MORE than a quarter of women under 50 worldwide have experienced domestic violence by a male partner in their lifetime, according to “alarming” new estimates.

Analysis of hundreds of studies, published in the Lancet today, suggests that 27 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

Around one in seven (13 per cent) said this had occurred in the last year — the equivalent of 492 million women worldwide.

The researchers said that the true prevalence is likely to be higher than the estimates, given the stigma around domestic violence which may make women less likely to report their experiences.

The study is said to be the largest analysis of violence against women who are, or have been in relationships, to date.

Researchers from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other institutions analysed 366 studies conducted between 2000-18 contained in the WHO global database on prevalence of violence against women.

These span 161 countries and areas, accounting for two million women and girls aged 15 years and older.

Senior author Dr Claudia Garcia-Moreno said that progress made over the last 20 years is “grossly insufficient” to meet the international target for eliminating violence against women by 2030.

Rebecca Hitchen, head of policy and campaigns at the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “It is appalling but unsurprising that more than one in four women experience domestic abuse within their lifetime.

“In the UK, this is happening against a backdrop of declining charging and prosecution of perpetrators, and gaps in support for migrant survivors who are excluded from legal protections.”

She called for proper funding of work in schools and public campaigns to shift the attitudes and inequalities that drive abuse.