The indicator is calculated by the Research Unit of the Ministry of Justice. The number of women who have stated that they have been exposed to physical, sexual or psychological violence within the past 12 months is set in relation to all women (indicated in percent). The indicator differs from the UN definition in several respects. 1) The calculation includes women aged 16-74 years at the time of the interview (16-79 years in 2023 and 2024), which does not necessarily correspond to their age at the time of the experienced violent incident. The UN definition includes women from 15 years and up. 2) When calculating the indicator, the denominator is made up of all women aged 16-74 years regardless of whether they are/have been in a relationship. The UN definition is that the denominator should be all women who are/have been in a relationship.

The content of the indicator has changed over time:

• In the period 2008-2018, the figures only include women who have been subjected to physical violence or rape/attempted rape.
• In 2019, the figures include women who have been subjected to physical violence, rape/attempted rape or other sexual assault.
• From 2020 onwards, the indicator also includes women who have been subjected to psychological violence
• The question wording regarding rape/attempted rape was changed in 2021 as a result of the introduction of the Consent Act in Denmark. 
• In 2023, a new question was also added that specifically relates to violence committed by a current or former partner, and the responses from this are therefore included from 2023 onwards.

Due to these changes, the figures for the individual years are generally not directly comparable over time.