Three out of four women in Bangladesh experience violence, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics survey finds

A national survey released today by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Bangladesh reveals the staggering scale of violence faced by women and girls across the country. The 2024 Violence Against Women (VAW) survey full report, launched today, follows the key findings presented in February this year. 

The VAW survey measured both UN-defined acts of violence and additional acts reflecting the Bangladesh context. It provides a roadmap for action, calling for urgent investments in violence prevention, strengthened services and access to justice, and an enabling legal and policy environment grounded in gender equality and human rights.

The findings based on both UN as well as locally defined acts of violence show that three out of four women (76%) have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic violence, as well as controlling behaviors. Nearly half of women (49%) experienced such violence in the past year. Alarmingly, two in three survivors (62%) never disclosed the violence they face.

The survey also highlights violence from non-partners: 15% of women experienced physical violence, and 2.2% sexual violence from non-partners since the age of 15. In this survey, “intimate partners” are defined as current or former husbands, while “non-partners” refer to any individual other than a current or former husband.

The 2024 survey marks the third national study of its kind, following previous rounds in 2011 and 2015. It captures trends over the past decade and provides a detailed picture of how violence affects women across Bangladesh, including those living in slums, disaster-prone areas and women with disabilities.

“This is the most comprehensive survey of its kind in Bangladesh. It provides robust evidence on the prevalence, causes, and impact of violence, which is critical for policy response,” said Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Director General of BBS, who chaired the launch event. “Going forward, we are committed to strengthening the institutional capacity of BBS to generate VAW data, while ensuring that data collection remains safe, ethical, and rigorous,” he added.

While some progress has been made — with the overall prevalence of recent intimate partner violence declining from 66% in 2015 to 49% in 2024 — the survey also highlights the ongoing costs to survivors and society. Women continue to face high out-of-pocket expenses for medical and legal support, while stigma and harmful norms silence many survivors.

The detailed findings are staggering:

• More than half of women (54%) experienced physical or sexual violence by husbands during their lifetime. Among women experiencing sexual violence, 60% faced multiple incidents in the last 12 months.

• During pregnancy, 7.2% of married women faced physical violence and 5.3% sexual violence, threatening maternal and child health.

• Mothers-in-law and male family members are the most frequent perpetrators of non-partner physical violence. Most non-partner sexual violence are perpetrated by individuals known to the survivors - male relatives, friends and acquaintances. 

• 8.3% of women experienced some forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence related to sexual blackmail, image-based abuse, and controlling behaviors.

• Service-seeking is alarmingly limited, with only 14.5% of survivors seeking medical care. Among survivors of intimate partner violence, 7.4% took legal action, with community leaders being the most approached authority. Only 3.8% of non-partner violence survivors pursued legal action, commonly approaching police.

• Less than 1 in 2 women (48.5%) know where to report violence, and just 12.3% are aware of the VAW Helpline 109.

• Key factors increasing the risk of intimate partner violence include younger age, dowry practices, husbands’ substance abuse or extramarital affairs, and living in urban slums. For non-partner violence, younger age, limited education, and disability are key predictors.

These findings were presented during the launch of the survey report, attended by Dr. Quayyum Ara Begum, Member (Secretary), Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division, Planning Commission, as chief guest, as well as Ms. Aleya Akter, Secretary, Statistics and Informatics Division and Ms. Shabnam Mustari, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs as special guests. 

“The evidence is conclusive: violence against women remains a widespread human rights crisis in Bangladesh. Behind these statistics are thousands of women who bravely shared their stories. This report must mark the beginning of transformative action to prevent violence, strengthen services, and ensure justice for survivors,” said Catherine Breen Kamkong, UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh, attending the event as guest of honor.

A panel discussion was also held, featuring Ms. Shireen Huq, Chairperson of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission; Dr. Shoeb Reaz Alam, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Special Security and Protection Battalion (SPBn); and Dr. Sanzida Akhter, Professor in the Department of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Dhaka, where they urged policymakers to take evidence-based action to eliminate violence against women in Bangladesh.

To download the full report and its summary, please visit UNFPA Bangladesh page on VAW.

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