Over a billion individuals aged 15 and older had experienced sexual violence during childhood in 2023, and about 608 million females aged 15 and above had been exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV), according to estimates published in The Lancet based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023. The GBD, coordinated by the University of Washington, is described as the largest effort to quantify health loss across places and over time.
The highest prevalence of both IPV and childhood sexual violence was concentrated in sub‑Saharan Africa and South Asia, regions where the health impacts of violence are compounded by high rates of HIV and other chronic conditions. In India, the study estimated IPV prevalence at 23% among women aged 15 and older; over 30% of women and 13% of men aged 15 and above were estimated to have experienced sexual violence as children.
The researchers reported that in 2023 an estimated 608 million females aged 15 years and older had ever been exposed to IPV, and 1.01 billion individuals aged 15 years and older had experienced sexual violence during childhood. The study links sexual violence against children (SVAC) and IPV to a broader range of health outcomes than previously recognised, producing substantially higher levels of health loss and disability.
Among the consequences, anxiety and major depressive disorder were among the top causes of disability attributable to IPV. Experiencing sexual violence as a child was associated with 14 health outcomes, including mental health and substance use disorders and chronic illnesses. IPV was linked to about 145,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, mainly from homicide, suicide, and HIV/AIDS; the team estimated nearly 30,000 women were killed by their partners that year. Exposure to sexual violence in childhood was associated with roughly 290,000 deaths in 2023, predominantly from suicide, HIV/AIDS, and type 2 diabetes.
The study found self-harm and schizophrenia to be leading causes of disability among men, and anxiety the leading cause among women, due to childhood sexual violence—particularly in South Asia. The authors argued that addressing violence against women and children is both a human rights imperative and a major public health priority that could save lives, improve mental health, and strengthen communities. Lead author Luisa Sorio Flor of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said the findings challenge the view of SVAC and IPV as primarily social or criminal justice issues and underline their status as public health priorities.
The researchers called for preventive measures including stronger legal frameworks, promotion of gender equality, and expanded support services for survivors. A World Health Organization report from November estimated that over a fifth of Indian females aged 15–49 experienced IPV in 2023, with nearly 30% affected during their lifetime. Globally, WHO noted that nearly one in three people—about 840 million—have suffered partner or sexual violence during their lifetime, a figure that has changed little since 2000.
