A new representative study by the German government reveals a disturbing prevalence of violence, with half of all people in Germany experiencing physical violence in their childhood or youth. Specifically, 51.7 percent of men and 49.3 percent of women reported being struck or physically harmed as minors. The study also found that women are disproportionately affected by sexual violence, with 5.0 percent of women reporting such experiences in childhood or youth, compared to 1.9 percent of men.
The study, titled Lebenssituation, Sicherheit und Belastung im Alltag (Life Situation, Security and Stress in Everyday Life), was commissioned by the German government between July 2023 and January 2025. It surveyed a total of 15,479 people aged 16 to 85, aiming to capture the extent of violence in Germany that goes unreported in official police statistics.
Most Victims of Violence are Women – and Perpetrators are Mostly Men
The study indicates that women are significantly more likely to experience sexual assault than men. In the past five years, 1.5 percent of women and 0.2 percent of men reported being victims of rape. The study also found that in the vast majority of sexual assaults against women (98.2 percent), the perpetrator was male. However, men are also sometimes victims, with 33.7 percent of sexual assaults against men also perpetrated by a man.
Notably, women are far less likely to report sexual violence to authorities than men, with an reporting rate of just three percent compared to 14.5 percent for male victims.
The study also examined experiences of sexual harassment, finding that 14.5 percent of women and 4.6 percent of men have experienced unwanted kissing or touching, or exhibitionistic acts in the past five years. While men more often experience these forms of harassment from acquaintances (45.1 percent), women are more often targeted by strangers (45.7 percent).
Violence Most Often Occurs Within Partnerships
According to the study, approximately 90 percent of physical violence occurs within a partnership. An additional 8.4 percent of male and 5.6 percent of female victims reported experiencing physical violence after the relationship ended. Differences also exist in the type of violence experienced, with men slightly more likely to report being lightly slapped, while women more frequently report being kicked or pushed.
23.8 percent of women and 23.3 percent of men reported experiencing psychological violence in current or former partnerships in the last five years. A total of 48.7 percent of women and 40.0 percent of men have experienced such violence at some point in their lives, encompassing emotional, controlling, and economic abuse.
The study also revealed that individuals with a migration background are more likely to experience violence from current or former partners than those without. Among people with a migration background, 7.6 percent of women and 7.4 percent of men reported experiencing such physical violence in the past five years, compared to 4.3 percent of women and 5.6 percent of men without a migration background.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of men in Germany have experienced physical violence as minors?
According to the study, 51.7 percent of men in Germany experienced physical violence as minors.
What percentage of women reported experiencing sexual violence in the past five years?
The study found that 1.5 percent of women reported experiencing rape in the past five years.
Where does most physical violence occur, according to the study?
Approximately 90 percent of physical violence occurs within a partnership, according to the study.
Given these findings, what steps can be taken to better support victims of violence and prevent future incidents?
