WORLD – When discussing violence against women, physical, psychological and sexual violence are often the first forms that come to mind. Yet violence also has an economic dimension, which can occur within the household, in the workplace, or through denying women access to education, employment and financial independence.
The impact does not stop at the individual level. Studies show that violence against women also carries significant economic costs for families, states and societies through lost income and productivity, as well as increased spending on healthcare, social services and the justice system.
What Is Economic Violence?
Economic violence is a form of abuse in which money or economic resources are used as a means of controlling or subjugating women.
It can include preventing a woman from working, controlling her income, denying her access to money or bank accounts, preventing her from owning or using resources, or restricting her access to education and employment.
The World Bank defines economic abuse as controlling a woman’s access to economic resources, including money, education and employment, as a means of intimidation and coercion. According to a World Bank study, around 1.4 billion women lacked legal protection against economic violence within the household at the time of the study.
Why Is Financial Independence Important?
Economic independence is not simply about a woman’s ability to spend money. It can also affect her ability to make decisions, leave an abusive relationship and seek help.
When a woman is completely financially dependent on an abusive partner, leaving the relationship can become more difficult because of concerns over losing housing, income or the ability to support her children.
The World Bank notes that economic dependence can contribute to women remaining in abusive relationships, and that legal protection should take survivors’ economic security into account, including housing, healthcare, alimony and child-support costs.
But How Does Violence Affect the Economy Itself?
The relationship works in both directions. Violence does not only harm women; it can also generate significant economic losses.
Women who experience violence may have to miss work, lose part of their income, experience reduced productivity or leave employment altogether. Families may also face additional costs related to healthcare, support services and legal assistance.
At the state level, healthcare systems, justice institutions and social services also bear part of these costs.
UN Women notes that the economic costs of violence against women include direct costs, such as healthcare, services and shelters, as well as indirect costs, including lost income and productivity.
Figures Show the Scale of the Problem
The economic cost of violence varies from one country to another, but several figures illustrate its scale.
In Vietnam, direct out-of-pocket expenses and lost income resulting from violence amount to around 1.41% of GDP, while women who experience violence earn approximately 35% less than women who have not experienced violence.
In Egypt, the United Nations estimates that around 500,000 working days are lost each year as a result of intimate partner violence, while the healthcare sector incurs more than $14 million in costs to provide services to approximately one-quarter of the estimated 600,000 survivors.
In Morocco, the annual cost of physical and/or sexual violence against women was estimated at around 2.85 billion Moroccan dirhams, or approximately $308 million. In the European Union, the overall cost of gender-based violence has been estimated at €366 billion annually, of which €289 billion is associated with violence against women.
What Happens in the Labor Market?
The economic impact is not limited to violence within the home. Violence and harassment in the workplace can affect women’s access to employment, their ability to remain in the workforce and their professional advancement.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) notes that violence and harassment against women in the world of work undermine their empowerment and advancement in the labor market, while also affecting institutional productivity and the broader economy.
In 2018, the global cost of sexual harassment in the workplace was estimated at $2.6 billion in lost productivity, in addition to around $900 million in other financial costs.
The ILO also reports that more than one in five workers worldwide have experienced some form of violence or harassment at work, according to its global study.
Violence Against Women Is Not a “Private” Family Matter
From an economic perspective, it becomes difficult to view violence against women solely as an individual or family issue.
When a woman loses part of her income because of violence, her family is affected. When she leaves the workforce, the economy loses part of her productive contribution. And when she requires healthcare, social or legal services, public institutions bear part of the cost.
UN Women therefore considers violence against women an issue that affects women, families, communities and economies, and one that represents a barrier to sustainable development.
Can Economic Independence Help Reduce Violence?
Economic independence is not a standalone solution to violence, but it can play an important role in prevention and response.
Access to employment, income, education and financial resources can strengthen women’s ability to make decisions, reduce economic dependence on partners and expand the options available to survivors.
At the same time, UN Women points to addressing economic inequalities between women and men as an important component of reducing violence in the long term.
What About Lebanon?
In Lebanon, the issue takes on additional importance amid economic and social crises and displacement, which can increase women’s vulnerability and limit their access to income and essential services.
In a March 2026 briefing, UN Women noted that women in Lebanon already face limited access to income, unequal legal protection and reduced access to services, while displacement, loss of livelihoods and weakened support networks can further increase their vulnerability.
Looking at violence against women through an economic lens is therefore not simply about reducing the issue to numbers. It is about understanding how poverty, financial dependence, limited employment opportunities and violence itself can intersect and keep women trapped in a cycle of vulnerability.
