How many children experience abuse or neglect in the US?
In 2023, 21 out of every 1,000 infants in the US were victims of abuse or neglect.
In 2023, 4.4 million children were involved in maltreatment referrals, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Out of those referrals, 546,159 children were found to be victims of abuse or neglect. More than 75% of the perpetrators of the abuse are parents of the victims.
More than two-thirds of the cases in 2023 were reported by professionals that have contact with the victims through their job, such as teachers, lawyers, police, and social services personnel. The highest percentage of reports in 2023 came from legal and law enforcement personnel (21.4%).
There were 4.4 million child maltreatment referrals in 2023, a 15-year high
National estimate of alleged child maltreatment referrals, 2009–2023
How many children die of abuse or neglect?
An estimated 2,000 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in 2023, a rate of 2.73 children per every 100,000. The child fatality rate has increased nearly 30% in the last decade.
Children younger than one represent 44% of the fatalities, a rate of 24.1 per every 100,000 children in that age range.
Fatalities from child abuse or neglect have increased 63% since 1995.
Child fatality rates per 100,000 children due to maltreatment, 1995–2023
What demographic groups have the highest rates for childhood abuse or neglect?
Younger children experience abuse or neglect at the highest rate of any age group. The victimization rate was at its highest for children under one year of age, 21 per 1,000 children. More than a quarter of all victims are 2 years old or younger.
Rates of victimization are highest among the youngest children
Victimization rate due to maltreatment per 1,000 children by age, 2023
Victimization rates also vary based on racial and ethnic groups. American Indian or Alaska Native children have the highest rates of victimization, at 13.8 per 1,000. This is almost 14 percentage points higher than Asian children, who have the lowest victimization rate at 1.6 per 1,000.
American Indian or Alaska Native children have the highest rates of victimization.
Victimization rate per 1,000 children, by racial and ethnic groups
How do child abuse rates differ by state?
In 2023, Massachusetts had the highest child victimization rate, 16.2 per 1,000, more than 10 times greater than the state with the lowest rate, New Jersey.
States with the highest child victimization rates:
- Massachusetts (16.2 per 1,000)
- Maine (15.0)
- Iowa (14.8)
- Kentucky (14.2)
- Alaska (13.8)
States with the lowest child victimization rates:
- New Jersey (1.5)
- Pennsylvania (1.7)
- Washington (1.9)
- Virginia (2.3)
- Kansas (2.6)
Massachusetts has the highest child victimization rate, whereas New Jersey has the lowest.
Victim rate due to maltreatment per 1,000 children by state, 2023
In Washington and Florida, over half of child abuse or neglect victims had already gone through Child Protective Services at least once.
In Virginia, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia more than 90% of reports were first-time victims.
Washington and Florida had the highest share of repeat child victims.
Percent of child maltreatment victims who already had at least one abuse or neglect report involving them, 2023
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