Europe: Domestic Abuse, Sexual Assault Serious Problems

by Sofia Kluch and Steve Crabtree

Story Highlights

Even in gender-equality pioneer countries, majorities see abuse as a problem
Concern about domestic violence on par with terrorism concerns
58% think women in Portugal treated with respect

Just as the Weinstein scandal showed that even famous and powerful women can be vulnerable to sexual abuse, Gallup's data highlight that gender-related violence remains a prevalent problem even in some of the most progressively minded countries in Europe.

Across European nations surveyed in 2016, more than three in four adults said domestic violence and sexual assault were "serious problems" in their country, placing residents' concern about these issues at least on par with their concern about terrorist attacks.

More Than Three-Fourths of Residents in European Countries Say Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Are Serious Problems

Please tell me whether you think each of the following is a serious problem or not a serious problem in [country].

	Yes, serious problem
	%
Gang violence	79
Sexual assault	77
Domestic violence	77
Acts of terrorism by country residents	75
Acts of terrorism by nonresidents	75
Outbreaks of contagious disease	62
Current level of immigration	57
Gallup World Poll

Though these results vary significantly by country, clear majorities in all 13 countries regard domestic abuse as a serious problem, from two-thirds in Ireland (66%) to almost all adults in Portugal (98%). Even in European countries often viewed as pioneers in gender equality and family-friendly policymaking -- such as the Netherlands, Iceland and Sweden, three of the five best-rated countries in the United Nations' Gender Inequality Index -- about eight in 10 residents say domestic abuse is a serious problem.

At Least Two-Thirds in All 13 Countries Say Domestic Violence Is a Serious Problem

Please tell me whether you think domestic violence is a serious problem or not a serious problem in [country].

	Yes, serious problem
	%
Portugal	98
France	90
Malta	90
Iceland	85
Sweden	82
Belgium	80
Netherlands	79
Denmark	78
Finland	75
Cyprus	73
Luxembourg	72
Switzerland	68
Ireland	66
Gallup World Poll

Portuguese residents' perception of domestic violence as a serious problem seems to reflect more general concerns about treatment of women in the country. Fifty-eight percent of Portuguese adults believe women in the country are treated with respect and dignity, easily the lowest figure among the 13 countries included in the analysis. High rates of domestic abuse -- particularly cases in which women have been murdered by their spouses -- have made headlines in Portugal in recent years, as have the Portuguese government's efforts to pass legislation that better protects battered women.

Portuguese Least Likely to Say Women Are Treated With Respect and Dignity

Do you believe women in [country] are treated with respect and dignity, or not?

	Yes, treated with dignity and respect
	%
Switzerland	94
Denmark	93
Finland	92
Ireland	92
Luxembourg	91
Belgium	89
Iceland	89
Netherlands	87
Malta	85
Sweden	81
France	75
Cyprus	68
Portugal	58
Gallup World Poll

In most countries studied, women are somewhat more likely than men to view domestic violence and sexual assault as serious problems in the country. The gender gaps are largest in Switzerland and Iceland; most notably, 72% of Swiss women feel sexual assault is a serious problem in the country, vs. 52% of Swiss men.

In Most Countries, Women Are More Likely Than Men to View Sexual Assault as a Serious Problem

Please tell me whether you think sexual abuse is a serious problem or not a serious problem in [country].

% Serious problem

	Women	Men
	%	%
Portugal	96	93
Iceland	92	77
France	91	86
Denmark	88	84
Sweden	86	80
Belgium	81	80
Netherlands	80	68
Switzerland	72	52
Cyprus	67	62
Finland	62	50
Ireland	60	58
Northern Cyprus	51	49
Gallup World Poll

Women are also somewhat less likely than men to say women in their country are treated with dignity and respect (79% vs. 86%, respectively, across the 13 European countries studied). Further, women in more vulnerable groups -- including those with low levels of education and those who are unemployed or underemployed -- are especially likely to disagree that women in their country are respected.

Implications

Fueled by the current momentum for gender parity, this year's International Women's Day has adopted the theme "Press for Progress." Prevailing concerns about domestic violence and sexual assault in Europe indicate there is much work to be done even in countries that are held up as models of gender equity. However, in demonstrating that these problems are taken so seriously by majorities of residents in each country, the data also offer hope for the kind of social change that leads to sustainable progress.

Find out more about Gallup's World Poll research in Europe.

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone interviews with approximately 1,000 adults, aged 15 and older, in each country between February and June 2016. For results based on the total samples at the country level, the margin of sampling error is ±3.6 to ±5.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error reflects the influence of data weighting. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.