Child Abuse Statistics

A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds in the United States.

A Hidden Epidemic of Child Abuse and Neglect

Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. It’s a widespread war against our children that we have the power to stop, and understanding the issue is the first step. Just how bad is the issue of child abuse in the United States?

Every year, more than 4 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 7.5 million children (a referral can include multiple children).

The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing more than 5 children every day to child abuse and neglect.

In 2022 alone, state agencies found nearly 560,000 victims of child maltreatment, but that only tells part of the story.

Health Impacts of Child Abuse

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links adverse childhood experiences (which include other household dysfunctions along with abuse and neglect) with a range of long-term health impacts.

Individuals who reported six or more adverse childhood experiences had an average life expectancy two decades shorter than those who reported none.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), liver disease and other health-related quality of life issues are tied to child abuse.^{2, 3}

In one study, 80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder.⁴

Mental Health Disorders, Addictions and Related Issues

Risk for intimate partner violence
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse
Illicit drug abuse
Smoking & drinking at an early age
Depression Suicide attempts

Sexual & Reproductive Health Issues and Risk Factors

Multiple sexual partners
Sexually transmitted diseases
Unintended pregnancies
Early initiation of sexual activity
Adolescent pregnancy and Fetal death

Financial Impacts of Child Abuse

The long-term financial impact of abuse and neglect is staggering.

For cases of child abuse and neglect in 2018 alone, the lifetime cost of lost worker productivity, health care costs, special education costs, child welfare expenditures, and criminal justice expenditures was estimated over $563 billion per victim. The total lifetime cost of cases investigated that same year was $2.95 trillion.⁵

Child Abuse Fatalities

We must learn to recognize early signs of abuse in order to help save the more than 5 children that die every day from child abuse and neglect.

In 2022, state agencies identified an estimated 1,990 children who died as a result of abuse and neglect — an average of more than five children a day.¹ However, studies also indicate significant undercounting of child maltreatment fatalities by some state agencies by 50% or more.⁷

More than 70% of the children who died as a result of child abuse or neglect were three years of age or younger. Around 80% of child maltreatment fatalities involve at least one parent as perpetrator.¹

Behavioral Health and Crime Related to Child Abuse

Substance abuse and child maltreatment are tragically and undeniably linked. In a study of 513 children exposed to drugs while in-utero, rates of abuse were two to three times that of other children in the same geographical area.⁸

As many as two-thirds of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused or neglected as children.⁹

14% of all men in prison and 36% of women in prison in the USA were abused as children, which is about twice the frequency seen in the general population.¹⁰

Children who experience child abuse and neglect are about 9 times more likely to become involved in criminal activity.¹⁰