Data and research
Data and evidence are crucial to shed light on the nature, severity, and frequency of different types of violence and to design appropriate programmes and policies to end violence against women and girls. Data reveal who is at the highest risk and who perpetrates violence. They help pinpoint hotspots, indicate whether survivors can access services, and reveal the myriad consequences of violence for individuals, families, and societies.
Data inform tailored prevention and response efforts, guiding effective laws, policies, and programmes. They illuminate which strategies work—or do not. By giving visibility to the experiences and voices of women and girls, they galvanize advocacy and political commitments, including stepping up investments.
A variety of data sources
Different sources of data on violence against women and girls include:
- Population surveys, which can gauge the prevalence of violence or the proportion of women and girls who experience violence.
- Administrative data, which are collected by service providers and provide insights into service use and gaps.
- Big data, which can reveal sentiments, such as the impacts of awareness-raising campaigns.
- Qualitative data, which can illuminate specific issues overlooked in quantitative research, such as help-seeking behaviours by survivors.
Administrative data and population surveys are the most common sources, with an important distinction: only population-based surveys can measure the prevalence of violence against women and girls. Administrative data capture only cases reported to service providers, generally a small fraction of the total. Less than 40 per cent of survivors seek any form of help, and when they do, it is mostly from family and friends.
The spread of surveys and standards
Prevalence surveys are now conducted worldwide. As of 2025, 168 countries and areas had comparable prevalence data for physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, along with 140 for non-partner sexual violence, within the last 12 months.
Increasingly, surveys apply international measurement standards, improving the quality and quantity of data. Adhering to globally agreed ethical and safety standards when collecting, analysing, and sharing data is also critical, given significant safety risks for women as well as data collectors.
Gaps in coverage and use
Despite more and better data on violence against women and girls, significant discrepancies persist. Data are not consistently comprehensive, reliable, comparable, or up-to-date. Some forms of violence are still mostly overlooked, such as femicide, sexual harassment in public spaces, and technology-facilitated violence against women.
Another concern, even where data are available, is that they are not used. Equipping data users to better understand data improves the prospects that they will apply it to shape advocacy and policy.
