A 21-year-old woman is dead and a 22-year-old man in custody following a domestic violence-related stabbing in Newcastle, NSW police say.

Officers were called to a home unit in Crebert Street, Mayfield, about 10.40pm on Friday in response to reports a man had broken into the flat.

They arrived to find a 21-year-old woman critically injured lying outside her home.

Despite the efforts of ambulance paramedics, she died at the scene having suffered a number of stab wounds, police said.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is in custody.

Police have established a crime scene with forensic specialists on site and inquiries are continuing.

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