Domestic abuse against men: Understanding the numbers and causes

Sometimes we view things through the lens which we are taught to. We listen to opinions and inherit them as our own, we say things even if we don't necessarily understand the full context, we generate ideas of scenarios without ever experiencing them. 

This is perfectly normal practice, and if you stay off social media most people are generally aware of their shortcomings, however the manner in which we shape ideas in our heads is of great interest to me. 

There are several pertinent examples of this. For instance, thousands of men have their view of manliness shaped by a bald man spewing hatred of women on the internet every day. Moreover, thousands of women strive to live in mansions with cameras following their every move because Kanye West’s former wife has made billions of dollars doing so. Without considering these ideas for what they are, they can become the envy of many. 

What I am poorly alluding to, is that sometimes, our impression of ideas is shaped by what we see and hear, rather than reality.

Domestic abuse is one of these areas. While it is generally known that men can be the victims of domestic abuse, it is often all but presumed that these cases are few and far between. 

It is true that males are perpetrators of abuse far more than women, however the amount of male victims in recent years is indicative of a changing landscape - and perhaps a reason for us to rethink how we view the issue. 

While domestic abuse is often discussed through a narrow lens, the evidence is increasingly clear: men make up a substantial and growing proportion of victims, and the scale of the issue demands attention. 

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that domestic abuse is not confined to one gender, and that addressing male victimisation is an essential part of tackling abuse in society as a whole.

According to the ONS, in the year ending March 2025 an estimated 1.5 million men aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales — representing 6.5% of the male population. This figure forms part of the wider estimate of 3.8 million adult victims overall, meaning men accounted for around two in every five victims that year. Even allowing for changes in ONS survey methodology, the data points to a consistent issue that can no longer be dismissed as marginal.

Figures from previous years show this to be the case. ONS estimates show that 712,000 men experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024, 751,000 men in the year ending March 2023 and 699,000 men in the year ending March 2022.

You might be thinking it is strange for the number to remain fairly stable and then double. You’d be right. The ONS survey methodology was updated in 2024, meaning direct comparisons cannot be ascribed. However, to simply dismiss these figures would be irresponsible. Whatever way it is sliced, hundreds of thousands of men are affected every year, and the problem has remained persistently high over time.

Perhaps I am naive, but I believe those figures would surprise a great deal of the population. This blog has previously alluded to the male belief in strength in silence on this matter and the issue of mental health, but understanding the causes of domestic abuse against men is vital to recognising and addressing the issue. 

Research consistently shows that abuse is driven by patterns of power, control, and coercion, rather than by gender alone. Men can experience psychological abuse, physical violence, financial control, sexual abuse and coercive behaviours in relationships with partners and families, just as women can. 

Changing social and economic pressures may also be playing a role. Rising financial stress, housing insecurity, substance misuse and relationship breakdown are all factors linked to higher levels of domestic abuse across the population. 

There is also growing recognition that abuse against men often occurs alongside broader mental health challenges. Men who experience domestic abuse are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Exposure to repeated emotional degradation or physical violence can undermine self-worth, increase emotional distress and heighten the risk of long-term psychological harm.

Despite the scale of the problem, many argue that support for male victims has not kept pace with need. Men represent a far smaller proportion of those accessing specialist domestic abuse services than prevalence figures would suggest. Unsurprisingly, this gap has implications for the individual wellbeing of many males. 

Charities working with male victims often see men presenting later with complex mental health needs, including trauma-related conditions that require long-term support. Early intervention, informed by accurate data and an understanding of risk factors, is essential if these outcomes are to be improved.

The ONS figures give society an evidence base of what is really going on in the real world. They demonstrate that male victimisation is not rare, not anecdotal, and not confined to extreme cases. For policy-makers, funders and service providers, this data should act as a catalyst for inclusive strategies that recognise needs.

Quite frustratingly, whenever I write a blog about issues specifically pertaining to men, I feel the need to point out that this is not to downplay the dangers faced by women in the same breath. Thats the way of the world these days. It would be completely disingenuous to say that males perpetrate less domestic abuse or that they are victimised more than women, because neither of these things would be true. 

Supporting male victims does not mean diverting resources away from women. It means building a system capable of responding to abuse wherever it occurs. Effective prevention and recovery depend on understanding causes, recognising patterns of harm, and ensuring support services reflect the reality shown by the data.

The First People Group works at the intersection of domestic abuse and male mental health, because the two are inseparable. When the issue of homelessness is considered, the issue obviously becomes far broader. Males may find themselves homeless because of domestic abuse they are suffering in a household. Mental health among men can decline as a result of homelessness. And so the carousel goes on. 

What this cycle, and the ONS figures indicate is that domestic abuse is a societal problem. The data is clear — and it is time this was reflected in our thinking.