This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Lithuania 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 section below outlines the main findings from EIGE’s most recent administrative data collection exercise on intimate partner violence and domestic violence in Lithuania.
Main findings
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Victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
- In 2022, 89 % of victims of intimate partner violence were women, whilst in the same year 77 % of victims of domestic violence were women.
- Physical violence is the most common form of intimate partner violence and domestic violence recorded by police on an annual basis.
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Femicide
- Women represent most victims of homicide committed by intimate partners (89 %) and domestic perpetrators (71 %), based on data from 2022.
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Rape
- In 2022, police recorded 59 women victims of rape committed by any perpetrator.
- In the same year, police recorded 12 women victims of domestic rape, and 6 women victims of intimate partner rape.
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Perpetrators reported for domestic violence
- In 2022, 3,937 men were reported to police for domestic violence.
- Data on men prosecuted, sentenced, and held in prison for their crimes is not available.
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 latest data collection exercise show that intimate partner violence and domestic violence disproportionately affect women. Women in Lithuania comprise 89 % of intimate partner violence victims and 77 % of domestic violence victims recorded by police (based on data from 2022).
At the same time, women represented 59 % of victims of violence in ‘any relationship’ recorded by police were women.
Figure 1 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 Lithuania, no legal definition of intimate partner violence exists, as it is conceptualised as a form of domestic violence. However, police data is available on women and total victims of intimate partner violence.
Victims of intimate partner violence
In Lithuania, women represent most victims of intimate partner violence recorded by police (89 % in 2022). In 2022, police recorded 3,485 women victims of violence committed by an intimate partner.
Figure 2 Annual number of female and total victims of intimate partner violence (Indicator 1), 2014–2022
EIGE’s research shows that intimate partner violence remains a significant issue for women in Lithuania. This finding is substantiated by the results of the EU-GBV survey which show that 31 % of ever-partnered women in Lithuania have experienced psychological, physical (including threats), or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Victims of specific forms of intimate partner violence
During EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Lithuania shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic intimate partner violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
Figure 3 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic intimate partner violence (Indicators 4-7), 2014-2022
EIGE’s data shows that 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 reveals that experiences of psychological violence may be more common amongst women in Lithuania.
While 11 % of ever-partnered women in Lithuania have experienced physical intimate partner violence (including threats) during their lifetime, 30 % have experienced psychological intimate partner violence. This discrepancy indicates that victims of psychological violence are less likely to report their experiences to the police compared to victims of physical violence. It may also suggest that those suffering from psychological abuse might not recognize it as a reportable form of violence.
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 Lithuania, domestic violence is criminalised by the Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence (2011). This includes physical, mental, sexual, and economic violence between persons currently or previously linked by marriage, partnership, affinity or other close relations, and persons with a common domicile or household.
Victims of domestic violence
According to the latest data, women represent most domestic violence victims in Lithuania (77 %). In 2022, 4,603 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police.
Figure 4 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2014-2022
The police data recorded in Lithuania sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. Findings of the EU-GBV survey also show that, during adulthood, 17 % 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 Lithuania shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
Figure 5 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence (Indicators 4-7), 2014-2022
Police record a greater number of victims of physical domestic violence than of sexual domestic violence annually. Similarly, findings from the EU-GBV survey show that, during adulthood, 12 % of women in Lithuania say they have experienced physical domestic violence (including threats) while fewer have experienced sexual domestic violence (5.5 %).
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 Lithuania. Such cases would generally be prosecuted under Articles 129 (murder) or 130 (murder in a state of passion) of the Criminal Code.
Women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner homicide and domestic homicide
In 2022, women represented 89 % of victims of homicide committed by intimate partners and 71 % of victims killed by domestic perpetrators. In the same year, women were more equally represented among victims of homicide by any perpetrator (43 %).
Figure 6 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner homicide, domestic homicide, and homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2022
Number of women victims of homicide
In 2022, 29 women victims of homicide were recorded by police. In the same year, police recorded 17 women victims of domestic homicide and 8 women victims of intimate partner homicide.
Figure 7 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 26 % of victims of intimate partner violence in Lithuania 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 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 Lithuania, rape is criminalised under Article 149 of the Criminal code. It is defined as engaging in sexual intercourse with someone against their will by using physical violence, threatening immediate violence, depriving them of the ability to resist, or exploiting their helpless state.
In 2022, 59 women victims of rape were recorded by police. In the same year, police recorded 12 women victims of rape committed by domestic perpetrators, and 6 women victims of rape committed by intimate partners.
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.
Figure 7 Annual number of female victims of intimate partner rape, domestic rape, and rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2014-2022
Perpetrators of domestic violence
Perpetrators are defined as ‘persons brought into formal contact with the police and suspected/arrested or cautioned’.
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, 3,937 men were reported to police for domestic violence.
Between 2014 and 2022, the number of men reported for domestic violence has fluctuated (with the lowest figure reported in the year 2016). In 2016, changes were made to the software of the Criminal Offences Register, which also altered the procedures for entering data. Consequently, investigators were unable to fully enter the details of suspects related to domestic violence into the Register. This could help to explain the sharp drop in the number of male perpetrators reported for domestic violence in 2016.
Figure 9 Annual number of male perpetrators reported, for domestic violence against total victims (Indicator 3), 2014-2022
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Lithuania underscore the persistent threat of intimate partner violence and 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 Lithuania, police data is available on victims 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 Lithuania, data is widely available on the annual number of female and total victims of intentional homicide committed by intimate partners, domestic perpetrators, and any perpetrator. Data has also been shared on victims of rape committed by different types of perpetrators.
Justice sector data is limited in Lithuania. Data is not available on protection orders granted for victims of intimate partner or domestic violence.
Moreover, while EIGE retrieved data on perpetrators reported to police, no data has been retrieved on those prosecuted, sentenced, or held in prison for their crimes. This makes it challenging to explore the extent to which men are brought to justice for violence against women and domestic violence.
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