Structural violence is a form of violence that occurs when social structures or institutions harm people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. The term was coined by Norwegian sociologist Johan Galtung in 1969. Structural violence is different from direct violence, which is physical or emotional harm inflicted on individuals by other individuals. Examples of social structures that can perpetuate structural violence include economic, political, and social systems that create disadvantages and risks for certain populations.

Some examples of structural violence include institutionalized adultism, ageism, classism, elitism, ethnocentrism, nationalism, racism, sexism, and speciesism. Structural violence and direct violence are said to be highly interdependent, including family violence, gender violence, hate crimes, racial violence, police violence, state violence, terrorism, and war.

Individual violence, such as bullying and physical aggression, is a form of direct violence that can contribute to structural violence. Structural violence is often created through persistent violence across communities and institutions.

The concept of structural violence has come under criticism for being "increasingly outdated and poorly theorized". Some people also find it offensive to name non-violent situations, such as poverty, as "violence". However, the concept of structural violence remains an important tool for understanding how social structures and institutions can harm people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs.