Romania ranks among EU countries with the highest rates of intimate partner violence against women

Violence perpetrated by intimate partners against women is widespread in all residential environments and regardless of education level, but it is more prevalent in rural areas and among those with lower levels of education, according to Eurostat data processed by the Social Monitor.

Almost half of women in Romania (45.5%) have suffered psychological violence from their intimate partner^[1], compared to the EU average of 29.9%, placing our country in 4th position, after Hungary, where 52.1% of women have suffered psychological violence from their intimate partner, Finland (50.2%) and Slovakia (48.9%). This is an alarming indicator of control, manipulation, insults, and frequent intimidation in relationships.

A quarter of women in Romania (25.4%) have suffered physical violence, including threats from their intimate partner, double the EU average (10.7%).

When we include all serious forms of violence (psychological, physical, and sexual) committed by an intimate partner, almost 1 in 2 women in Romania who have ever had a partner^[2] (48.9%) report having been affected, compared to 31.8% in the EU.

Intimate partner violence against women in Romania is more prevalent among those with low levels of education. 60.4% of women with low education (at most middle school graduates) reported being victims of intimate partner violence, while 47.9% of those with medium education (high school or post-secondary) reported such experiences. Even among those with higher education, 35.8% reported having been victims of intimate partner violence. At the European level, there is no difference in the frequency of gender-based violence in couples according to level of education.

By place of residence, violence in couples is more prevalent in rural areas and small towns. In Romania, half of women in rural areas (50.3%) who have ever had a partner reported being victims of violence from their partner, ranking first in the EU, followed by Slovakia (where 48.2% of women in rural areas have experienced violence from their partner), Finland (48.0%), Hungary (47.9%), and Sweden (46.7%) – the European average being 29.6%. Among women in urban areas, the percentage of those who have ever experienced violence from their partner is 46.2% in Romania, ranking 9th, with the EU average being 35.3%.

The data from Eurostat comes from a survey conducted between 2021-2024, the results of which were published in November 2024. In Romania, the data was collected by private companies under the coordination of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) in accordance with the methodology of the EU survey on gender-based violence.

This data reflects a high level of violence against women in intimate relationships in Romania, a problem that requires firm intervention by the authorities. Among the necessary measures are awareness-raising campaigns, the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of violence, teaching about consent, healthy relationships, and gender equality in schools, adequate training for staff working with victims, and expanding the support services available (psychological, legal, social).

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Data source:

• Ever-partnered women who have experienced violence by an intimate partner, by type of violence
• Ever-partnered women who have experienced violence by an intimate partner, by level of education
• Ever-partnered women who have experienced violence by an intimate partner, by degree of urbanization

Data processing and text design: Maria-Luiza Apostolescu

Infographic: Pascalone Media SRL

[1] In this context, an intimate partner can be a husband, cohabiting partner, or partner in an informal romantic relationship.

[2] According to Eurostat, the definition of the concept "women who have ever had a partner" refers to women who have been at some point in their lives or are still married, cohabiting, or in an informal romantic relationship, or any other form of intimate or romantic relationship with a male partner.