This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Finland 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 following figure outlines the main findings of EIGE’s most recent administrative data collection exercise on intimate partner violence and domestic violence in Finland.
FIGURE 1Main findings
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Victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
- Roughly 4 out of 5 victims of intimate partner violence are women (79% in 2022)
- Women represent 69% of domestic violence victims (based on data from 2022).
- Physical violence is the most common form of intimate partner violence, and domestic violence recorded by police (based on data from 2022).
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Femicide
- 80% of intimate partner homicide victims and 65% of domestic homicide victims are women (based on data from 2022).
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Rape
- 96% of rape victims recorded by police are women (based on 2022 data).
- In 2022, 1737 women victims of rape were recorded by police, and 1807 total victims of this form of violence were recorded.
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Protecting victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
- In 2022, 430 protection orders were granted to victims of intimate partner violence, of which 405 (94%) were issued to women.
- In the same year, 255 protection orders were granted to victims of domestic violence, of which 146 (57%) were issued to women.
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Perpetrators of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
- In 2022, 1393 men were reported to police for intimate partner violence against women.
- In the same year, 1651 men were reported to police for committing domestic violence against women victims.
Women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence and domestic violence
EIGE’s police indicators mainly collect data on victims of intimate partner violence, domestic violence and violence in ‘any relationship’. EIGE defines a victim as ‘a natural person who has suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by a criminal offence’.
Findings from EIGE’s data collection exercise show that intimate partner violence and domestic violence have the greatest impact on women.
Women in Finland comprise 79% of victims of intimate partner violence and 69% of victims of domestic violence recorded by the police (based on data from 2022). However, women are represented more evenly among victims of violence in ‘any relationship’ (48% in 2022).
Figure 2 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner violence, domestic violence and violence in any relationship (Indicator 1), 2022
Intimate partner violence
EIGE defines intimate partner violence as ‘any act of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occurs between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim’.
In Finland, no legal definition of intimate partner violence exists. However, police data is available on violence between current and former cohabiting spouses and partners, and between victims and perpetrators with a child in common (even if they have not officially cohabited).
An intimate partner relationship cannot be identified if a victim and perpetrator do not officially live together, are not married, or do not have a common child.
Victims of intimate partner violence
In Finland, women represent the majority of victims of intimate partner violence recorded by the police (79% in 2022). In 2022, the police recorded 6072 women victims of violence committed by an intimate partner.
Figure 3 Annual number of female and total victims of intimate partner violence (Indicator 1), 2014–2022
Findings from the EU survey on gender-based violence (EU-GBV), show that 53% of ever-partnered women in Finland have experienced psychological, physical (including threats) or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Survey results also reveal that 25% of ever-partnered women in Finland who have experienced intimate partner violence during their lifetime have suffered from repeat victimisation. It is therefore likely that several of the instances of intimate partner violence recorded by the police involve the same victims and perpetrators.
Victims of specific forms of intimate partner violence
During EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Finland shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, and sexual intimate partner violence recorded by the police (indicators 4–6).
Data on plaintiffs who have reported economic intimate partner violence have also been shared for indicator 7, although EIGE requested data on victims.
Figure 4 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, and sexual intimate partner violence (Indicators 4-6), and plaintiffs that have reported economic intimate partner violence (Indicator 7), 2014–2022
EIGE’s data shows that the police record a greater number of women victims of physical intimate partner violence than of psychological intimate partner violence each year. However, data from the EU-GBV survey reveal that experiences of psychological violence may be more common among women.
While 24% of ever-partnered women in Finland have experienced physical intimate partner violence (including threats) during their lifetime, 50% have experienced psychological intimate partner violence. This discrepancy in administrative and survey data suggests that victims of psychological violence are less likely to report their experiences to the police than victims of physical violence. This could also suggest that individuals who suffer from psychological abuse might not fully realise that they are experiencing a form of violence that can be reported to the authorities.
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 the same residence as the victim’.
In Finland, no legal definition of domestic violence exists. However, police data is available on domestic violence between intimate partners and family members (including cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents).
Victims of domestic violence
According to the latest data, women represent the majority of domestic violence victims in Finland (69%). In 2022, 8522 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by the police.
Figure 5 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2014–2022
Between 2014 and 2022, the annual number of domestic violence victims recorded by the police fluctuated. Fluctuations between years can be attributed to various factors and do not necessarily imply that violence has improved or worsened in the country.
The police data recorded in Finland sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. In addition, the findings of the EU-GBV survey show that 36% of women have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator during adulthood.
Victims of specific forms of domestic violence
During EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Finland shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, and sexual domestic violence recorded by the police (Indicators 4–6).
Data on plaintiffs who have reported economic domestic violence have also been shared for indicator 7, although EIGE requested data on victims.
Figure 6 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, and sexual domestic violence (Indicators 4-6), and plaintiffs that have reported economic domestic violence (Indicator 7), 2014–2022
EIGE’s data shows that the police in Finland record a greater number of victims of physical domestic violence than of sexual domestic violence annually.
Similarly, findings from Eurostat’s EU-GBV survey reveal that, in Finland, a larger share of women say that they have experienced physical domestic violence (including threats) during adulthood (24%) than sexual domestic violence (13%).
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.
There is no legal definition of femicide in Finland. However, data is available on female victims of intentional homicide by an intimate partner, by a domestic perpetrator and by any perpetrator.
Women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner homicide and domestic homicide
Women represent most victims of homicide committed by intimate partners (80%) and domestic perpetrators (65%), based on data from 2022. In addition, women represent roughly a third (35%) of victims of homicide by any perpetrator.
Figure 7 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner homicide, domestic homicide and homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2022
Women are often killed by those closest to them
In 2022, 23 women victims of homicide were recorded by the police. In the same year, police recorded 13 women victims of domestic homicide, and 8 women victims of intimate partner homicide.
Figure 8 Annual number of female victims of intimate partner homicide, domestic homicide and 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 the EU-GBV survey, women victims of intimate partner violence experience significant consequences to their mental and physical wellbeing. However, only 11% of victims of intimate partner violence in Finland reported the violence to the police. For these reasons, authorities should raise awareness of the ‘warning sings’ of femicide and enhance access to support services for victims.
Rape: Number of women 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 Finland, rape is criminalised under the Criminal Code (Chapter 20, Section 1). It defines rape as ‘sexual intercourse with a person who does not participate in it voluntarily’.
Women are the main victims of rape
In 2022, women represented 100% of intimate partner rape victims recorded by the police (out of 131), and 99% of victims of rape by a domestic perpetrator (176 out of 177).
EIGE’s 2022 data also shows that women represent 96% of victims of rape by any perpetrator (1737 out of 1807).
Figure 9 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner rape, domestic rape and rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2022
In 2022, the police recorded even higher numbers of victims of sexual violence committed by intimate partners (see the section ‘Victims of specific forms of intimate partner violence’) and domestic perpetrators (see the section ‘Victims of specific forms of domestic violence’). This is because ‘sexual violence’ encompasses a wider range of offences, including rape and sexual assault.
Number of women victims of rape
In 2022, 1737 women victims of rape were recorded by the police. In the same year, police recorded 176 women victims of domestic rape, and 131 women victims of any rape.
It should be noted that the data on intimate partner violence excludes victims and perpetrators who do not officially live together, are not married, or do not have a common child. As a result, the figures do not account for victims of intimate partner rape by ‘unofficial’ partners, such as boyfriends they do not live with.
Figure 10 Annual number of female victims of intimate partner rape, domestic rape and rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2014–2022
Protecting victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
A protection order, in the context of violence against women, is 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 people at risk of any form of violence by prohibiting or restraining certain behaviour by the perpetrators.
Protection orders for victims of intimate partner violence
In 2022, 405 protection orders were granted to women victims of intimate partner violence. During this year, 94% of protection orders granted for intimate partner violence were issued to women victims.
Figure 11 Annual number of protection orders granted to female and total victims of intimate partner violence (Indicator 10), 2014-2022
The data fluctuations in the years between 2017 and 2018, may be related to differences in how police mark offences, e.g., sometimes marking every incident and sometimes combining them. Moreover, this could also be due to data collection changes and changes in legislation.
Protection orders for victims of domestic violence
In 2022, 146 protection orders were granted to women victims of domestic violence. During the year, 57% of protection orders granted for domestic violence were issued to women victims.
The data presented in Figure 12 on protection orders granted to victims of domestic violence excludes those issued to victims of intimate partner violence.
Figure 12 Annual number of protection orders granted to female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 10), 2014–2022
Perpetrators of intimate partner and 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) refers strictly to male perpetrators.
Perpetrators of intimate partner violence
In 2022, 1393 men were reported to the police for intimate partner violence against women. In the same year, nearly all men reported for intimate partner violence committed their crimes against woman victims (1393 out of 1395).
Figure 13 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for intimate partner violence against female and total victims (Indicator 3), 2014–2022
Perpetrators of domestic violence
In 2022, 1651 men were reported for domestic violence against women. Justice sector data shows that during the year 85% of men reported for domestic violence had committed violence against women (1651 out of 1943).
The data presented in Figure 13 on male perpetrators reported for domestic violence excludes those reported for intimate partner violence.
Figure 14 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for domestic violence against female and total victims (Indicator 3), 2014–2022
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise in Finland 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 and resource allocation and the development of targeted interventions to support victims and prevent further violence.
EIGE’s research shows that, in Finland, police data is widely available on victims, offences and perpetrators of intimate partner violence and domestic violence. EIGE also managed to retrieve data on victims of specific forms of violence, including physical, psychological, sexual and economic violence.
Although a legal definition of femicide does not exist in Finland, data is widely available on the annual number of female and total victims of intentional homicide committed by intimate partners, domestic perpetrators and any perpetrators.
Similarly, data has been shared on the annual number of female and total victims of rape by intimate partners, domestic perpetrators and any perpetrators (2014–2022).
Justice sector data is more limited in Finland. Data is available on protection orders granted to female and total victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence, but not on applications for protection orders.
In addition, while data providers in Finland have shared data on male perpetrators reported for intimate partner violence and domestic violence against women, data is not available on perpetrators prosecuted, sentenced or held in prison for intimate partner violence or domestic violence. 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 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