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War is becoming increasingly deadly for women and girls. According to an UN News report published on October 26, 2026, this group accounted for one in four of the more than 37,000 civilian deaths caused by armed conflict throughout 2025. That proportion was twice as high as in 2021.
Threats expand around conflict zones
The UN Secretary-General’s annual report on Women, Peace and Security recorded that at least 25 women and girls were killed every day in conflict situations. Around 750 million women and girls now live within 50 kilometers of active conflict, an increase of 40 million from 2024 and the highest number since 1990.
Presenting the report at UN Headquarters in New York, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda said war is becoming increasingly deadly for women and girls. She emphasized that for those in conflict areas, war is unfolding directly outside their homes and cannot simply be ignored.
The report also warned that the use of drones and long-range weapons in populated areas is increasing safety risks. Strikes hitting schools, markets, and hospitals are extending the threat far beyond the battlefield.
Sexual violence and health risks
The impact of war on women and girls is not limited to deaths caused by attacks. In 2025, the UN verified 9,788 cases of conflict-related sexual violence. That figure was more than double the previous year’s total and nearly four times the number recorded in 2022. In Haiti, reported cases of sexual violence rose by 163 percent.
Maternal health risks are also worsening in conflict-affected countries. According to Gumbonzvanda, women giving birth in these countries are five times more likely to die from maternal causes than women in stable countries.
In Gaza, the destruction of hospitals and maternity facilities, along with the collapse of access to essential supplies, contributed to a 41 percent decline in live births and a 300 percent increase in miscarriages. The findings show how damage to healthcare services can intensify the dangers women face during war.
Poverty rises as space for peace narrows
Conflict is also pushing women deeper into poverty. Around 170 million women and girls live both in conflict zones and in extreme poverty, earning less than three dollars a day. In conflict-affected countries, they spend five times as much time as men and boys on unpaid care work.
Despite bearing severe consequences, women remain underrepresented in efforts to end wars. In 2025, women accounted for only five percent of negotiators across 57 peace processes, down from seven percent the previous year. None of the 13 ceasefire agreements explicitly prohibited conflict-related sexual violence.
Gap between military spending and funding
While the protection and participation of women remain limited, global military spending reached a record 2.9 trillion dollars in 2025. By contrast, 40 percent of women’s organizations in crisis-affected settings expected to close temporarily or permanently within the following year because of severe funding shortages.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said more women and girls are caught in war than at any time in recent decades, while military spending continues to rise and development assistance declines. UN Women called for the protection of women and girls, their meaningful participation in peace and security, sustained investment in women-led peacebuilding, and an end to impunity.
