Spatial Inequalities Research Articles

The evolution of inequality in Mozambique 1996/97–2019/20

ABSTRACT After decades of war, Mozambique experienced sustained economic growth and poverty reduction from the mid-1990s. However, these positive dynamics started to revert from 2015. Meanwhile, inequality stagnated in the period 1996/97–2008/09, before markedly increasing afterwards. In this study, we analyse some of the most relevant indicators of inequality for Mozambique and their trends over the last 25 years. Using real per capita consumption as the main welfare aggregate, we look at various indicators of inequality, including the consumption distribution, percentiles and percentile ratios, growth incidence curves, Lorenz curves, and Gini indices. In addition, we discuss spatial inequality. Overall, we find that until 2014/15, consumption increased for the whole population, but it did so much more for richer households; conversely, in the last few years, consumption has reduced across the distribution, but the relative consumption-gap between better- and worse-off people has continued to increase.

Regional inequalities in years of life lost within the European Economic Area: Using the Gini coefficient and slope index of inequality to assess spatial disparities

Abstract Background Health inequalities have been linked to reduced life expectations. This study aimed to investigate regional variations in all-cause years of life lost (YLLs) in European Economic Area (EEA) countries prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Demographic data were extracted from Eurostat for 1390 small regions 32 EEA countries. Age-standardised sex specific YLL rates per 100,000 population in 2019 were estimated for EEA regions (Eurostat NUTS level 3) using methodologies derived from the Global Burden of Disease study. Relative spatial disparities were evaluated using the Gini coefficient (GC) and absolute spatial disparities assessed using the slope index of inequality (SII). Results Between EEA countries, relative geographical inequality in age-standardized YLL rates was higher than within them, slightly more so for males (GC = 16.96% [95% CI = 16.26-17.65]) than females (14.22% [13.62-14.82]). Among females, the UK (11.21% [95% CI 10.11-12.30]), Greece, and Croatia had the highest relative spatial inequality, while Ireland (3.37% [2.26-4.48]), Slovakia, and the Netherlands had the lowest. For males, Belgium (10.76% [9.34-12.17]), the UK, and Croatia exhibited the highest relative spatial inequality, while Ireland (1.99% [1.18-2.81]), Lithuania, and Slovakia had the lowest. Germany had the largest absolute geographical inequality in YLLs among females (SII=16.86% [16.28 to 17.44]), followed by Estonia and the UK. Among males, Estonia had the largest absolute spatial inequality (36.60% [-10.88 to 84.07]), followed by Latvia and Hungary. Ireland had the lowest absolute spatial inequality for both females and males. Conclusions Relative and absolute disparities in premature mortality rates are evident across regions of the EEA, both within countries and across the entire region. These findings offer insights for national and local stakeholders, aiding them in customising public health interventions to target spatial health disparities.

Socio-economic factors affecting spatial inequalities in pregnancy-related ambulance attendances in Greater London

Exploring inequalities in ambulance and pre-hospital demand is important to improve service equity and reduce wider health inequalities. Maternity incidents amongst ambulance demand are a key area of focus because of the specialized care that is needed for patients, as well as the impact of wider determinants of health on pregnancy outcomes. Since there are spatial inequalities amongst pregnant patients who call for an ambulance, the aim of this study is to assess the underlying factors associated with pregnancy related ambulance complaints, to determine why maternity patients utilize the ambulance service. Local indicators of spatial autocorrelation were used to identify clusters of ambulance maternity demand within Greater London (UK). A negative binomial regression model was used to explore associations between socioeconomic, environmental, accessibility and demographic variables. Our results reveal that neighborhoods with low adult skills (i.e. qualifications/English language abilities) have a higher rate of demand. Moreover, our results imply that the demand for ambulance services may not be directly tied to health outcomes; rather, it might be more closely associated with patients' reasons for calling an ambulance, irrespective of the actual necessity. The benefits of identifying factors that drive demand in ambulance services are not just linked to improving equity, but also to reducing demand, ultimately relieving pressure on services if alternative options are identified or underlying causes addressed. Doing so can improve health inequalities by firstly, improving ambulance care equity by directly supporting a better allocation of resources within ambulance systems to target patterns in demand.

2008 economic crisis impact on perinatal and infant mortality in Southern European countries

Abstract Introduction The study of crisis events provides important lessons to prepare for upcoming events. The Great Recession’s impact on perinatal health in Europe can provide relevant insights into the healthcare and social protection systems’ response to protecting the health of the most vulnerable groups. Objectives To assess time trends and international disparities in perinatal mortality rates (PMR) and infant mortality rates (IMR), following the Great Recession, and their association with socioeconomic indicators in Portugal, Greece, Italy and Spain. Methods Associations were assessed through generalised linear models for all four countries. A Poisson joinpoint regression model was applied to explore PMR and IMR trend changes between 2000 and 2018. Country disparities were analysed using mixed-effects multilevel models. Results IMR and PMR have decreased overall in the four selected countries between 2000 and 2018. Still, whereas in Spain, Italy and Portugal the decreasing pace was attenuated after 2009, in Greece a positive trend was found after the 2008 crisis. IMR and PMR were significantly associated with socioeconomic indicators in all four countries. National disparities in the evolution of IMR and PMR were significantly associated with most socioeconomic indicators between 2000 and 2018. Conclusions Our results confirm the impact of the Great Recession on PMR and IMR trends in all four countries, taking recurring associations between macroeconomic cycles, variations in mortality trends, macroeconomic volatility and stagnation of IMR and PMR into account. The association with socioeconomic indicators stresses the need to strengthen social protection and healthcare systems to better protect the population’s health from the earliest days. Key messages • Mortality patterns refer to the internal variability of the crisis’ effect and to persistent spatial regional inequalities appealing to the need for attention in policymaking. • The relevance of considering the political economy of global health finance and macroeconomic volatility as a major influence on the association of mortality rates with socioeconomic indicators.

All-cause Years of life lost due to death at municipality level in Norway. Association to educational attainment and median income

Abstract Background Norway, with 5.5 million people spread across 356 municipalities, has pursued an active policy to reduce social and geographical health inequalities. Despite, studies find significant health disparities linked to socioeconomic factors at the individual-level, although evidence at larger geographical-levels has been mixed. We used a key burden of disease (BoD) metric, Years of Life Lost (YLL), to examine spatial health inequities among Norwegian municipalities and their association with socioeconomic factors. Methods We analysed data from all residents in Norwegian municipalities with over 1000 inhabitants as of January 1, 2019. Data was sourced from the National Population Register and Statistics Norway. All-cause YLL were calculated based on age-specific aspirational life expectancy obtained from GBD 2019. Deprivation was measured using educational attainment and median income, categorized into quartiles. Geographical maps illustrating municipality-level all-cause age-standardised YLL rates for males and females were generated. Negative binomial regression models assessed associations between socioeconomic factors and YLL rates, adjusting for age, sex, and an index of centralisation. Results High-deprivation municipalities exhibited a 9% higher YLL rate in terms of education (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR] = 1.09, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.01-1.17) and a 10% higher YLL rate in terms of income (IRR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02-1.08) compared to the least deprived, translating to absolute differences of 1391 and 1466 YLL per 100,000 population, respectively. Additionally, we discuss the potential expansion of this study to incorporate cause-specific outcomes and other BoD metrics based on previous county-level analyses. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using BoD methods to assess geographical deprivation and premature mortality at the municipality level, providing valuable insights for public health policy targeted at small administrative areas.

Health economics and services research in symbiosis: STREAMLINEing mental health services in Austria

Abstract Objectives The cost of mental diseases exceeds 4% of GDP in Europe. In Austria, every 5th person lives with mental ill-health (MIH). Ongoing epidemiological, demographic and societal changes increase the need for easily accessible, better integrated and good value services. In STREAMLINE, we combine, harmonize and implement the latest methods in human service mapping and economic costing to optimize future service provision and financing for MIH in Austria. Methods We comprehensively assess the availability, activity and affordability of human services targeting MIH in Vienna within the health and social care, education, labour and justice sectors based on a conceptual mind map. We identify services through extensive literature, document and web searches plus expert consultations. Services are mapped and costed according to the European PECUNIA methods: classification of the main service types using the international DESDE taxonomy of human services; development of Reference Unit Costs using the PECUNIA RUC templates with primary data; validation of the results with secondary data; compilation of a comprehensive multi-sectoral service catalogue; and synthesis for spatial and policy analyses. Results We identified 756 sources, 75% individual organisations, 5% multi-organisations and 20% existing provider lists. 84% relate to health and social care, 10% labour, and 3% education and justice sectors each. 58% deliver care to adults, 37% to children & adolescents, and 5% support carers. Further service mapping and RUCs will be presented. Discussion STREAMLINE pioneers in coordinated public mental health services and economics research at scale. Assessed levels of fragmentation call for better integration, improved transition, reduced spatial inequity and increased support for carers. Results increase the feasibility of service evaluations from a societal perspective. Planned public service atlas facilitates information and access for service users and carers. Funding: WWTF Key messages • New methods for harmonized health services and economics research allow comprehensive information for optimized future mental health service planning and financing. • Assessed levels of fragmentation highlight the need for better integration, improved transition, reduced spatial inequity and increased support for carers.

Inequalities in Primary Care Provision in Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Korea

Abstract Background Primary care clinics play a crucial role in community health promotion by facilitating early disease detection and management. The number of these clinics in Gwangju Metropolitan City increased from 931 in 2000 to 2,400 in 2022, but this growth was not evenly distributed within the city. This study aims to examine the spatial inequalities in the distribution of clinics in Gwangju Metropolitan City. Methods This study utilized local administrative licensing data on medical institutions classified as clinics. To estimate healthcare resource imbalances, Lorenz curves and Gini indices for the number of clinics per 100,000 individuals and per square kilometer were calculated by district. Results The number of primary care clinics per 1,000 individuals or per square kilometer was highest in Dong-gu and Seo-gu, while Gwangsan-gu had relatively fewer facilities. In particular, Buk-gu, Seo-gu, and Nam-gu had more than 40% of areas with a high number of healthcare facilities relative to population or area, whereas less than 50% of Gwangsan-gu fell into the lower tier in these categories. The Gini index, used to measure the geographical inequality of healthcare facility distribution, showed a slight improvement from 2000 to 2023. However, Seo-gu and Buk-gu exhibited different trends compared to other districts. Conclusions Geographical disparities in the distribution of primary care clinics in Gwangju Metropolitan City have slightly improved since 2000, but show different patterns by district. Addressing healthcare imbalances is essential for enhancing health equity, requiring multifaceted efforts to mitigate disparities and improve medical service accessibility in underserved areas. Key messages • Significant disparities exist in the distribution of primary care clinics across Gwangju, with higher densities in Dong-gu and Seo-gu, and fewer facilities in Gwangsan-gu. • The Gini index for clinic distribution has improved since 2000, but disparities remain, particularly in Seo-gu and Buk-gu. Continued efforts are essential to reduce healthcare inequalities further.

Architectural styles of curiosity in global Wikipedia mobile app readership.

Intrinsically motivated information seeking is an expression of curiosity believed to be central to human nature. However, most curiosity research relies on small, Western convenience samples. Here, we analyze a naturalistic population of 482,760 readers using Wikipedia's mobile app in 14 languages from 50 countries or territories. By measuring the structure of knowledge networks constructed by readers weaving a thread through articles in Wikipedia, we replicate two styles of curiosity previously identified in laboratory studies: the nomadic "busybody" and the targeted "hunter." Further, we find evidence for another style-the "dancer"-which was previously predicted by a historico-philosophical examination of texts over two millennia and is characterized by creative modes of knowledge production. We identify associations, globally, between the structure of knowledge networks and population-level indicators of spatial navigation, education, mood, well-being, and inequality. These results advance our understanding of Wikipedia's global readership and demonstrate how cultural and geographical properties of the digital environment relate to different styles of curiosity.

Pedestrian Accessibility Analysis of Sidewalk-Specific Networks: Insights from Three Latin American Central Squares

Limited research from the Global South has examined pedestrian accessibility to key destinations, particularly while considering efficient and practical sidewalk-specific conditions. This study employs a case-based approach, scrutinising walking access to three central squares, Mexico City’s Zocalo, Lima’s Plaza San Martin, and Buenos Aires’ Plaza de la República, within a 10-min walking radius. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Google Street View (GSV) were leveraged to conduct a virtual street audit, assessing six microscale features influencing the walking experience (kerb ramps, pavement continuity, sidewalk width, well-maintained sidewalks, active uses, and green spaces). These data facilitated the construction of a genuine pedestrian network and allowed the assessment of three-tiered pedestrian accessibility models that comprised easy access, comfortable routes, and vibrant walks. The findings reveal significant spatial inequities in pedestrian access. About 10% of buildings near Mexico City’s and Lima’s central squares lack pedestrian accessibility due to inadequate and interrupted sidewalk and crosswalk infrastructure, disproportionately impacting those with mobility limitations. Conversely, Buenos Aires exhibits better pedestrian facilities, with accessible, comfortable, and lively routes reaching approximately 20% of buildings surrounding the Plaza de la República. These results underscore the significant disparities in street infrastructure and networks within these historic neighbourhoods, emphasising the imperative for more inclusive, pedestrian-friendly urban planning in Latin American cities.

Multidimensional spatial inequality in China and its relationship with economic growth

Spatial inequality erodes social cohesion and political stability, impacting global sustainable development and human well-being. This study examines spatial inequality in China across economic, social, environmental, infrastructural, and innovation dimensions, exploring how these inequalities evolve with economic development. Drawing on the Sustainable Development Goals and Chinese planning goals, we selected 13 indicators pertinent to human well-being. We employed the population-weighted coefficient of variation, Gini coefficient, and Moran’s I to assess spatial inequalities and analyzed their relationship with economic growth. The findings reveal that China currently exhibits the highest spatial inequality in innovation and the lowest in the social dimension. Since 1990, most indicators have trended towards decreasing spatial inequality, except for unemployment rates and carbon emissions, which have increased. The economic and innovation gap between the eastern coastal regions and the central and western regions has widened, whereas disparities in housing, healthcare, roads, and digitalization have narrowed. China’s experience demonstrates that Williamson’s inverted U-shaped hypothesis extends beyond the economic domain to encompass education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digitalization, providing policy insights for addressing regional inequalities in China in the post-pandemic era.

Increasing Social and Spatial Inequalities in Parental Co‐Residence

AbstractAcross countries, mounting housing pressures contribute to a growing number of young adults living in the parental home. Patterns at the micro‐level and cross‐nationally are well charted, but less is known about intra‐country differences. Drawing on the case of the Netherlands, we use full‐population register data to examine co‐residence patterns of 25–34‐year‐olds for the 2005–2020 period. Through descriptive, GIS and multivariate analyses, we explain patterns in co‐residence according to income, across space and over time. Results reveal substantial spatial differences in patterns of co‐residence and rates of growth, with the strongest increases in the largest cities and directly adjacent regions. Patterns are most pronounced and intensified for low‐income young adults, who increasingly struggle to realise residential independence in and around economic pull regions and high‐priced urban areas. These findings point to increasing socio‐spatial inequalities in co‐residence, contributing to literature on the interaction between class and space.

Towards inclusive urban real estate: Innovative strategies for shaping urban real estate developments in South Africa

South Africa, like many emerging economies, grapples with the challenges of rapid urbanisation, unequal access to resources, and historical spatial inequalities. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that reimagines urban real estate development as a catalyst for positive social change. This paper explores the imperative of inclusive urban real estate development in South Africa and presents innovative strategies to promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in urban environments. Following a quantitative inquiry technique, primary data was gathered from 109 built environment professionals with experience in sustainable urban development. To support this, descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used. According to the descriptive analysis using the mean score (MS) ranking technique, the development of affordable housing was one of the higher up-front innovative strategies for reshaping real estate development. Ensuring objectivity in city planning, re-engineering the city streets and buildings to create a safer environment were among the highly ranked strategies. The EFA further demonstrated that “urban redevelopment”, “government regulations”, “spatial planning”, “urban policy” and “diversification” were the underlying groups of new approaches for inclusive development. Implementing these innovative strategies, South Africa can move towards a more inclusive and equitable urban landscape, where urban real estate development becomes a force for positive social change, fostering sustainable economic growth and improving the quality of life for all citizens. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on urban development in South Africa and offers actionable insights for policymakers, developers, and community stakeholders invested in shaping more inclusive cities.

Spatial and Ethno-national Health Inequalities: Health and Mortality Gaps between Palestinians and Jews in Israel.

This research adopts an analytical spatial perspective to explain ethno-national health inequality between Palestinians and Jews in Israel. The work identifies the forces that instigated and maintained the spatial segregation of Palestinians and elaborates the role of segregation in generating health gaps between Palestinians and Jews. The analysis suggests a novel conceptualization of two types of segregation: (a) exclusion from the center and confinement to the periphery and (b) segregation within the geographic periphery. Using administrative data on COVID-19 incidence, hospitalization, and death and various health indicators for localities, I devise a decomposition method that evaluates the relative contribution of each type of segregation to the total health gap. The findings indicate that the segregation of Palestinians from the center and their confinement to peripheral regions are crucial determinants of their poor health outcomes and that the segregation of the Palestinian community within the geographic periphery also contributes to poorer health.

Towards designing a comprehensive composite index for social vulnerability to natural hazards in the big data era: potential challenges and partial solutions

AbstractThis study provides a practical definition and framework to measure social vulnerability to natural hazards, addressing gaps in the literature after three decades of Susan Cutter's Place-Based Model. The current social vulnerability index, designed based on available data such as census data, is limited in capturing all aspects of social vulnerability and spatial inequalities. This research explored and proposed a new theoretical perspective and methodological framework for designing a comprehensive index for social vulnerability to natural disasters using emerging big data, which is practical and feasible and can be applied to social vulnerability studies in general and social vulnerability to natural hazards in particular. This research first defines constructs of social vulnerability to natural hazards, including (1) socioeconomic status or conditions, (2) physical infrastructure or accessibility to facilities and services, (3) ecological-environmental conditions, (4) access to security facilities and crime rate, (5) technological inequalities, (6) health conditions of the citizens, and (7) susceptibility. Then, it proposes potential solutions for developing a comprehensive composite index under ideal conditions without (big) data limitations, using the US and the UK as case examples. These solutions are not just theoretical but also practical and feasible, instilling confidence in their implementation. This research offers valuable insights for researchers and policymakers in diverse sectors, supporting the design of effective disaster risk reduction strategies and intervention programs.

Spatial inequality in unsolved crimes: Evidence from small neighborhoods

AbstractUsing administrative data on the universe of police recorded crime linked to judicial outcomes for England and Wales from January 2013 to December 2018, we document—for the first time—large and persistent spatial inequalities in the proportion of solved and unsolved crimes across small neighborhoods covering a whole country. We find substantial differences across neighborhoods in the same municipality or police force. Fixed effects decompositions suggest that neighborhoods have different clearance rates across different crimes and that high‐crime neighborhoods also have high clearance rates, but with substantial heterogeneity across offences. Clearance rates correlate systematically with neighborhood composition.

Assessing spatial and racial equity of subway accessibility: Case study of New York City

Enhancing the utility of public transportation through easy and equitable access has become one of the focal points in the pursuit of social justice goals. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of equitable access to the subway system in New York City (NYC) based on geography and race/ethnicity, shedding light on the complex relationship between transportation equity, racial diversity, and urban dynamics. New York City is selected as the case study due to its diverse demographic makeup, extensive public transportation system, and paucity of previous research on the racial justice dimensions of its subway system. Gravity index is employed to investigate the accessibility of the NYC subway system in terms of distance from stops and the frequency of service while equity is analyzed by Gini coefficients and Lorenz curves. To conduct this analysis, American Community Survey (ACS) data and The General Transit Feed Specifications (GTFS) are used. The findings reveal that accessibility to the subway system varies across New York City's outer boroughs, with Queens, the largest borough by area, notably standing out due to its limited availability of subway stations. Moreover, the study uncovers stark racial disparities in accessibility within boroughs, with the non-Hispanic Black community in Queens (which represents 17 % of the borough's population) facing a pronounced lack of easy access to subway stations. These insights underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms to address the identified disparities. Policymakers and transportation planners should prioritize initiatives such as increasing subway infrastructure in underserved areas, improving the frequency of service, and enhancing connectivity to reduce racial and spatial inequities in subway accessibility.

Towards equal neighborhood evolution? A longitudinal study of soundscape and visual evolution and housing value fluctuations in shenzhen

The equitable evolution of neighborhood environments is closely linked to housing economics. However, the lack of quantitative and longitudinal evaluation methods makes it challenging to assess residents' neighborhood perceptions and achieve social inclusiveness goals. Using long-time series street view imagery, we quantified Shenzhen residents' multidimensional neighborhood perceptions before and after micro-renovations, including visual and soundscape dimensions, and revealed the association between perceptual evolution and the housing value. We identified inequitable results during neighborhood renewal: Neighborhoods with high soundscape scores are accompanied by low visual perception scores, and vice versa. The spatial inequality is reflected in the perceptual differentiation prevalent between urban and suburbs. Visual aspects showed a stable but weak relationship with housing value fluctuations, while soundscape aspects had a strong but more dynamic impact. The inequitable spatial evolution is facilitated by changes in residents' perceptions: expectations for positive audio-visual perceptions are increasing, but sensitivity for negative soundscape is decreasing. Meanwhile, residents are increasingly seeking diverse and rich visual neighborhood landscapes and atmospheres filled with human voices. This study provides quantitative support for the equitable evolution of neighborhoods and the economics of neighborhood landscapes. It offers a novel method for measuring multidimensional perceptions that can be applied to settlements worldwide.

The Local Welfare State and Differences in Racialized Poverty

ABSTRACT Researchers concerned with the U.S. welfare state have documented that more localized administration allows for greater geographic variation in public policies as well as the greater potential for racial discrimination to influence policy outcomes. I explore whether key attributes of the local welfare state, capacity and spending, are associated with differences in racialized poverty across localities. I develop a conceptual framework drawing on two sociological traditions: spatial inequality framework and local welfare state theory. Spatial inequality scholarship provides a framework for interrogating why poverty varies across localities and racialized groups. Local welfare scholarship conceptualizes the processes by which local governments impact poverty and how those processes may be highly racialized. Drawing on data from the Census of Governments, I examine all local governments’ capacity and spending across counties in the U.S. and their association with poverty rates among white, Black, and Hispanic populations. I find that local governments’ capacity and spending do matter to understanding differences in racialized poverty. Specifically, racialized groups perceived as more deserving are likely to be the beneficiaries of local government interventions and policies. This study calls for greater attention to the local welfare state as a possible mechanism maintaining racial stratification.

Spatial inequality in sub-national human development index: A case study of West Bengal districts

Human Development and its regional disparity is an area of topical interest. In this paper, we consider space as an instrumental variable in understanding this disparity and explore spatial interdependence in human development across districts of West Bengal using alternate indicators of human development. This study uses both the standard United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) technique and an alternative methodology to construct a sub-national human development index. Spatial interdependence is measured using Moran's I coefficient and Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation (LISA) cluster maps. Spatial regression is used to evaluate the spatial association between the Human Development Index as the dependent variable and a few independent variables. A high degree of clustering in all three dimensions of human development is observed among the southern districts of West Bengal. The pattern of cluster maps indicates the presence of both the growth pole process and the metropole-periphery process in the state. Spatial regression results indicate that the share of socially backward class population and urbanization rate are important variables affecting regional human development patterns. The findings of this study suggest policies targeted to promote social inclusion and urbanization linked with better access to economic opportunities in the lagging areas can help reduce regional imbalances.

Temporal and spatial convergence: the major depressive disorder burden attributed to intimate partner violence against women

ABSTRACT Background: There is a strong causal relationship between intimate partner violence and major depressive disorder, which partly endangers women's safety across the life course and potentially affects the development of future generations. The international community has placed a high priority on addressing the intimate partner violence and the resulting burden of mental illness. Data collection needs to be captured across the temporal trend and spatial distribution for major depressive disorder attributed to intimate partner violence, to reflect the priorities and expectations of survivors. Method: This research obtained raw disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) information for major depressive disorder attributed to intimate partner violence from the Global Burden of Disease 2019. Using estimated annual percentage change and two-way fixed effects models, a secondary spatio-temporal analysis of the age-standardized DALYs rate from 1990 to 2019 was performed. Results: In 2019, DALYs lost among women experiencing major depressive disorder (3.16 million) accounted for 37.18% of the DALYs lost worldwide due to intimate partner violence. The age-standardized DALYs rate of major depressive disorder attributed to intimate partner violence was 108.57 per 100,000. The highest was concentrated in the menopausal transition (45-55), with 133.61 per 100,000, and particularly distributed in Uganda (429.31 per 100,000). The early reproductive period (15–19) showed the increasing age-standardized DALYs rate from 1990 to 2019, which was mainly driven by Malaysia (3.73% per year). Furthermore, countries with higher initial levels of the age-standardized DALYs rate were growing faster than those with lower levels. Conclusions: The burden of major depressive disorder attributed to intimate partner violence showed biological and spatial inequality, prioritized intervention should be targeted at vulnerable stage women in their early reproductive period and menopausal transition. Combined political, socio-cultural as well as medical measures to prevent violence and treat major depressive disorder should be implemented and developed.