After hitting a peak in 2023, the number of reported cases of domestic violence has remained alarmingly high as per the latest data from Statistics Canada unveiled on Tuesday.
In 2024, the rate stood at 349 victims of family violence per 100,000 individuals, only slightly lower than the 2023 figure of 350 victims, showcasing a significant 17% surge from the pre-pandemic levels of 2018.
Delving deeper into the realm of violence perpetrated by current or former partners, the statistics revealed 356 victims per 100,000 individuals aged 12 and above in 2024, as compared to 354 victims in the preceding year. Intimate partner violence has shown a troubling 14% increase since 2018.
A staggering revelation was that nearly half of the victims of intimate partner violence were cohabiting with the perpetrators at the time of the incidents.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown measures have significantly heightened awareness about family violence and intimate partner violence, according to Laura Savage, an analyst at Statistics Canada.
Across the provinces, Saskatchewan reported the highest rates for both family violence (737 victims per 100,000 individuals) and intimate partner violence (714 victims per 100,000 individuals), while Ontario reported the lowest figures (237 victims of family violence and 278 victims of intimate partner violence per 100,000 population).
In Quebec, the rates for family violence and intimate partner violence surpassed the national average, standing at 456 victims per 100,000 individuals and 401 victims per 100,000 individuals aged 12 and above, respectively.
The report highlighted that family violence against seniors reached a record high for the second consecutive year in 2024, with 98 victims per 100,000 individuals aged 65 and above. Conversely, family violence against children aged 17 and under witnessed a slight decline of two percent last year.
Women and children were found to be significantly more vulnerable to family violence and intimate partner violence compared to men and boys, although the rates of violence against males showed a notable increase in 2024.
It is important to note that police-reported violence encompasses various forms such as physical abuse, sexual assault, harassment, and threats that meet the threshold of criminal activity.
Moreover, the report cautioned that many victims of domestic violence choose not to report their experiences, as highlighted by Dolores Chew from the South Asian Women’s Community Centre.
The reluctance to report incidents of domestic violence can be attributed to various factors, including fear, embarrassment, and societal pressures, as noted by Walter Tom from Concordia University.
The Canadian government recently introduced a policy change in February 2025 to provide temporary residence permits for victims of family violence, offering them a year of protection in the country. However, concerns regarding economic stability and housing insecurity persist for many victims of domestic violence.
Keyphrase: domestic violence statistics
