11 Countries With the Highest Rates of Domestic Violence in the World

You would think that domestic violence is a thing of the past but that’s not at all so for the 11 countries with the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. Unlike the 11 friendliest countries in the world, the life there is far from being full of joy and warm feelings in every household. These countries usually have little to no respect for women’s rights and human rights in general. A lot of these places’ religion is the main reason why women are shunned and oppressed while in others the culture which has not evolved for centuries plays a big role.

Don’t be fooled by the statistics, though. You would be surprised at how many men are victims of domestic violence around the world. To take the matters further, domestic violence also accounts for violence against children. This form of abuse can take place in the homes of same-sex or heterosexual couples and can manifest itself as physical, mental, emotional or sexual abuse to any member of the family. Many of the countries on this list carry a combination of at least two of those. While there are also families where respect and love for each other exist in the amounts it should, domestic violence is far from taboo in these countries and is openly used to reprehend “misbehaving” wives and children most of the time. Furthermore, there is no way for the victims of such sorts of abuse to report the offenders since domestic violence is considered normal and nothing to be considered seriously punishable. The way this sort of crime against your close ones is punished in the developed world is unseen for the majority of these places.

There are many factors to be considered as the perpetuating causes of domestic violence. While religion is just one of them, it is one of the most concerning. Other factors include the culture, as mentioned and notably – the tradition to arrange marriages between people who are surely going to end up unhappy together in the majority of cases. You probably already have certain countries in mind so let’s not keep you waiting.

11. Russia

Russia is a humongous country with population scattered around not quite densely. Having been one of the toughest places to be born for centuries, Russia’s domestic violence rates have roots deep in its history.

10. Iraq

Iraq, almost like any other Muslim country, has literally no laws or cultural rules to protect women and children; it has a religion which has many rules on “owning” them like objects..

9. Pakistan

Just like Iraq, if you are not a wealthy male in Pakistan, you are in for a rough ride. Women there are severely oppressed and given no voice in making any big decisions for themselves or as a part of society.

8. India

Don’t let India’s flashy love stories full of dance and songs fool you. India has been under fire for its inhumane neglect of women’s rights. Domestic violence is also prevalent there because of the traditionally arranged marriages.

7. Somalia

Somalia takes the often found in Africa disregard for their women and children and combines it with the Islamic doctrine of treating them like property.

6. Mali

Mali’s disregard for women’s rights reaches an extent where genital mutilation and very early marriages are the norms. Many of the marriages are of a forced nature and the pregnancies, which kill one in ten, follow the example.

5. Guatemala

Guatemala has a number of serious problems concerning women’s rights and their treatment culturally. Aside from taking the 5th place in the list of the 11 countries with the highest rates of domestic violence in the world, Guatemala also has a very high HIV/AIDS prevalence.

4. Sudan

Sudan’s people suffer from the high rates of crime, including abduction, rape, and theft. Their marriages also suffer from the same things to a point where female mortality has been extremely high for the past couple of decades.

3.  Democratic Republic of Congo

Much like Sudan, Congo’s women have suffered a life-threatening lack of basic human rights for a long time. No woman in Congo is allowed to sign documents without her husband’s permission.

2. Afghanistan

Afghanistan takes the second place with statistics which prove their neglect for their wives. The average woman there lives less than average man, contrary to quite a lot of the rest of the world.

1. Chad

Chad’s abductions, raping, and genital mutilation make it the first on the list of the 11 countries with the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. Chad’s women and children are still treated as lesser than men who can “own” their lives.