Violence against women by their partners is widespread in both developed and developing countries. The United Nations recognizes domestic violence as a violation of human rights, but the extent of it is difficult to measure because many assaults go unreported, and country-level studies are scarce and vary in methodology. Here is an overview of various surveys collected in a World Health Organization database and cited by the Population Reference Bureau.

Britain 25%of women report being punched or slapped by a partner or former partner in their lifetime. (1995 random sample of women in the London borough of Islington)

Canada 20% of women report being physically assaulted by a current or former partner since age 16. (Nationally representative sample of 12,300 women ages 18 and older)

Egypt 35% of women report being beaten by their husband during their marriage. (1995 nationally representative sample of women ever married, ages 15 to 49)

India 30% percent of married men acknowledge physically abusing their wives. (1996 survey of 6,902 married men, ages 15 to 65, in five districts of Uttar Pradesh)

Israel 32% of women report at least one episode of physical abuse by their partner during the last 12 months. (1997 random sample of 1,826 married Arab women -- excluding Bedouin -- in Israel)

Kenya 42% of women report being beaten by a partner. (1990 representative sample of 612 married women in one district)

South Korea 38% of married women report being physically abused by their spouses in the last year. (1992 random sample of entire country)

Switzerland 20% of women report being physically assaulted. (Sample of 1,500 women ages 20 to 60 in a relationship)

Thailand 20% of husbands acknowledge physically abusing their wives at least once in their marriage. (1994 representative sample of 619 married men residing in Bangkok)

Uganda 41% of women report being beaten or physically harmed by their partner. (1997 representative sample of women aged 20 to 44 and their partners in two districts)

United States 28% of women report at least one episode of physical violence by their partner. (1986 nationally representative sample of married or cohabiting couples)

SOURCE: Population Reference Bureau, Washington, D.C.

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