Proportion of Canadians who reported that they had been abused by their spouse in the past 5 years, by province, Canada, 2004 and 2014

*Women and men aged 15 or over who had a current or former spouse or common law partner.
**Use with caution both years
***Use with caution 2014

Source: CICH graphic using data adapted from the General Social Survey, 2004 and 2014. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160121/dq160121b-eng.pdf -accessed July 26, 2017.

In most provinces, the percentage of people reporting spousal violence decreased between 2004 and 2014.

In 2014, 4% of Canadians over 15 in the provinces reported that they had been abused by their spouse in the 5 years prior. This was a decline from almost 7% in 2004.

Equal proportions of men and women reported being victims of spousal violence. This means that 342,000 women and 418,000 men reported being abused by their spouse.

In 2014, the highest rates were in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan – at 5.3% and 4.9% respectively; the lowest rate was in Newfoundland & Labrador at 2.2%.