Each week, child protective services (CPS) agencies throughout the United States receive more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. In 2002, 2.6 million reports concerning the welfare of approximately 4.5 million children were made.

In approximately two-thirds (67 percent) of these cases, the information provided in the report was sufficient to prompt an assessment or investigation. As a result of these investigations, approximately 896,000 children were found to have been victims of abuse or neglect—an average of more than 2,450 children per day.

More than half (60 percent) of victims experienced neglect, meaning a caretaker failed to provide for the child's basic needs. Fewer victims experienced physical abuse (nearly 20 percent) or sexual abuse (10 percent), though these cases are typically more likely to be publicized. The smallest number (7 percent) were found to be victims of emotional abuse, which includes criticizing, rejecting, or refusing to nurture a child.

Child Abuse Statistics in the USA

• An estimated 906,000 children are victims of abuse & neglect every year. The rate of victimization is 12.3 children per 1,000 children
• Children ages 0-3 are the most likely to experience abuse. About 1 in 50 U.S. infants are victims of nonfatal child abuse or neglect in a year, according to the first national study of the problem in that age group done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention along with The Federal Administration for Children and Families.1
• 1,500 children die every year from child abuse and neglect. That is just over 4 fatalities every day.
• 79% of the children killed are younger than 4.

Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect in USA

• 80% of young adults who had been abused met the diagnostic criteria for at least 1 psychiatric disorder at the age of 21 (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, & post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
• Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.
• 14.4% of all men in prison in the United States were abused as children and 36.7% of all women in prison were abused as children
• Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse
• Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addictions
• Nearly 2/3’s of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children

Additional Statistics on Child Abuse in USA

• There are nearly 3 million reports of child abuse made annually
• In 2003, there were 906,000 child abuse convictions
• The rate of child abuse is estimated to be 3 times greater than is reported.
• The rate of victimization is 12.3 children per 1,000 children
• Children ages 0-3 are the most likely to experience abuse. They are victimized at a rate of 16.4 per 1,000
• 79% of the children killed are younger than 4.
• These statistics are from the Administration for Children & Families of the US Department of Health & Human Services “Child Maltreatment Report 2003”

Consequences of Child Abuse in the USA

• 80% of young adults who had been abused met the diagnostic criteria for at least 1 psychiatric disorder at the age of 21 (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, & post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
• Abused teens are 3 times less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for STDs
• These statistics are from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse & Neglect Information. Long-term Consequences of Child Abuse & Neglect 2005

These statistics are compiled from the National Institute on Drug Abuse 2000 Report & Child Abuse & Neglect Study by Arthur Becker-Weidman PhD