New data show that femicide—the killing of women because of their gender—remains one of the most serious forms of gender-based violence in Europe. While the phenomenon exists across all European Union member states, its prevalence varies significantly from country to country.
According to the latest figures, Latvia recorded the highest femicide rate in the EU in 2022 and 2023. In this country, an average of 17 women per million inhabitants were killed, a statistic that raises serious concerns about women’s safety and the effectiveness of protective mechanisms. Lithuania follows with 10 victims per million, while Austria ranks next with around five women killed per million inhabitants.
By contrast, several Southern and Western European countries, including Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands, reported the lowest femicide rates. However, experts caution that lower figures do not necessarily mean violence has been eradicated. Differences in legal definitions, reporting practices, and data collection methods can significantly affect national statistics.
On a global scale, the situation is even more alarming. Africa records the highest femicide rate worldwide, with around 30 victims per million people. This reflects the deep links between gender-based violence and structural inequalities, poverty, weak legal protections, and discriminatory social norms.
The United Nations defines femicide as the intentional killing of women for gender-related reasons, emphasizing its systemic nature. From this perspective, femicide is not merely an individual crime, but the outcome of unequal power relations and social structures that place women in vulnerable positions.
In response to this ongoing crisis, several European countries have moved to strengthen their legal frameworks. France, Spain, and Italy are among those that have adopted stricter laws to combat violence against women. These measures go beyond physical abuse and also criminalize indirect forms of violence, such as cutting off access to financial resources, economic control, or tracking a victim’s location.
Nevertheless, women’s rights advocates and civil society organizations warn that legislation alone is not enough. Effective enforcement of laws, proper training for police and judicial authorities, comprehensive psychological and social support for victims, and long-term cultural change are all essential to reducing femicide. Current statistics make clear that the killing of women remains a serious crisis in Europe and worldwide—one that requires political will, institutional accountability, and sustained public attention to address.
euronews