In the U.S., domestic violence hotlines receive around 20,000 calls each day. The statistics of domestic violence paint a disturbing picture: Abuse aimed at women by a spouse or romantic partner is still at a disturbing level despite all the work by government agencies to educate communities.
Data shows that one in three females face physical violence, rape, or stalking by someone they live with at some point in their life. And nearly one in five of these incidents involves a weapon.
Domestic violence is a traumatic experience for victims, who typically continue to endure it for months and years out of guilt, shame, or fear. While it often exposes females to physical harm, the resulting emotional wounds could lead to depression and even suicide, too. You also can’t overlook the effects it could have on those around them, especially children.
Which States Have the Highest Domestic Violence Rates?
So, which U.S. states report the highest rates of violence against women? Here’s what a recent World Population Review analysis reveals.
Top 10 U.S. states with the highest rate of domestic violence against women
| State | % of women who experienced domestic violence |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 67.1% |
| Alaska | 65.4% |
| Wyoming | 63% |
| Idaho | 62% |
| Arkansas | 61.9% |
| Nevada | 61.7% |
| West Virginia | 61.7% |
| Washington | 61.2% |
| Massachusetts | 60.9% |
| Colorado | 60.7% |
1. District of Columbia
Technically speaking, the District of Columbia or Washington D.C. is not a state. But domestic abuse there is pretty high, and since it doesn’t belong to a specific state, the World Population Review has considered it as one to include in its rankings for 2025.
According to data, a staggering 67.1% of women in the U.S. capital experience some form of domestic violence. That is more than two in three females and the highest for any state in America.
The District of Columbia is also among the top 25 for sexual violence, with 47.4% of females having encountered at least one incident.
For physical and psychological abuse, however, it ranks in the 13th position for the lowest reported percentages (36.6% and 45.1%, respectively).
The availability of firearms is often noted as one of the key contributors to a high level of violence there.
2. Alaska
At the second place for domestic violence against women is the state of Alaska. It closely follows the District of Columbia, with 65.4% of women being a victim of domestic abuse.
Over half of the females there have experienced sexual abuse and psychological violence. This places Alaska among the top 8 and the top 15 for these two violence categories. Its remote location (which limits access to critical resources for women’s safety) and lack of preventative education for victims likely play a role in this.
Not surprisingly, the northernmost state of America is also considered the sixth most dangerous based on recent FBI data relating to violence and property crimes. For violent crimes (which include murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, etc.), Alaska is placed in the second position in the country. The state seems to have a poor track record for crime and corrections and public safety, too.
3. Wyoming
A domestic violence rate of 63% places Wyoming third in World Population Review’s rankings.
Psychological violence is unusually high there (57.5%), with the state coming second among all others in the country. It also claims an exceptionally high percentage of sexual abuse and stalking cases targeting women.
Wyoming has grappled with domestic violence for years now. Incidents involving American Indian and Alaska Native women have been particularly alarming in the local communities. The death of Stephanie Bearstail, a high school student from the Wind River Reservation, earlier this year was one of the many incidents that have grabbed the attention of the local media and public.
However, the local government and nonprofit organizations have taken various initiatives to curb violence against females in the state. This includes domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy programs offering confidential services to victims.
4. Idaho
Over the years, Idaho has done well in maintaining a solid reputation for low crime. Based on FBI statistics, it is ranked among the top states for public safety (third in the U.S.), crime and corrections, and low violent crimes.
It also comes third among the best overall states in America, considering its performance in terms of the economy, health care, education, and a variety of other factors.
However, one area where Idaho falls short is domestic violence. Currently, it ranks fourth in the U.S. for the percentage of women who have faced violence from an intimate partner. Sexual violence is fairly high there (third-highest in the country), while World Population Review places the state in the fourth position for physical violence against women.
Reports by Idaho State Police show that intimate partner violence is higher in certain counties, like Bannock, Clearwater, and Kootenai, and among Latino and Native Indian communities.
5. Arkansas
In Arkansas, 61.9% of women face domestic violence at least once during their lifetime.
The state has some of the highest rates of physical, sexual, and psychological violence. At least one in two females has encountered an incident in each of these categories, which places Arkansas among the top worst states for all three. That’s not all — the state has the third-highest stalking rates, with 19.4% of women reporting an incident.
Arkansas is also considered the fifth-most dangerous state in America, according to an analysis by the U.S. News & World Report. The violent crime rate there is 620 per 100k people (fourth-highest in the country), and property crime is noted as 2,229 for 100,000 residents.
The state doesn’t do well for overall public safety, either, which surely doesn’t bode well for curbing gender-based violence.
More About Sexual Violence in Domestic Relationships
Sexual violence remains one of the most prevalent concerns for women in marriages and relationships. As stated by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 10 women has experienced rape by an intimate partner at some point in her life. This highlights a deeply troubling reality: Domestic violence is not limited to physical or emotional abuse. It also includes sexual violence, which is often minimized or overlooked.
Intimate partner violence may seem “normal” for some, as women may be told that it’s their “duty” to comply with their partner’s sexual demands. This, combined with financial and emotional abuse, creates a severely difficult atmosphere where the victim finds it hard to seek help or even recognize the violation for what it is.
It’s never okay to engage in sexual activity without another person’s consent, no matter the situation. Instead of asking women, “Why do you stay?”, it’s essential to confront abusers about why they continue to violate and control.
Wrapping Up
In the vast majority of U.S. states, more than 50% of women encounter domestic violence during their lifetime. Even in the other states, at least one in three females report being abused by an intimate partner.
Of course, domestic violence is not always instigated by a romantic partner or spouse. Even a parent or sibling can be responsible for it. And although females aged 18-24 years are more likely to become victims, those much younger or older could also face abuse.
If you ever experience domestic violence or know someone who has, reporting it and getting help is critical for preventing a further incident (and maybe even for saving a life).
The National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233) operates around the clock for this. However, if you think you or someone else is in danger, remember to call 911 first.
