Tidlignok Insight · Sources and limitations
Violence and abuse
Explore published Norwegian figures on violence in close relationships, sexual violence and violence affecting children. We distinguish lifetime survey findings, police reports and homicide statistics.
Violence by a partner or former partner
Around 1 in 10 women
reported lifetime exposure to severe physical violence by a partner. Around 1 in 20 women reported rape involving force or coercion by a partner.
Severe physical partner violence
11%
Women reporting lifetime experience
Rape by a partner
5%
Women reporting rape involving force or coercion
What do these figures measure?
NKVTS interviewed 4,299 people aged 18–74 in 2021–2022. These are self-reported lifetime experiences, not annual incident counts.
Share of survey respondents who reported experiencing severe physical intimate-partner violence in adulthood.
2014
2023
The difference among women is statistically significant; the difference among men is not. These are two survey measurements, not annual incidence. Changes may reflect several factors including differences in reporting.
Source: NKVTS report 1/2023, table 15.1, p. 186. Original table
Police-reported domestic abuse
3,095 women and 1,563 men
were recorded as victims of police-reported abuse in close relationships in 2025.
What do these figures measure?
Police-recorded cases, based on Statistics Norway table 08638 as presented by Bufdir. They do not cover all incidents, and reporting and registration practices can affect the figures.
Bufdir / Statistics Norway table 08638, 2025
Back to the topic overviewSexual violence and rape
22% of women
reported having experienced rape involving force or coercion, rape while asleep or incapacitated, or both, during their lifetime, regardless of the perpetrator's relationship to them.
What do these figures measure?
NKVTS interviewed adults aged 18–74 in 2021–2022. This is self-reported lifetime prevalence, not police reports or incidents occurring in 2022.
Women, survey results from 2014 and 2023 (%)
All values and statistical tests
| Age | 2014 | 2023 | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 8 % | 19 % | <0.001 |
| 30–39 | 11 % | 19 % | 0.007 |
| 40–49 | 9 % | 15 % | 0.006 |
| 50–59 | 13 % | 11 % | 0.459 |
| 60–69 | 7 % | 13 % | 0.004 |
| 70–74 | 8 % | 9 % | 0.751 |
Women, survey results from 2014 and 2023 (%)
All values and statistical tests
| Age | 2014 | 2023 | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 18 % | 26 % | 0.002 |
| 30–39 | 30 % | 30 % | 0.984 |
| 40–49 | 25 % | 37 % | <0.001 |
| 50–59 | 25 % | 32 % | 0.025 |
| 60–69 | 17 % | 27 % | <0.001 |
| 70–74 | 17 % | 19 % | 0.677 |
Women, survey results from 2014 and 2023 (%)
All values and statistical tests
| Age | 2014 | 2023 | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 4 % | 8 % | 0.034 |
| 30–39 | 9 % | 11 % | 0.537 |
| 40–49 | 12 % | 12 % | 0.811 |
| 50–59 | 12 % | 12 % | 0.799 |
| 60–69 | 9 % | 14 % | 0.054 |
| 70–74 | 9 % | 9 % | 0.899 |
Two survey years, not an annual series. Rape refers to lifetime experiences; other measures to adulthood. NKVTS source table 15.2
Share of respondents (%) in the specified survey year
NKVTS population surveys. Lifetime experience of rape involving force/coercion, not annual incidents. Changes in reported prevalence do not necessarily equal changes in underlying prevalence.
Original table: sammenligning 2014/2023
Read the original research reportPsychological abuse among shelter residents
92% in 2025
of residents at Norwegian crisis shelters reported experiencing psychological abuse. This figure covers all residents, women and men.
What do these figures measure?
The Directorate's shelter statistics cover people staying at crisis shelters. This is not population prevalence. Several types of abuse could be recorded for the same person.
Bufdir, crisis shelter statistics 2025
Share (%) of shelter residents, both sexes, first stay
View exact values
| 2014 | 81 % |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 84 % |
| 2016 | 83 % |
| 2017 | 84 % |
| 2018 | 86 % |
| 2019 | 90 % |
| 2020 | 91 % |
| 2021 | 92 % |
| 2022 | 92 % |
| 2023 | 93 % |
| 2024 | 92 % |
| 2025 | 92 % |
Share (%) of shelter residents, both sexes, first stay
View exact values
| 2014 | 61 % |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 62 % |
| 2016 | 61 % |
| 2017 | 62 % |
| 2018 | 64 % |
| 2019 | 67 % |
| 2020 | 64 % |
| 2021 | 65 % |
| 2022 | 66 % |
| 2023 | 67 % |
| 2024 | 68 % |
| 2025 | 65 % |
Share (%) of shelter residents, both sexes, first stay
View exact values
| 2017 | 12 % |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 13 % |
| 2019 | 18 % |
| 2020 | 19 % |
| 2021 | 20 % |
| 2022 | 21 % |
| 2023 | 20 % |
| 2024 | 22 % |
| 2025 | 21 % |
Share (%) of shelter residents, both sexes, first stay
View exact values
| 2014 | 64 % |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 63 % |
| 2016 | 63 % |
| 2017 | 63 % |
| 2018 | 61 % |
| 2019 | 64 % |
| 2020 | 60 % |
| 2021 | 59 % |
| 2022 | 56 % |
| 2023 | 59 % |
| 2024 | 60 % |
| 2025 | 58 % |
Share (%) of shelter residents, both sexes, first stay
View exact values
| 2014 | 20 % |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 21 % |
| 2016 | 22 % |
| 2017 | 23 % |
| 2018 | 22 % |
| 2019 | 26 % |
| 2020 | 26 % |
| 2021 | 22 % |
| 2022 | 22 % |
| 2023 | 27 % |
| 2024 | 28 % |
| 2025 | 26 % |
Share (%) of shelter residents, both sexes, first stay
View exact values
| 2014 | 5 % |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 % |
| 2016 | 5 % |
| 2017 | 6 % |
| 2018 | 6 % |
| 2019 | 10 % |
| 2020 | 10 % |
| 2021 | 10 % |
| 2022 | 10 % |
| 2023 | 11 % |
| 2024 | 11 % |
| 2025 | 10 % |
Source: Bufdir, crisis shelter statistics. Categories and denominators must be interpreted carefully. Source file
Coercive or negative social control
33% of crisis shelter residents
reported negative social control in 2025, which can include restrictions on freedom, decisions and contact with others.
What do these figures measure?
This category is based on recorded experiences of crisis shelter residents, not a nationally representative survey of controlling behaviour by partners. The two concepts are not interchangeable measures.
Bufdir, crisis shelter statistics 2025
Share (%) of shelter residents, both sexes, first stay
View exact values
| 2020 | 34 % |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 34 % |
| 2022 | 35 % |
| 2023 | 35 % |
| 2024 | 33 % |
| 2025 | 33 % |
Source: Bufdir, crisis shelter statistics. Categories and denominators must be interpreted carefully. Source file
How does police-reported abuse change over time?
3,095 women and 1,563 men in 2025
were recorded as victims of police-reported abuse in close relationships. Bufdir provides the corresponding annual series from 2006 to 2025. Recorded numbers fell after 2017 before rising in 2024 and 2025.
What do these figures measure?
Source: Statistics Norway table 08638 via Bufdir. The chart shows the verified SSB series for both sexes combined from 2006 to 2025. Annual sex breakdowns require a separate export. The 2025 total is 4,690 including severe abuse. Changes in recorded abuse do not necessarily reflect changes in prevalence.
Bufdir / Statistics Norway: reported abuse 2006–2025
Victims of police-reported domestic abuse, by sex
Number of victims per year, 2006–2025. Select which series to display.
The dashed line marks the 2015 change from ‘abuse in family relationships’ to ‘abuse in close relationships’ under the updated Penal Code. Categories and reporting practices affect comparability.
Total reported victims, 2006–2025
Women and men combined, including ordinary and severe abuse.
The dashed marker indicates the 2015 legal classification change. This is a series of police-recorded victims, not a population prevalence measure.
Ordinary and severe abuse, 2006–2025
Annual number of registered victims by offence category. Differences in categories over time require caution.
Show annual category figures
| Year | Total | Ordinary | Severe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 409 | 393 | 16 |
| 2007 | 853 | 807 | 46 |
| 2008 | 1,344 | 1,290 | 54 |
| 2009 | 2,093 | 2,050 | 43 |
| 2010 | 2,551 | 2,510 | 41 |
| 2011 | 2,810 | 2,756 | 54 |
| 2012 | 2,917 | 2,843 | 74 |
| 2013 | 3,381 | 3,322 | 59 |
| 2014 | 3,909 | 3,726 | 183 |
| 2015 | 4,352 | 4,147 | 205 |
| 2016 | 4,557 | 4,403 | 154 |
| 2017 | 5,051 | 4,878 | 173 |
| 2018 | 4,671 | 4,565 | 106 |
| 2019 | 4,492 | 4,409 | 83 |
| 2020 | 4,498 | 4,408 | 90 |
| 2021 | 4,282 | 4,206 | 76 |
| 2022 | 4,072 | 3,995 | 77 |
| 2023 | 4,132 | 4,091 | 41 |
| 2024 | 4,630 | 4,571 | 59 |
| 2025 | 4,690 | 4,658 | 32 |
Women and men in 2025
Number of registered victims of reported domestic abuse. Ordinary and severe cases combined.
Bars compare absolute numbers of recorded victims, not population-adjusted risk.
Source: Statistics Norway table 08638. Both ordinary and severe abuse are included. Source updated 10 June 2026; checked by Tidlignok 6 November 2026.
Original statisticsIntimate-partner homicide
5 women in 2025
were killed by a current or former partner or boyfriend/girlfriend. The police recorded five victims in this category; all were women.
What do these figures measure?
Figures refer to recorded homicides. Annual totals are small and volatile; they cannot on their own establish whether the risk of violence has risen or fallen.
Kripos, national homicide overview 2025
Intimate-partner homicide, 2015–2025
Victims killed by a current or former partner or boyfriend/girlfriend, by sex.
WomenMen
2015–2025: 84 women and 9 men.
Show yearly values
| Year | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 11 | 2 |
| 2016 | 8 | 1 |
| 2017 | 7 | 1 |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 10 | 2 |
| 2023 | 13 | 3 |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 |
Source: Kripos, National Homicide Overview 2025, pages 17–18. Figures are not population-adjusted and small annual totals may fluctuate.
Original Kripos reportChildren exposed to violence against a parent
5% and 13%
5% of upper-secondary students reported having witnessed or heard severe physical violence against a parent while growing up. 13% reported repeated psychological abuse against a parent.
What do these figures measure?
UngVold/NOVA 2023, self-reported experiences during childhood among upper-secondary students. These are not one-year prevalence figures.
Share of respondents (%) in the specified survey year
Grade 12 students, lifetime experiences during childhood. Not annual incidents.
Original table: 4.1
Read the original research reportShare of respondents (%) in the specified survey year
Grade 12 students, experiences during childhood. Not annual incidents.
Original table: 4.1
Read the original research reportShare of respondents (%) in the specified survey year
Grade 12 students. Comparable results are available for 2015 and 2023, not 2007.
Original table: 4.1
Read the original research reportViolence against children by parents
7%
of upper-secondary students reported experiencing severe physical violence by parents during childhood.
What do these figures measure?
UngVold/NOVA 2023. Self-reported experiences over childhood, not police reports or annual incidence.
Share of respondents (%) in the specified survey year
Grade 12 students, experiences during childhood.
Original table: 3.1
Read the original research reportShare of respondents (%) in the specified survey year
Grade 12 students. 'Less severe' is the research category, not a judgement of its impact.
Original table: 3.1
Read the original research reportShare of respondents (%) in the specified survey year
Grade 12 students. The 2007 figure is omitted because the survey does not provide a comparable measure.
Original table: 3.1
Read the original research reportWhat is missing from these figures?
Many incidents are never reported to police. Surveys also depend on how violence is defined and who participates. These sources measure different populations and periods, so the percentages and counts must not be combined or treated as a single trend.
Sources reviewed by Tidlignok: 6 November 2026. The source's publication year is shown alongside each finding.