This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Estonia 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 Estonia.
FIGURE 1Main findings
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Victims of domestic violence
- 77 % of victims of domestic violence recorded by police are women (based on 2022 data).
- Psychological violence is the most common form of domestic violence against women recorded by police on an annual basis.
Police data reflect all cases recorded, including those that have not reached the prosecution process, therefore, actual statistics on recorded crime may vary considerably.
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Femicide
- In 2022, 4 women victims of homicide by any perpetrator were recorded by police.
- Between 2014 and 2022, 65 women victims of homicide by any perpetrator were recorded by police.
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Rape
- In 2022, 37 total victims of rape by a domestic perpetrator were recorded by police.
- Data specifically on female victims of rape has not been shared with EIGE.
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Protecting victims of violence
- In 2022, 129 protection orders were granted to victims of violence committed by any perpetrator.
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Perpetrators of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
- In 2022, 6,801 men were reported to police for domestic violence against women.
- In the same year, 90 % of men reported to police for domestic violence committed their crimes against women victims.
Domestic violence
EIGE defines domestic violence as ‘all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit, irrespective of biological or legal family ties, or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared a residence with the victim’.
In Estonia, domestic violence is defined in the Victim Support Act as ‘acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence in a family or residence or by a former or current spouse or partner, regardless of whether the perpetrator of the act of violence lives or has lived in the same place of residence as the victim’ (§ 4. (5)).
Victims of domestic violence
According to the latest data, women represent most domestic violence victims in Estonia (77 %). In 2022, 7,417 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police.
Police data reflect all cases recorded, including those that have not reached the prosecution process, therefore, actual statistics on recorded crime may vary considerably.
Figure 2 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2017-2022
The police data recorded in Estonia sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. Findings of the EU survey on gender-based violence (EU-GBV) also show that, during adulthood, 26 % of women have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator.
Victims of specific forms of domestic violence
As part of EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Estonia shared data on victims of physical, psychological, and sexual domestic violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-6). However, data is not available on victims of economic domestic violence (Indicator 7).
Figure 3 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, and sexual domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2017–2022
EIGE’s data indicates that police record more women victims of physical domestic violence than sexual domestic violence annually. However, the EU-GBV survey shows that experiences of sexual violence are nearly as common as physical violence.
In Estonia, during adulthood, 15 % of women have experienced physical violence (including threats) by a domestic perpetrator and 12 % have experienced sexual domestic violence.
Femicide: Number of women killed
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.
In Estonia, no legal definition of femicide exists. However, data is available on female victims of intentional homicide committed by any perpetrator.
In 2022, police recorded four women victims of intentional homicide. EIGE’s findings indicate that the number of female homicide victims increased to 10 in 2020, but then decreased to 4 in 2021.
Figure 4 Annual number of female victims of homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2014-2022
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 Eurostat’s EU-GBV survey, women victims of intimate partner violence experience significant consequences to their mental and physical wellbeing. However, only 23 % of women victims of intimate partner violence in Estonia report to police. For these reasons, authorities should raise awareness on the ‘warning sings’ of femicide and enhance access to support services for victims.
Rape: Number of total victims
EIGE defines rape 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’.
In Estonia, rape is criminalised under Article 141 of the Penal Code, and is defined as ‘sexual intercourse or commission of another act of sexual nature with a person against his or her will by using force or taking advantage of a situation in which the person is not capable of resisting or comprehending the situation’.
In 2022, the police recorded 37 victims of rape committed by a domestic perpetrator. The data collected by the police is not disaggregated by gender and includes both women and men victims.
Figure 5 Annual number of total victims of rape by a domestic perpetrator (Indicator 8), 2017-2022
Protecting victims of violence
Protection orders in the context of violence against women are defined as ‘a legal injunction that requires an offender to refrain from doing certain acts and to stay away from the victim’. Protection orders can be adopted under criminal or civil laws. They are fast legal remedies to protect the persons at risk of any form of violence by prohibiting or restraining certain behaviour by the perpetrator.
In 2022, 129 restraining orders were granted to victims of violence. The data includes restraining orders granted to both female and male victims of violence in any relationship.
Figure 6 Annual number of restraining orders granted to total victims of violence in any relationship (Indicator 10), 2018-2022
Although protection orders are crucial for safeguarding victims of violence, the process of separating from abusers can be highly stressful for victims. Survey findings reveal, while most women victims of violence in Estonia are aware of the existence of support services (90 %), less than half (44 %) are aware of free legal aid.
Free legal aid is vital for victims as it removes financial barriers and empowers them to act. Legal representatives often coordinate with other services and help secure long-term solutions like custody arrangements and financial independence, reducing the risk of revictimisation and aiding in the recovery process. Thus, it is crucial that victims have access to legal guidance when separating from abusers.
Perpetrators of domestic violence
A perpetrator is defined as a ‘person brought into formal contact with the police and suspected/arrested or cautioned for a criminal offence of intimate partner violence’.
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) refers strictly to male perpetrators.
In 2022, 6,801 men were reported to police for domestic violence against women. EIGE’s findings show that, in 2022, 90 % of men reported to police for domestic violence committed their crimes against women victims.
Figure 7 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for domestic violence against female and total victims (2017–2022)
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Estonia underscore the persistent threat of domestic 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.
EIGE’s research shows that, in Estonia, police data is available on victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. EIGE also managed to retrieve data on victims of specific forms of domestic violence, including physical, psychological, and sexual domestic violence. However, more specific data is not available on violence that occurs between intimate partners.
Police data is available on women victims of intentional homicide. However, these figures refer to victims killed by any perpetrator. Moreover, although data is available on victims of rape, data specifically on women victims is not available.
In terms of the justice sector, data is available on restraining orders granted to victims of violence. However, these figures are not disaggregated by the sex of the victim or by the victim-perpetrator relationship.
Data providers in Estonia have shared data on men reported for domestic violence against women. Data on men prosecuted and convicted for violence is also available, but these figures are not disaggregated by sex of the victim or the victim-perpetrator relationship. This makes it challenging to explore the extent to which men are brought to justice for violence against women.
In May 2024, the EU adopted the 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 shall work with EIGE to collect data administrative data on these forms of violence and will adhere to common standards. EIGE remains committed to supporting EU 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