The number is high, and the number of unreported cases is probably much higher: domestic violence is a problem in Germany.

According to registered figures, more people than ever before fell victim to domestic violence in Germany in 2024. This was reported by "Welt am Sonntag" based on figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office. According to the report, a total of 256,942 people were officially affected. The increase compared to the previous year was around 3.7 percent. However, experts assume that the number of unreported cases is higher because not all cases are reported.

Domestic violence is always referred to when people are involved who are or were in a relationship, or when the violence occurs within the family, or a family relationship exists. According to the report, purely statistically, approximately every two minutes, someone becomes a victim.

The focus is particularly on violence perpetrated by partners or ex-partners. This accounts for the majority of cases. According to the report, there were almost 171,100 cases in 2024 – 1.9 percent more than in 2023. In recent years, women were predominantly affected. According to the newspaper report, domestic violence increased by almost 14 percent in the past five years.

The Ministry of Family Affairs told the newspaper that the increase in domestic violence could be due to an increased propensity to violence "in light of social crises and personal challenges." However, it is also possible that there is an increased willingness to report crimes.

In February, the Bundesrat (Federal Council), following the Bundestag (German Parliament), approved a law to improve the protection of victims. This requires the states to provide sufficient protection and counseling services. They will receive a total of €2.6 billion from the federal government for this between 2027 and 2036.

The legal right to free protection and counseling is to take effect from January 1, 2032. Until now, victims of domestic or gender-based violence could only hope that they would receive help and that sufficient capacity was available, for example in women's shelters.

The Green Party declared that violence against women is not a "family drama," but rather "patriarchal violence." "We need more prevention and perpetrator work, speedy procedures, and mandatory training for the police and judiciary," said Ulle Schauws, the Green Party's spokesperson for women's policy, to the "Welt am Sonntag" newspaper. According to the newspaper, the Left Party called for reforms to custody and visitation rights.