are killed by an intimate partner, vs. roughly 3% of male victims.14


IPV is a leading cause of homicides and injury-related deaths during pregnancy.15


In 2007, intimate partners committed 14% of all homicides in the U.S., killing an estimated 1,640 women and 700 men.16

In 2008:

  • 1,817 women in the US were killed by men in single victim/single offender incidents, as reported to the FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports. Where the victim/offender relationship was known, 64% of female victims were killed by a male intimate partner. 534 women killed by an intimate partner were killed with a firearm – most often a handgun.17
  • Black women were murdered at a rate over 2.5 times higher than white women: 1.02 per 100,000 versus 1.02 per 100,000.18

The risk of a woman being killed by an intimate partner significantly increases when the abuser:

  • Has access to a gun and has made previous threats or assaults with a gun.
  • Threatens murder.
  • Forces sex.
  • Attempts to strangle the victim.
  • Is extremely jealous.
  • Is physically violent with increasing severity and/or frequency.
  • Abuses drugs or alcohol.19
    • Over 80% of men who killed or abused a female partner were problem drinkers in the year before the incident.20
    • More than 2/3 of homicide and attempted homicide offenders were intoxicated at the time of the incident, compared to fewer than 1/4 of their victims.21
    • More than 1/4 of homicide offenders used both alcohol and drugs during the incident, compared to just under 6% of non-lethal partner abusers.22

The risk of homicide is also increased if:

  • The victim has recently separated from the offender.
  • There is a child in the home who is not biologically related to the offender.
  • The offender stalks the victim.
  • The victim is abused during pregnancy.
  • The offender is unemployed.23

Next: Teen Dating Violence



  1. Catalano et al, (2009). op.cit.

  2. Fox, J.A. & Zawitz, M.W., (2007). Homicide Trends in the U.S.: Intimate Homicide, Bureau of Justice Statistics

  3. Frye V. (2001). Examining Homicide’s Contribution to Pregnancy-Associated Deaths. JAMA, 285 (11): 1510-1511.

  4. Catalano et al, (2009). op.cit.

  5. Violence Policy Center, (2010). When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2008 Homicide Data.

  6. Ibid.

  7. Campbell, J.C., et al, (2003). Assessing Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Homicide. NIJ Journal #250 (November), NCJ 196547.

  8. Sharps, P. et al, (2003). Risky Mix: Drinking, Drug Use, and Homicide, NIJ Journal, Issue # 250 (November), National Institute of Justice, NCJ 196546.

  9. Ibid.

  10. Ibid.

  11. Tjaden, P. & Thoennes, N. (1998). National Violence Against Women Survey.