Newly Released Intimate Partner Violence Data Brief – Prevention is paramount for safer relationships

February 26, 2026 |
VALOR

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), over 43.5 million women and 20.7 million men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime \in this country.

In California over a lifetime: 

  • 30% (4.5 million) women and 16.9% (nearly 2.5 million) men experience sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner.
  • 27.2% (nearly 4.1 million) women and 24.8% (3.6 million) men experience psychological aggression of any kind by an intimate partner.

During a 12-month period from 2023-2024 in the US: 

  • 6.7 million women and 2.7 million men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.

The newly released 2023/2024 Intimate Partner Violence Data Brief highlights survey responses from 15,608 US adults (8,842 women and 6,767 men), and, like the CDC’s 2023/2024 Sexual Violence Data Brief and 2023/2024 Stalking Data Brief released in December 2025, reports concerning results. Sexual violence, intimate partner violence (violence committed by spouses or partners, romantic partners, or casual encounters, and stalking impacts millions of people nationally every year. 

PreventConnect, a national project of VALOR, is hosting a web conference on March 24, 2026, on the recent findings presented in NISVS’s Data Brief. Register for the web conference today for a deeper dive into the data and to learn more about intimate partner violence (IPV). 

The report additionally provides national data on how IPV can continue impacting survivors after harm occurs. IPV-related impacts can include, but are not limited to fear, concerns for safety, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, concerns for safety, physical injury and medical care, filing police reports, and missing at least one day of work or school. In the lifetime estimates, IPV-Related Impacts also include the need for housing, advocate support, legal services, and crisis lines. 

  • In California, 24.1% (3.6 million) women and 13.3% (1.95 million) men experience IPV with at least one related impact

Over a lifetime, the national costs for IPV are staggering: $103,767 for female survivors and $23,414 for male survivors individually, or $3.6 trillion total. 

While the results reveal continued high rates of IPV, the report concludes that preventing IPV is essential to end its negative effects on individuals, families, and society. Supporting a comprehensive approach to preventing IPV includes providing resources for people to feel safe, cultivate healthy romantic and platonic relationships in their communities, and increase economic support and stability.

Prevention works. Ending violence is possible. Here are a few resources to increase prevention initiatives and change in your communities:

Read VALOR’s summary of NISVS’ Sexual Violence Data Brief for more information on state and national sexual violence.