Finland gender-based violence rates are the highest in the European Union, according to a new survey conducted by Eurostat, FRA, and the European Institute for Gender Equality. The study shows that 57.1 percent of Finnish women aged 18 to 74 have experienced physical violence, threats, or sexual violence at some point in their lives. This is nearly double the EU average of 30.7 percent.
Within Finland, 37.3 percent of women reported sexual violence, compared to the EU average of 17.2 percent. Another 19.7 percent reported experiencing physical violence or threats without sexual violence. The survey reflects lifetime prevalence and excludes incidents before the age of 15. The data is based on a representative sample of 4,600 Finnish women collected between 2020 and 2024.
Intimate partner violence is also high in Finland. 33.8 percent of women reported experiencing physical violence, threats, or sexual violence from a partner at some point. When psychological abuse is included, the number rises to 52.6 percent. Finland is one of only three EU countries where more than half of women report abuse by a partner.
In the last 12 months, 12 percent of Finnish women reported intimate partner violence, the highest recent rate in the EU. Violence from non-partners is also widespread. 46.5 percent of Finnish women reported physical or sexual violence by someone other than a partner since age 15, again the highest in the EU.
9.8 percent of Finnish women reported being raped by someone other than a partner, more than double the EU average of 3.8 percent. Non-rape sexual violence by non-partners, such as unwanted touching or coercion, affected 24.4 percent of women.
Sexual harassment at work is another significant concern. 53.7 percent of Finnish women reported experiencing workplace sexual harassment during their careers, the second-highest rate in the EU after Sweden. Among women aged 18 to 29, the incidence rises to 41.6 percent, the highest across Europe for this age group.
Despite these high rates, only a small fraction of women report incidents to authorities. EU-wide, just 13.9 percent of victims contact law enforcement. Finland’s national reporting data is not specified in the survey, but prior studies highlight barriers such as fear of disbelief, shame, and lack of trust in institutions.
Researchers caution against direct country-to-country comparisons due to differences in reporting behavior, social awareness, and survey methods. In Finland, online self-completion surveys may allow women to disclose sensitive experiences more openly. The results reflect the “Nordic paradox,” where high gender equality coexists with high gender-based violence. Experts suggest explanations include strong victim protections, increased public awareness, and greater willingness to report abuse.
The survey covered 27 EU countries and interviewed over 114,000 women aged 18 to 74. A full report in 2025 will expand analysis on the impact of violence and access to support services.
