This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Spain 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 Spain.
FIGURE 1Main findings
-
Victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
- Women represent most victims of intimate partner violence (91 %) and domestic violence (83 %), based on data from 2022.
- Psychological violence is the most common form of intimate partner violence and domestic violence recorded by police on an annual basis.
-
Femicide
- Between 2003 and 2024, 1,293 women victims of intimate partner femicide committed by men were recorded by police.
- In 2022, women represented most victims of intentional homicide committed by an intimate partner (93 %) and by a domestic perpetrator (82 %).
-
Rape
- In 2022, police recorded 2,384 women victims of rape committed by any perpetrator.
- 90 % of victims of rape by any perpetrator are women (based on 2022 data).
-
Protecting victims of violence
- In 2022, 27,228 protection orders were granted to women victims of gender violence.
- In the same year, 5,680 protection orders were granted to women victims of domestic violence (excluding victims of intimate partner violence).
-
Perpetrators reported and convicted for violence
- In 2022, over 85,226 men were reported to police for gender violence against women.
- In the same year, fewer were prosecuted (33,209), sentenced (36,161), and sent to prison (24,124) for their crimes against women.
- In 2022, 3,233 men were prosecuted for domestic violence against women (excluding intimate partner violence).
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 have the greatest impact on women. Women in Spain comprise 91 % of intimate partner violence victims and 83 % of domestic violence victims recorded by police (based on data from 2022).
At the same time, women are less represented among victims of violence in a broader context. In 2022, 52 % of victims of violence in ‘any relationship’ recorded by police were women.
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 Spain, intimate partner violence refers to the victimisation of women through acts included in Article 44 of Organic Act 1/2004 of 28 December on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence, provided that they have been committed by a perpetrator against his wife or a woman linked to him by an intimate relationship.
Victims of intimate partner violence
In Spain, women represent most victims of intimate partner violence recorded by police (91 % in 2022). In 2022, police recorded 115,980 women victims of violence committed by an intimate partner.
During the year, police recorded an even greater number of offences of gender violence against women (182,078).[1]
[1] This figure refers only to offences of gender violence by men against women over the age of 18.
Figure 3 Annual number of female and total victims of intimate partner violence (Indicator 1), 2014–2022
Between 2014 and 2022, the annual number of women victims of intimate partner violence recorded by police increased. However, this increase may be attributed to various factors, such as improvements in data collection systems and processes for identifying victims. Moreover, some victims that were recorded by police in later years may have reported incidents of violence that occurred in earlier years.
EIGE’s research shows that intimate partner violence remains a significant issue for women in Spain. This finding is supported by the results of the EU survey on gender-based violence (EU-GBV survey) which shows that 29 % of ever-partnered women in Spain 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 Spain shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic intimate partner violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
Figure 4 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 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 7.7 % of ever-partnered women in Spain have experienced physical intimate partner violence (including threats) during their lifetime, 28 % have experienced psychological intimate partner 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 Spain, domestic violence is defined as the victimisation of men and women by violent acts that occurred in the family environment, in which the perpetrator and the victim have a relationship of kinship or affinity.
Victims of domestic violence
According to the latest data, women represent most domestic violence victims in Spain (83 %). In 2022, 139,465 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police.
The data below on victims of domestic violence includes victims of intimate partner violence.
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 police has increased. However, as with the data on victims of intimate partner violence, fluctuations between years can be attributed to various social and institutional factors and do not necessarily imply that violence has worsened in the country over time.
The police data recorded in Spain sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. Findings of the EU-GBV survey also show that 16 % of women have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator during adulthood.
Victims of specific forms of domestic violence
As part of EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Spain shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
Figure 6 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence (Indicators 4-7), 2014–2022
Although police record a greater number of victims of physical domestic violence than sexual domestic violence annually, findings from the EU-GBV survey suggest that sexual violence is almost as common among women. During adulthood, only a slightly larger share of women say they have experienced physical domestic violence (8.4 %) compared to sexual domestic violence (7.5 %).
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.
In Spain, the Government Delegation against Gender-Based violence established a femicide classification system in 2021. Spain became the European country to officially measure and disseminate data on the prevalence of different forms of femicide.
Victims of femicide
Spain’s femicide classification system distinguishes between five forms of femicide:
- Intimate partner femicide: Murder of a woman under the terms of Organic Law 1/2004, on Comprehensive Protection Measures against GBV.
- Family femicide: Murder of a woman by male family members (including general family femicide and honour killing).
- Sexual femicide: Murder of non-partnered, non-related woman linked to sexual violence (i.e., due to sexual assault, trafficking, FGM, etc.)
- Social femicide: Murder of a woman or girl after a non-sexual assault by a non-partnered, non-family man (e.g., stranger, colleague, neighbour friend).
- Vicarious femicide: Murder of a woman of legal age by a man as an instrument to cause harm or injury to another woman.
The Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence regularly publishes data on the number of femicide victims killed by male intimate partners or ex-partners. Between 2003 and 2024, 1,293 women victims of intimate partner femicide committed by men were recorded by police (as of December 30th, 2024).
Figure 7 Annual number of victims of intimate partner femicide by male intimate partners or ex-partners (January 2003 – December 2024)
Victims of intentional homicide
During EIGE’s latest data collection exercise, national data providers also shared data on the annual number of victims of intentional homicide committed by an intimate partner, a domestic perpetrator, and by any perpetrator.
In 2022, women represented 93 % of intentional homicide victims killed by an intimate partner (54 out of 58). In the same year, women represented 82 % of victims killed by a domestic perpetrator (80 out of 98).
Conversely, in 2022, women represented only 37 % of victims of homicide by any perpetrator (121 out of 325).
Figure 8 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner homicide, domestic homicide, and homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 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 1 in 4 victims of intimate partner violence in Spain 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 Spain, rape is criminalised under Article 179 of the Penal code and occurs when ‘sexual assault consists of vaginal, anal or oral penetration, or inserting body parts or objects into either of the former two orifices’. Unlike EIGE’s definition of rape, Spain’s penal code does not mention consent.
Women are the main victims that suffer from rape
In 2022, 379 women victims of intimate partner rape were recorded by police. Women represented 99 % of intimate partner rape victims during the year (379 out of 384).
Similarly, women comprised 96 % of victims of domestic rape recorded by police in 2022 (489 out of 507), and 90 % of victims of rape by any perpetrator (2,384 out of 2,641).
Figure 9 Proportion of female victims of intimate partner rape, domestic rape and rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2022
Number of women victims of rape
In 2022, 2,384 women victims of rape were recorded by police. In the same year, police recorded 489 women victims of rape by domestic perpetrators, and 379 women victims of rape by intimate partners.
Figure 10 Annual number of female victims of intimate partner rape, domestic rape and rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2014–2022
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.
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.
Protection orders for victims of gender violence
In 2022, 39,909 protection order applications were filed for women victims of gender violence committed by men. In the same year, 27,228 protection orders were granted to women victims of gender violence committed by men.
Figure 11 Annual number of protection orders (applied and granted) for women victims of gender violence by men (Indicator 10), 2014-2022
Protection orders for victims of domestic violence
In 2022, 5,680 women victims of domestic violence were granted protection orders. In the same year, women comprised 60 % of victims of domestic violence that were granted protection orders (5,680 out of 9,527).
The data below excludes victims of intimate partner violence that were granted protection orders.
Figure 12 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence granted protection orders (Indicator 10), 2014–2022
Perpetrators of 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 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.
Perpetrators of gender violence against women
In 2022, more than 85 thousand men were reported to police for gender violence against women (85,226).
Figure 13 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for gender violence against women (Indicator 3), 2014-2022
In the same year, far fewer men were prosecuted (33,209), sentenced (36,161), and sent to prison (24,124) for gender violence against women.
Figure 14Annual number of male perpetrators prosecuted, sentenced, and sent to prison for gender violence against women (Indicators 11-13), 2015-2022
The justice sector data shows that, in both 2021 and 2022, more men were sentenced for gender violence against women than were prosecuted for these crimes (which is an unusual occurrence). This could be attributed to the fact that sentencing data includes trials that were postponed for more than a year due to the closure of courts during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Perpetrators of domestic violence
In 2022, over three thousand men were prosecuted for domestic violence against women (3,233). In the same year, 65 % of men prosecuted for domestic violence had committed crimes against women (3,233 out of 4,943).
The data below excludes perpetrators prosecuted for intimate partner violence.
Figure 15Annual number of male perpetrators prosecuted for domestic violence against female and total victims (Indicator 11), 2014-2022
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Spain 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 Spain, 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.
Data is also widely available on victims of femicide, as well as intentional homicide committed by intimate partners, domestic perpetrators, and any perpetrator. Similarly, detailed figures have also been shared on victims of rape.
In the justice sector, data is available on protection orders for female victims of intimate partner violence, as well as victims of domestic violence that were granted protection orders. EIGE also managed to retrieve data on perpetrators reported, prosecuted, sentenced, and sent to prison 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 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