One every 10 minutes: Over 50,000 femicide victims worldwide in a single year
More than 50,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members in 2024—the equivalent of one femicide every 10 minutes—according to new United Nations data. The UN denounces the lack of “real progress” in tackling femicide globally.
In total, 83,000 women and girls were victims of homicide worldwide in 2024. Of these, 60% were murdered by a partner or other family member, according to a joint report by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Released on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the report reveals that 137 women are killed every day by people within their close social or familial circle. Perpetrators include partners, fathers, brothers, uncles, and in some cases, even mothers.
The analysis—based on data from 117 countries—shows a slight decrease compared with 2023 (51,100 deaths). However, the report stresses that this “does not reflect real progress,” attributing the drop to differences in national reporting methods rather than improved protection.
UN agencies emphasize that the numbers remain “virtually unchanged, despite commitments made at the international level.” The home continues to be the most dangerous place for women and girls, with no signs of substantial improvement.
Geography of Violence
Although no region is free from the phenomenon, Africa recorded the highest number of femicides in 2024, with around 22,000 victims. Globally, women constitute only 20% of homicide victims, yet 60% of them are killed in private spaces, compared with just 11% of men.
A New Dimension: Technology-Driven Violence
“Femicide does not occur out of nowhere. It is often the end point of a cycle of violence—beginning with coercive control, threats, or harassment, including in the digital sphere,” said Sara Hendriks, Policy Director at UN Women.
The report highlights how the rapid expansion of new technologies has intensified violence against women, introducing new forms of abuse such as the dissemination of intimate images without consent and AI-generated deepfake videos.
Hendriks warns that online violence “does not stay online” and can escalate into physical assault or even murder. Preventing such crimes, she argues, requires laws that recognize all forms of violence against women and ensure perpetrators are held accountable before they become killers.
