Italy: 3 million women experienced violence before age 16

A report by Istat titled “Violenza contro le donne dall’infanzia all’età adulta – Anno 2025,” based on a survey conducted between March 2025 and January 2026, reveals that approximately three million Italian women aged 16 to 75 have experienced physical or sexual violence before the age of 16. This represents 15.3% of women in that age group.

The data indicates that violence often occurs within family or relational contexts, perpetrated by known individuals such as relatives, friends, or acquaintances. Among Italian women, 8.2% reported experiencing sexual abuse before age 16, while 9.2% reported physical violence. Notably, 58.4% of Italian women who suffered sexual violence as children did not report the incidents to anyone.

The study also highlights a link between childhood and adult experiences: 57.2% of Italian women who experienced sexual violence before age 16 also suffered physical or sexual violence after age 16. Among foreign women in Italy, the incidence rate was 11.4%, with refugees recording the highest rate at 22.4%.

While the figures remain high, a comparison with 2014 data shows a decrease in sexual violence reported by women currently aged 16 to 70, dropping from 10.6% to 7.8%.