Estimates from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) indicate that in 1999 persons age 12 or older experienced about 791,210 violent crimes by a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. Intimate partner violence is primarily a crime against women: During 1999 females experienced 671,110 (85%) such violent victimizations; males, 120,100(15%).

Younger women generally had higher rates of intimate partner violence than older women. The 1999 per capita rate of intimate partner violence against women was 6 victimizations per 1,000; per 1,000 females age 16-24, it was 16 victimizations, and per 1,000 females age 25-34, 9 victimizations.

Overall, older women experienced intimate partner violence at rates that were about equal among different ethnic or racial groups. Only among women age 20-24 did blacks experience more intimate violence than whites.

Between 1993 and 1999 the rates of intimate partner violence for women age 20-49 declined. The rates for women of other ages did not change significantly. (Author abstract)