Cases of domestic violence between adults reported to authorities are on the rise
Domestic violence is a widespread and serious phenomenon that affects individual well-being, public health, and the economy. Domestic violence is largely a hidden crime: it is estimated that only about a tenth of cases come to the attention of authorities.
In 2024, cases of domestic violence reported to the authorities increased by 2 per cent compared to the previous year. The number of cases involving women increased by 4.6 per cent, and the number involving men by 1.3 per cent. In contrast, there were fewer reports of domestic violence against minors than in the previous year. In 2024, authorities were notified of a total of 24 homicides committed within close relationships, 16 of which were committed against women and 8 against men.
In the 2024 Healthy Finland survey, approximately one in ten people aged 20–64 living in Finland reported having experienced physical or psychological intimate partner violence in the past year. Twelve per cent of women and slightly under 9 per cent of men reported experiences of violence.
Based on these figures, intimate partner violence is still clearly more prevalent against women than against men.
| Gender | Number of victims |
|---|---|
| Women | 74,70% |
| Men | 25,30% |
Parents of young children experience intimate partner violence more frequently than average
According to the FinChildren survey, parents of young children experience intimate partner violence more frequently than the general population does. In 2024, 14 per cent of parents of infants and 21 per cent of parents of preschoolers had experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence in the past 12 months.
In the survey, men reported experiences of violence slightly more often than women. Men reported psychological and economic violence more frequently, while women reported sexual violence more frequently. Reports of physical violence were equally common among women and men.
Read more about domestic violence and violence against women
Nearly half of shelter clients are children
The number of clients using specialised services intended for people who have experienced violence increased partly in 2024. In particular, shelters for victims of domestic violence had more clients than in the previous year, while in some other services, such as the Nollalinja helpline, client numbers remained at the previously established level. In 2024, 58 per cent of shelter clients were adults and 42 per cent were children.
A person who has experienced intimate partner violence or domestic violence can seek help from any shelter in Finland. A large share of shelter clients enter the service on their own initiative (45%), and social welfare remains the most common authority referring clients to shelters.
Read more about shelter services
Use of mediation in cases of domestic violence has been restricted as of 2025
The total number of cases referred to criminal and civil mediation services remained unchanged in 2024 compared to the previous year. The number of criminal cases increased by 35, while the number of civil cases decreased by the same amount.
The police continue to initiate refer the majority (over 90%) of mediation referralsinitiatives, as the obligation to notify about the possibility of mediation is stipulated in the Criminal Investigations Act (805/2011). In 2024, a total of 2,606 domestic violence-–related criminal cases were referred to mediation, accounting for just under one-fifth of all cases directed referred to mediation.
The legislation concerning mediation in domestic violence cases changed on 1 January 2025, restricting its application so that domestic violence can generally no longer be mediated at mediation offices. In 2024, however, domestic violence mediation was still carried out at mediation offices according to previous practice. More than half (54.5%) of all cases referred to mediation involved various forms of violent offences.
| Category | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Violent offences | 7944 |
| Theft-related offences | 1835 |
| Property damage | 1572 |
| Defamation offences | 950 |
| Other offences | 648 |
| Violations of domestic peace | 643 |
| Civil cases | 560 |
| Sexual offences | 175 |
| Traffic offences | 161 |
| Robberies | 58 |
In 2024, the total amount of financial compensation agreed upon in mediation was approximately 2.7 million euros. Once mediation has concluded, it is the prosecutor – not the mediation office – who decides how the criminal process will proceed (the Act on Criminal Procedure 689/1997).
Read more anout mediation in Criminal and Civil Cases
Key reporting services
Indicator data in Sotkanet
The link provides indicator data on violence. The information is derived from various data sources, such as population surveys and service statistics. Data series that ended before 2022 are not included.
Next publications on the topic
The publication dates of the statistics are compiled in the statistics publication calendar.
Statistics publication calendar
Contact details
Domestic violence and violence against women
Jenni Krogell
Senior Specialist
[email protected]
Shelter services
Suvi Nipuli
Development Manager
[email protected]
Mediation in criminal and civil cases
Henrik Elonheimo
Development Manager
[email protected]