This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Austria during the 2023–2024 data collection exercise with the support of national data providers and national researchers.
The list of 13 indicators developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) for the purposes of this data collection exercise is presented in Annex 1.
The data collected in other countries and the methodological report are published in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database.
Key findings of EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise
The figure below outlines the main findings from EIGE’s most recent administrative data collection exercise on intimate partner violence and domestic violence in Austria.
FIGURE 1Main findings
-
Femicide
- In 2022, 41 women victims of intentional homicide were recorded by police in Austria.
- In the same year, 31 women victims of intentional homicide by a domestic perpetrator were recorded.
-
Rape and sexual assault
- In 2022, 91 % of victims of rape recorded by police were women (1,951 out of 2,142).
- Similarly, 90 % of victims of sexual violence recorded by police were women (4,495 out of 4,984 in 2022).
-
Perpetrators of domestic violence
- 2,233 men were prosecuted for domestic violence in 2022, and 979 were sentenced.
- In 2022, roughly 2 out of 3 of the victims of men prosecuted and sentenced for domestic violence were women.
Femicide: Number of women killed in recent years
EIGE defines femicide as ‘killing of women and girls because of their gender’. It is the most severe manifestation of gender-based violence. EIGE’s femicide classification framework distinguishes between killings committed by intimate partners and family members and other forms of femicide, which are less common.
There is no legal definition of femicide in the Austrian Criminal Code. However, national level police data is available on female victims of domestic homicide, and female victims of homicide in ‘any relationship’.
In 2022, police in Austria recorded 41 women victims of intentional homicide. In the same year, the police recorded 31 women victims that were killed specifically by domestic perpetrators.
Figure 2 Annual number of female victims of domestic homicide and homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2015-2022
The number of women killed each year in Austria is growing. Between 2015 and 2022, the annual number of women victims of domestic homicide more than doubled (from 14 to 31). A similar increase was witnessed regarding the number of women victims of homicide in any relationship (from 17 to 41 during this period).
Most femicide victims experience non-lethal forms of gender-based violence before they are killed. Femicide is often the culmination of a pattern of abuse.
According to the EU survey on gender-based violence (EU-GBV), 6.4 % of ever-partnered women have experienced repeated violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime in Austria. Moreover, many women have felt that their life was in danger as a consequence of intimate partner violence.
Sexual violence: Number of women victims
EIGE defines sexual violence as ‘any sexual act performed on the victim without consent’. Sexual violence can take the form of rape or sexual assault. Rape is defined by EIGE as ‘sexual penetration, whether vaginal, anal or oral, through the use of object or body parts, without consent, using force, coercion or by taking advantage of the vulnerability of the victim’.
According to Austria’s Criminal Code, a rape is committed when a victim is forced (by violence, severe threats or by illegal confinement) to perform sexual intercourse or a sexual act similar to sexual intercourse.
Victims of rape
Women represent 91 % of the rape victims recorded by police in 2022 (1,951 out of 2,142 total victims).
Between 2014 and 2022, the annual number of women victims of rape recorded by police has steadily increased. However, it should be noted that this increase may be attributed to various factors, such as improvements in data collection systems and processes to identify victims. Moreover, some victims that were recorded by police in later years may have reported experiences of violence that occurred in earlier years (e.g., in response to new awareness raising campaigns or due to improved access to support services).
Figure 3 Annual number of female and total victims of rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2014-2022
Between 2020 and 2021, Statistics Austria conducted a survey on violence against women on behalf of Eurostat and the Federal Chancellery of Austria. Results of the survey show that nearly 300 thousand women in Austria (8.7 %) are survivors or rape committed by an intimate partner or by another person since the age of 15.
Survey findings also reveal that rape between partners is rarely a one-time occurrence. The offence was repeated in roughly half of all cases of rape or attempted rape committed in intimate partner relationships.
Victims of sexual violence
Women represent 90 % of sexual violence victims recorded by police in Austria, based on data from 2022. During the year, police recorded 4,495 women victims of sexual violence (including rape and sexual assault).
Figure 4 Annual number of female and total victims of sexual violence (including rape and sexual assault) in any relationship (Indicator 6), 2014-2022
Findings from the EU-GBV survey show that nearly one in four women (24 %) in Austria have experienced sexual violence by any perpetrator during adulthood. Moreover, 8.3 % of women respondents have endured sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator in their adulthood.
The survey results also shed light on the risk of sexual violence against girls. Overall, 6.7 % of women respondents stated that they have experienced sexual violence in their childhood, specifically by male perpetrators.
Protecting victims of violence
In 2022, Austria recorded 661 violence protection cases that occurred without prior police intervention. Additionally, the police issued 2,844 emergency barring orders under Section 58c of the Security Police Act in response to violence protection cases. These orders prohibit perpetrators from entering the residence of the person at risk, including an area within a 100-meter radius.
Figure 5 Annual number of violence protection cases without prior intervention by the police, and emergency barring orders issued by the police pursuant to Section 58c of the Security Police Act (Indicator 10), 2019-2023
Perpetrators prosecuted and sentenced for domestic violence
Perpetrators are defined as ‘persons brought into formal contact with the police and suspected/arrested or cautioned for a criminal offence’.
Most of EIGE’s indicators collect data on all perpetrators (including male and female perpetrators). However, the data for Indicators 3 and 11-13 (on perpetrators reported, prosecuted, sentenced, and held in prison) refer strictly to male perpetrators.
During 2022, 2,233 men faced prosecution for domestic violence, and 979 men received sentences for domestic violence. The data refers to men prosecuted and sentenced for domestic violence against partners, ex-partners, and relatives.
Figure 6 Annual number of male perpetrators prosecuted and sentenced for domestic violence against total victims (Indicators 11 and 12), 2014-2022
Findings from EIGE’s data collection exercise show, women are the main victims of men that are prosecuted and sentenced for domestic violence.
- 2,223 men were prosecuted for domestic violence in 2022. Women represented 68 % of their victims (2,495 out of 3,694).
- 979 men were sentenced for domestic violence in 2022. Women represented 64 % of their victims (1,176 out of 1,842).
Although the conviction of domestic abusers is important to ensure justice for victims, the judicial process can be stressful and traumatic for those victimised. Findings from the EU-GBV survey reveal, while most women victims of violence in Austria were aware of the existence of support services (94 %), only 36 % were aware of the existence of free legal aid.
Free legal aid is vital for victims as it removes financial barriers and empowers them to take action. Legal representatives often coordinate with other services and help secure long-term solutions like custody arrangements and financial independence, reducing the risk of revictimization and aiding in the recovery process. Thus, it is crucial that victims have access to legal guidance during criminal proceedings.
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Austria underscore the persistent threat of violence to the safety and well-being of women and girls.
The collection of robust administrative data on intimate partner violence and domestic violence is essential to ensure effective policymaking, resource allocation, and the development of targeted interventions to support victims and prevent further violence.
During EIGE’s data collection exercise, no data was shared on the annual number of victims or offences of intimate partner violence or domestic violence in Austria. Moreover, except for sexual violence, EIGE did not manage to retrieve data on victims of specific forms of violence, such as physical violence, psychological violence, or economic violence. These limitations make it difficult to accurately assess the prevalence of violence against women and domestic violence at the national level.
Although a legal definition of femicide does not exist in Austria, data is available on the annual number of women victims of intentional homicide committed by domestic perpetrators, and by any perpetrator. However, no data is available on women victims killed specifically by intimate partners.
Regarding rape, data is available on the annual number of women and total victims of rape by any perpetrator. No data was shared with EIGE on the number of victims of rape committed by intimate partners or by domestic perpetrators.
Regarding the justice sector, EIGE retrieved data on the annual number of violence protection cases without prior intervention by the police, and emergency barring orders issued by the police under Section 58c of the Security Police Act.
EIGE also managed to collect data on perpetrators of domestic violence that have been prosecuted and sentenced in Austria. However, the figures are not disaggregated by the sex of the victim, making it challenging to explore the extent to which men are brought to justice for violence against women. Moreover, no data was shared on the annual number of perpetrators reported to the police.
In May 2024, the EU adopted Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Article 44 establishes that Member States must work with EIGE to collect administrative data on these forms of violence and must adhere to common standards. EIGE remains committed to supporting Member States in their efforts to collect comprehensive, reliable data on violence against women and domestic violence.
Further details on the data collected during EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise are available in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database and on its website.
Annexes
Annex 1: List of EIGE’s 13 indicators on intimate partner violence and domestic violence