Alarming Rates of Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescent Girls

A shocking new analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO), published today in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, has revealed that nearly a quarter (24%) of adolescent girls who have been in a relationship – almost 19 million globally – will experience physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence by the time they turn 20. Additionally, almost 1 in 6 (16%) reported experiencing such violence in the past year.

“Intimate partner violence is starting alarmingly early for millions of young women around the world,” stated Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research Department. “Given that violence during these critical formative years can cause profound and lasting harms, it needs to be taken more seriously as a public health issue – with a focus on prevention and targeted support.”

Devastating Impacts on Young Lives

The report underscores the devastating impacts of partner violence on young people’s health, educational achievement, future relationships, and lifelong prospects. Victims are at higher risk for injuries, depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and many other physical and psychological conditions.

Deeply Entrenched Inequalities

The study provides a detailed analysis of the prevalence of physical and/or sexual partner violence among 15–19-year-old girls in intimate relationships, highlighting broader social, economic, and cultural factors that increase their risks. The findings reveal significant regional differences in prevalence, with the worst affected areas being Oceania (47%) and central sub-Saharan Africa (40%), while the lowest rates are found in central Europe (10%) and central Asia (11%).

Factors Increasing Risk

Intimate partner violence is most common in lower-income countries and regions, particularly where fewer girls attend secondary school and where legal property ownership and inheritance rights are weaker for women compared to men. Child marriage significantly escalates risks, as spousal age differences create power imbalances, economic dependency, and social isolation, all of which increase the likelihood of abuse.

Urgent Need for Targeted Support

The report emphasizes the urgent need for strengthened support services and early prevention measures tailored for adolescents. These include school-based programs educating both boys and girls on healthy relationships and violence prevention, legal protections, and economic empowerment. Adolescents often face significant challenges in leaving abusive relationships due to a lack of financial resources.

“The study shows that to end gender-based violence, countries need to have policies and programs in place that increase equality for women and girls,” said Dr. Lynnmarie Sardinha, Technical Officer for Violence Against Women Data and Measurement at WHO. “This means ensuring secondary education for all girls, securing gender-equal property rights, and ending harmful practices such as child marriage, which are often underpinned by the same inequitable gender norms that perpetuate violence against women and girls.”

Global Commitment Needed

Currently, no country is on track to eliminate violence against women and girls by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target date. Ending child marriage – which affects 1 in 5 girls globally – and expanding girls’ access to secondary education are critical factors in reducing partner violence against adolescent girls.

The WHO continues to support countries in measuring and addressing violence against women, including efforts to strengthen prevention and response within the healthcare sector. New WHO guidelines on the prevention of child marriage are planned for release by the end of 2024.

This new analysis from WHO serves as a call to action for governments, communities, and international organizations to prioritize the health and safety of adolescent girls and work towards a future where they can grow up free from violence and fear.