France recorded 111 femicides committed by partners or former partners in 2025, according to annual data published by the Interior Ministry on Tuesday, marking a 4% increase from the previous year and underscoring the persistent toll of domestic violence across the country.
The figure follows 107 femicides recorded in 2024, which was already an increase from prior years. The ministry’s national study confirms a trend that has remained alarmingly stable despite years of government pledges and public awareness campaigns.
Women Represent Overwhelming Majority of Victims
“As in previous years, women are the primary victims of violent deaths within couples. They represent 82% of total victims,” the study states.
Of the 136 violent domestic deaths recorded in 2025, 25 were men. On average, one death was registered every three days, according to the annual report. Authorities also recorded 435 attempted homicides within couples over the same period.
The study notes that “the typical perpetrator profile remains predominantly male, most often in a relationship,” while “the typical victim profile is overwhelmingly female.”
Separation and Disputes Remain Primary Triggers
The data aligns with patterns observed by advocacy groups and judicial authorities over several years. “Disputes within the couple and unaccepted separations remain the primary motives behind the act,” the report states.
“The acts are mostly committed at the couple’s home, the victim’s home, or in a public place, without premeditation, primarily with a knife or a firearm,” the study details.
According to the findings, 37% of female victims had already experienced prior violence. Of those, 61% had reported the violence to police or gendarmerie, and among them, 88% had filed a formal complaint.
Protection Measures in Place for Some Victims
One victim was benefiting from a judicial protection device known as the “grave danger telephone” (TGD), while another had access to an alert button called “Monshérif,” which allows discreet notification of predefined contacts and transmission of location data in case of danger.
The study also reports that nine infanticides were committed in the context of conjugal homicide or domestic violence.
Independent collectives tracking the issue recorded differing figures: Féminicides par compagnons ou ex counted 98 femicides, while Nous Toutes, which tracks killings beyond intimate partner relationships, recorded 171 femicides for 2025.
The persistent gap between official statistics and advocacy group counts reflects differing methodologies, but both point to the same conclusion: domestic violence in France remains a deadly and unresolved crisis.
