Bihar Tops India's Spousal Violence List, Telangana Follows; Reveals NFHS-6 | Check The Full List

Published: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 19:19 [IST]

This Indian state known for producing the most number of IPS, IAS is now listed at the top on the violence against spouse in India. The survey, released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), highlights significant differences between states in areas such as spousal violence, child marriage, education, property ownership and access to mobile phones.

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According to the NFHS-6 survey by MoHFW, Bihar records the highest spousal violence rate in India at 36.1% among ever-married women, significantly exceeding the national average of 22.3%.

One of the most concerning findings is the prevalence of spousal violence among married women. According to the survey, more than one in five ever-married women in India have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from their spouse.

What Is Spousal Violence?

In the NFHS-6 survey, spousal violence refers to physical and/or sexual violence experienced by ever-married women aged 18 to 49 at the hands of their husbands.
The survey aims to understand the extent of domestic violence and provide policymakers with data that can help improve women's safety and well-being.

According to the report, the national average stands at 22.3%, meaning nearly one in every five married women has experienced some form of spousal violence.

PTI INFOGRAPHICS | Key Findings on Women in India from NFHS-6

Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) 2023-24, released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), highlights state-wise variations across key demographic and health indicators concerning… pic.twitter.com/DWC2KxotDK
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 23, 2026

Bihar Records Highest Rate

Among all states and Union Territories, Bihar reported the highest prevalence of spousal violence.

The survey found that 36.1% of ever-married women aged 18 to 49 in Bihar had experienced physical or sexual violence from their spouse.

This means that more than one in three married women in the state reported facing such abuse.

Telangana ranked second with 30.8%, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu at 28.5% each.

Jharkhand recorded 27%, while Puducherry reported 25.7%.

These figures are significantly higher than the national average and highlight the need for stronger awareness, support systems and interventions.

States With Lower Rates

Several states and Union Territories reported comparatively lower levels of spousal violence.

Ladakh recorded the lowest prevalence at 1.9%, followed by Jammu and Kashmir at 3.4%, Nagaland at 4% and Himachal Pradesh at 4.3%.

Sikkim and Meghalaya also reported relatively low levels compared to the national average.

While lower figures may indicate better outcomes, experts caution that underreporting remains a challenge in cases of domestic violence due to social stigma and fear.