Quality report: Intimate partner violence and violence against women

Overview

These statistics are the fourth domestic and intimate partner violence statistic published by THL. The previous ones were published in 2023 (Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence 2021). In the future, the statistical report will be published every two years, with continuous content development.

Description of the statistics

This statistical report compiles data and research findings on intimate partner violence and violence against women in Finland. The report presents the most recent information available at the time of publication.

The report first describes cases of intimate partner violence that have come to the attention of authorities. Second, it examines the share of intimate partner violence in homicides as well as the characteristics of domestic and intimate partner killings of women. Third, it presents statistical data on physical and sexual offences against children, along with findings from the FinChildren study on violence in families with children. Fourth, it compiles statistical information on specialised services intended for those who have experienced intimate partner violence or violence against women.

The report is intended for social and healthcare professionals, administrative authorities, experts, and researchers who need data on intimate partner violence and violence against women in their work.

Relevance

The statistics on intimate partner violence and violence against women are reported to support research, development, and implementation of work aimed at promoting well-being and health, as well as efforts to prevent and respond to violence.

Content of the statistics

The statistics cover information on intimate partner violence reported to the authorities, data collected through research, and statistical information gathered within specialised services. Not all intimate partner violence or violence against women becomes known to the authorities, nor do all victims disclose their experiences in research studies. For this reason, statistics on violence cannot be generalised to the entire population. The key concepts and variables used in the statistics are described as part of the statistical report.

Statistical process

Source materials

The data have been compiled from Statistics Finland’s statistics on offences and coercive measures, the Homicide Monitoring System, the police crime report statistics, statistics from child and adolescent forensic psychiatry and psychology units, data from the FinChildren survey and the National Crime Victim Survey, as well as statistics from specialised services intended for victims of violence. The datasets are described in more detail in section Data collection method.

Data collection method

Statistics on offences and coercive measures

The Statistics on Offences and Coercive Measures are produced by Statistics Finland. The statistics describe offences reported to the police, customs, and the border guard. The statistics are based on a complete dataset. The primary data source is the police crime reporting system, which is based on automated data processing.

The statistics on domestic and intimate partner violence are based on the annual crime statistics combined with population statistics. The dataset on family and intimate partner violence is constructed from register-based information on offences reported to the police. Information from Statistics Finland’s registers—such as place of residence, family status, and data on children, parents, spouses, and registered partners—has been linked to the victim and the suspect in the Patja police crime report system.
Based on family status and residence information, it has been inferred whether the victim and the suspect live together in a cohabiting relationship. Register information reflects the situation during the statistical year. The dataset also takes into account cases where the victim and the suspect lived together in the year preceding the statistical year.

The dataset has been supplemented with an assessment of whether the victim and the suspect have a common child. If the victim and the suspect are married or cohabiting, or are former spouses or former cohabiting partners, they are assigned primarily to these categories. Only after this classification is it assessed whether they have a child together.

Homicide monitoring system

Since 2002, the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy at the University of Helsinki has maintained, in cooperation with the Police University College and the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior, the Homicide Monitoring System, which is used to monitor and study the extent and characteristics of fatal violence. Since 2019, the system has continued as a collaboration between the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy and the National Police Board.

A database has been established for homicide monitoring. It contains basic information on the parties and characteristics of intentional homicides (murder, manslaughter, homicide, infanticide) known to the police, as well as deaths caused in connection with intentional assault offences. The database does not include attempted homicides or other violent offences.

Information is collected from the investigators responsible for the pre-trial investigation using a standardised electronic form. Data are entered once the pre-trial investigation has been completed or one year has passed since the offence came to light. The database contains all cases that the Finnish police have confirmed during the pre-trial investigation as likely homicides.

Assaults and sexual offences against children reported to the police, and Barnahus unit client statistics
Statistics related to suspected assaults and sexual offences against children reported to the police have been retrieved from the police crime report statistics. Local police regional statistics include all police departments; the National Bureau of Investigation is not included. In police statistics, cases are reported based on the number of victims. The figures include all individuals under the age of 18.

Data from child and adolescent forensic psychiatry and psychology units for 2020–2021 are published in the statistical report for the second time. The units operating within university hospitals collect statistical information on cases referred to them, forming the statistics of child and adolescent forensic psychology and psychiatry units. Clients are referred based on official requests for assistance from the police. These requests primarily concern suspected assaults and sexual offences against children under 16 years of age.

FinChildren survey study

The FinLapset study was initially launched under the name Children’s Health, Well-being and Services (LTH) Study. In 2017, a pilot study targeting families with infants was carried out in six regions, and in 2018 the first national data collection targeting 4 year old children and their families took place. In 2017 and 2018, families were invited to participate in the study during the child’s health check-up at the child health clinic, but starting from the 2020 study of families with infants, data collection has been conducted as a postal survey addressed to parents.

In the 2024 data collections, the personal data of the children and parents belonging to the target groups were retrieved from a copy of the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).

For the data collection among families with preschool-aged children, every second child born in 2017 (N = 25,721) and both of the child’s official parents (N = 49,636) were included in the study sample. A total of 12,616 parents responded to the survey (response rate 25%), of whom 8,078 were women (32%) and 4,538 men (19%). Responses were received concerning 9,798 children (38% of the children in the sample).
For the data collection among families with infants, all babies born during specified periods in 2024 (N = 16,835) and both of their official parents (N = 32,494) were included in the study sample. Parents were contacted for the first time when the baby was 12–16 weeks old. A total of 11,971 parents responded to the survey (response rate 37%), of whom 7,576 were women (45%) and 4,395 men (28%). Responses were received concerning 8,291 children (49% of the children in the sample).

In both the infant and preschool-aged samples, the following groups responded less often than others: younger parents, parents with a foreign background, parents whose first language is not Finnish or Swedish, parents living at a different address from the child, the only adult in the household, and parents with lower levels of education.

In both data collections, each parent included in the study sample received a personal postal invitation to participate, followed by up to three reminders if needed.

Crime victim survey

The target population of the survey consisted of all persons aged 15–74 permanently residing in Finland (including Åland). Statistics Finland carried out the sample selection. The sample size was 17,500, stratified into 252 strata based on region, gender, and six age groups (10-year intervals). Regions were divided into three groups according to population size, with slightly higher sampling fractions applied in the least populated areas.

The age groups 15–24 and 25–34 were assigned a 1.5-times higher sampling fraction because these groups have had lower response rates in previous surveys. Individuals selected for the sample received a letter from Statistics Finland in January 2024 explaining the purpose of the study. The letter included instructions on how to respond via the online questionnaire. Initially, responses could be submitted only using the online form, which required logging in with a personal access code. The letter also included a personalised QR code linking directly to the questionnaire.

There were three rounds of mailings. The final mailing included, in addition to online response credentials, a paper questionnaire and a return envelope. Statistics Finland also sent up to three email reminders to individuals whose email address was recorded in the Population Information System.
A total of 7,610 valid responses were received between 2 January and 31 March 2024 (final response rate 43.5%). The response rate improved compared to 2021, when it was 34.4% (and 29.8% in 2020).

Shelter services

The statistics are based on data collected annually by THL from shelters. At the end of 2024, there were 28 shelters operating in Finland, providing a total of 228 family places for families or clients arriving alone. The implementation of the data collection and the relevance of the information are described in detail in the original statistical report.

Nollalinja helpline

This is the fourth time that data from the Nollalinja helpline (www.nollalinja.fi) are reported in this publication. THL is responsible for organising the operation of the Nollalinja helpline. THL collects anonymous data on the number, time, and duration of calls. Elisa, the telecommunications provider, supplies reports on the number and time of calls. The caller’s phone number is concealed at all stages and is not visible to Nollalinja staff answering the calls, nor is it included in the report submitted to THL.
In addition, anonymous information is collected on the caller’s role, the forms of violence, services used, and the type of assistance provided. Callers are not interviewed, and therefore some data fields remain incomplete if the information does not arise during the conversation.

Seri Support Centres

Finland’s first Seri Support Centre for victims of sexual violence was opened in 2017 at HUS Women’s Hospital in Helsinki. New centres were opened in Turku, Tampere, and Kuopio in 2019, and in Oulu in 2020. By December 2024, the total number of Seri Support Centres was 25.

The statistics of the Seri Support Centres are maintained in a separate web-based table, independent of the medical record system. The table was created for reporting and research purposes. Seri Support Centre staff enter information alongside their regular duties, based on data obtained during client visits. Efforts are made to record the information as soon as possible after the visits, but some data are collected retrospectively from the medical record system.

MARAC working groups

This publication reports data from MARAC working groups for the third time. In 2024, a total of 39 MARAC working groups operated in Finland. The secretaries of the MARAC groups record non-identifiable client information in statistics maintained by THL. These data can be analysed and used, for example, to develop the operating model and guide training. Data collection has been ongoing since 2016.

The statistical form was updated in 2024, and as a result, some information is not available for the entire year.

Honour-related violence

Data on honour-related violence are not systematically collected or statistically recorded in Finland. There is no separate legislation addressing honour-related violence; instead, such acts fall under the Criminal Code of Finland and other relevant legislation. These offences may include coercion, deprivation of liberty, unlawful threats, assault, human trafficking, and offences against children.

This report compiles statistical information on honour-related violence for the second time. The data have been gathered from shelter service statistics, Nollalinja helpline statistics, the 2024 annual review of the Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking, Statistics Finland’s study Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence in Finland 2021, and information provided by organisations working with honour-related violence.

Data validation

The content of the statistics has been produced in collaboration with experts from various organisations. The designated authors are responsible for the accuracy and correctness of their respective sections.

Data processing

The data have been compiled from different sources and have not been merged or otherwise processed specifically for this statistical report.

Data revisions

There are no revisions in these statistics.

Quality assessment of the statistics

Accuracy and reliability

The information in the statistics is based on results published in other statistical sources and publication series. More detailed source specific quality notes are provided in Section 3.2 Data collection method.

Timeliness and punctuality

This statistical report compiles data from the 2024 statistics and research findings, as well as 2023 data for results that are published less frequently. The data were submitted by September 2025, and the statistical report was written in autumn 2025.

Coherence and comparability

The statistics on offences and coercive measures describe crime and changes in criminality well. However, the number of recorded offences is affected by changes in police surveillance, legislation, and citizens’ willingness to report crimes to the police. For example, reforms to sexual offence legislation in the Criminal Code entered into force on 1 January 2023.

Mandates and legal basis

The production of these statistics is based on the Act on the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (688/2008) and the Statistics Act (280/2004). As part of its official duties, THL is responsible for producing statistical information on the health and well-being of the population, the factors affecting them, and the use and functioning of social and health services, to support decision-making, development, and research. THL’s statistical production practices are guided by the instructions, recommendations, and regulations of Eurostat and the Official Statistics of Finland, as well as by statistical ethical principles.

Data dissemination and publication

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) publishes the data at the time announced in advance in the statistical publication calendar. The information is released to all users simultaneously. All statistical products published by THL are public.

Publication calendar for statistics

Statistical data protection

As an authority, THL is obligated to report aggregated nationwide information related to health and well-being. The data used in the production of THL’s statistics are primarily confidential, and personal data must not be published. The protection of processed data is based on the Act on the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (688/2008), the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the Data Protection Act (1050/2018), and other regulations governing THL’s operations.

THL’s data materials are protected at all stages of processing. Only persons with explicit access rights for defined purposes can access the data and information systems. Others cannot view, process, modify, or delete the data. A written protocol is in place to ensure data protection in the final statistics. All THL employees are bound by confidentiality obligations.

The original datasets for the information published in the statistical report are held by the organisations that conducted the data collection, and they are responsible for ensuring the data protection of these materials.

Special considerations for the 2024 statistics

The statistical report presents data for 2023 in cases where more recent information was not available. In addition to intimate partner violence, the report includes statistical and research data on violence against women. The title of the statistical report has been updated to better reflect its content.