New data from the French Interior Ministry paints a sobering picture of intimate-partner violence in the country. In 2025, police and gendarmerie recorded 136 violent deaths within couples, a marginal 1% decline from the 138 deaths logged in 2024. That still equates to one fatality roughly every three days.
The gender breakdown is stark: 111 women were killed by a partner or ex-partner, up 4% from 107 in 2024. Women now account for 82% of all victims. Meanwhile, the number of men killed fell by 19% year-on-year, from 31 to 25, leaving men at 18% of victims.
The report, seen by Euronews, also documents 445 attempted homicides in 2025, an increase on the previous year, underscoring the scale of violence that unfolds behind closed doors across France.
Arguments and break-ups as triggers
Perpetrators remain overwhelmingly male, representing 82% of those implicated. The most common triggering factors were arguments, which preceded 36 cases, and break-ups that were not accepted, involved in 30 cases. Together, these two situations account for nearly half of all cases studied.
Violence most often occurs in the home (76% of cases), with knives and other bladed weapons the most frequently used (58%), ahead of firearms (34%). The toll on children is severe: 106 minors lost a parent or both parents as a result of these tragedies, and nine infanticides were committed in the context of relationship conflict.
One tragic example came in February 2025 in Franconville, in the Val-d'Oise department, where a one-year-old girl was killed by her father, who then took his own life. The couple had a documented history of domestic violence and were already under judicial monitoring.
The report also reveals that 37% of women killed had previously experienced violence. Of those, 61% had reported the abuse to police or gendarmerie, and within that group, 88% had filed a formal complaint. Yet protective measures were rarely in place at the time of the killings: only one victim had a “grave danger” emergency phone (TGD) and another had an alarm button.
In 36% of cases, investigators found at least one substance likely to impair judgement—such as alcohol, narcotics, or psychotropic medicines—present in the perpetrator or the victim at the time of the events.
Legislative response gains momentum
The fight against sexist and sexual violence was declared a national cause during Emmanuel Macron’s first term (2017–2022). But it took the abduction, rape, and murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna—and the public mobilisation that followed—to push a comprehensive cross-party bill through the National Assembly. The bill, backed by eight political groups, is now heading to the Senate.
Among its provisions are a minimum investigative framework to prevent complaints from being closed too quickly, the creation of specialised police units and judicial bodies, and an annual compulsory interview at school from 2032 to better detect violence. It also establishes a care pathway for child victims.
These measures come as France continues to grapple with broader social and economic pressures, from public debt challenges to climate goals. The new law, if passed, would represent a significant step in addressing a crisis that has long been under-reported and under-prosecuted.
For advocates, the data is a reminder that progress remains fragile. While the overall number of deaths has dipped slightly, the rise in female victims and the persistent gaps in protection highlight how much work lies ahead.
