Each fourth female and each fifth male has experienced violence

Results of the Survey on Gender-Based Violence conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) show that each fourth female (25.1 %) and each fifth male (19.5 %) aged 18–74 has experienced physical or sexual violence. More information on the survey and results thereof are available in the collection of statistics Prevalence of Violence in Latvia 2021.

Women mainly are victims of male perpetrators – 88.8 %, compared to 18.1 % of women being victims of female perpetrators. Similar situation may be observed among men – 94.6 % are victims of male perpetrators and 11.3 % of female perpetrators.

Physical and sexual violence the most often is experienced by women aged 45–64 at the survey moment (28.2 %), followed by men aged 30–44 (22.3 %).

Each third women (30.1 %) has experienced intimate partner psychological and/or physical and/or sexual violence

Psychological violence is the most common type of intimate partner violence – 28.8 % of women have experienced it. Physical violence (including threats) has been experienced by 15.4 % of women and sexual violence by 4.4 %. Each third women (30.1 %) has experienced several types of intimate partner violence.

Experienced violence may permanently damage physical and/or psychological well-being of a person. Physical injury because of physical or sexual violence was caused to 10 % of women, 9 % of women suffered from psychological consequences, and 8.3 % felt that their life was in danger during the violent episode.

Intimate partner psychological, physical (including threats) or sexual violence was experienced by 17.3 % of men. Psychological violence is the most common type of intimate partner violence also among men – 17.1 % of men have experienced it. Physical or sexual violence (mainly physical) was experienced by 3.4 % of men.

Women more often than men have experienced physical (including threats) or sexual violence more than once – 14.1 % and 2.6 %, respectively.

Physical or psychological violence in childhood experienced by 37.4 %

In total 37.4 % of population in childhood have experienced physical or psychological violence against them and 36.3 % have experienced such violence between parents. In childhood, 33.2 % of women and 42.2 % of men have experienced mother or father using physical or psychological violence against them. Men mainly had violent father and women – both parents.

Persons who in childhood have experienced physical and/or psychological violence by sex

(per cent of population of the respective sex)

Refer to the OSP database: VDA090

Children the most often are belittled/humiliated by father

Each fourth women (25.9 %) and 28.4 % of men mentioned that until the age of 15 have been belittled/humiliated by parents. More than 18 % of women have been belittled/humiliated with words by both mother and father, among men those were 24.5 % belittled/humiliated by father and 18.4 % by mother.

CSB estimate

Both parents using physical violence against them was experienced by 12.3 % of women. Among men, 24.4 % in childhood experienced father using physical violence against them and 14.8 % mother being violent.

Violence episodes mainly reported to close people instead of support organisations

Out of all violence victims aged 18–74, 76.5 % of women and 38.4 % of men reported the violence episode to someone. Physical or sexual violence episodes most often were reported to a close person (68.9 % of women and 32.8 % of men). Slightly more than one fourth of women (26.4 %) reported intimate partner violence also to the police. Among men, 7.2 % reported intimate partner violence to the health services (doctor, nurse), social service or called a helpline, contacted another victim support organisation.

Persons who reported violence episode

(per cent of population aged 18–74 having experienced violence)

Refer to the OSP database: VDA180

Methodological information

More information on the survey results is available in the collection of statistics Prevalence of Violence in Latvia 2021. It covers personal safety and experience with unwanted behaviour at work, in society, partnership, family, and childhood. The publication includes statistics for prevalence of such behaviour in Latvia – interpersonal violence (psychological, physical and sexual), sexual harassment at workplace, violence in childhood, stalking, and other violence-related indicators.

¹ Reported violence episode to any person or organisation. One person may have reported to several other persons or organisations.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on data:
Kalvis Okmanis
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail: Kalvis.Okmanis@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366640