Child sexual abuse remains a deeply concerning issue in the U.S., with recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2024) estimating that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience such abuse during childhood. These disturbing figures reflect a persistent crisis that calls for stronger child protection policies, education, and community-based prevention programs to address the root causes of abuse and intervene early.
Child Exploitation Statistics in Europe:
Across Europe, approximately 1 in 5 children are believed to experience sexual violence, according to the Council of Europe (2022). This highlights not only the scale of abuse on the continent but also the urgent need for governments to implement more robust systems to prevent, identify, and respond to abuse—especially when it occurs in families or trusted relationships.
Global Statistics on Child Abuse:
On a global level, the World Health Organization (2022) estimates that around 1 billion children are affected by sexual violence each year. These overwhelming numbers point to a global epidemic of abuse and exploitation that transcends borders, cultures, and socioeconomic status—emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and unified child protection strategies.
Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics:
Many instances of sexual abuse go unreported due to fear, shame, threats, or the child’s dependence on the abuser. Children may be pressured to remain silent or may not understand that what they are experiencing is abuse. This silence enables abusers to continue harming children unchecked and contributes to the hidden nature of the problem.
Child Neglect Statistics and Long-Term Impact:
The effects of sexual violence and neglect can be long-lasting, often damaging a child’s mental health, emotional well-being, and ability to form safe, trusting relationships. These outcomes demonstrate the need for strong prevention systems, survivor support services, and public awareness campaigns to protect children and help them recover from trauma.
see also: child labor statistics
According to the National Library of Medicine, an estimated 1 in 4 children will experience some form of child abuse or neglect during their lifetime—highlighting how alarmingly widespread this issue is.
Among children who are maltreated:
9% are subjected to sexual abuse.
Tragically, homicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for children under the age of one.
In the United States, the scope of child abuse and neglect remains deeply concerning. In 2022, an estimated 558,899 children were confirmed victims of abuse and neglect—a staggering figure representing 8 out of every 1,000 children, based on the most recent national data available.
Each year, child welfare agencies in the U.S. assess the safety of over 7.5 million children, highlighting the widespread concern for child well-being and potential maltreatment.
Roughly 3 million children undergo formal investigations or alternative responses by Child Protective Services, reflecting serious risks that demand urgent attention and action.
In 2024, Children’s Advocacy Centers provided trauma-informed support to over 372,000 children, offering coordinated care that includes advocacy, mental health services, and forensic interviews.
What Happens to Children Who Are Abused or Neglected?
According to Child Maltreatment 2022 report: Tragically, homicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for children under the age of one.
In the United States, the scope of child abuse and neglect remains deeply concerning. In 2022, an estimated 558,899 children were confirmed victims of abuse and neglect—a staggering figure representing 8 out of every 1,000 children, based on the most recent national data available.
Child Abuse and Neglect Victims (558,899 children):
This figure represents the number of children who were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect across the United States. The rate of 7.7 victims per 1,000 children is the national victimization rate.
Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment, making up 74.3% of cases. It involves failing to provide essential needs like food, shelter, medical care, or supervision, putting children at serious risk.
Physical abuse includes acts such as hitting, shaking, burning, or other behaviors that cause physical harm to a child. It accounts for 17.0% of maltreatment incidents nationwide.
Sexual abuse, which involves any form of sexual contact or behavior with a child, comprises 10.6% of reported child maltreatment cases. This abuse deeply impacts the child’s safety and well-being.
Psychological maltreatment refers to emotional harm like threats, humiliation, or other damaging actions that negatively affect a child’s mental health. It accounts for 6.8% of maltreatment cases.
In 2024, 1,990 children lost their lives due to abuse or neglect, representing a national fatality rate of 2.73 per 100,000 children. These deaths are the most devastating outcome of child maltreatment and highlight the urgent need for stronger prevention efforts.
The youngest children are at the greatest risk—infants under 1 year old made up 44.7% of all child fatalities. Their complete dependence on caregivers and inability to seek help make them especially vulnerable to fatal harm.
Fatality rates vary across groups. Boys have a higher rate (3.26) than girls (2.25), and Black or African-American children have the highest fatality rate at 6.37 per 100,000, far exceeding that of White and Hispanic children.
Child maltreatment is not only a serious issue for the children involved but also a heavy financial burden on society. A recent study has updated previous estimates to give us a clearer picture of how much child abuse costs the U.S. each year. Let’s break down the statistics to understand the scale of this problem.
A recent updated study has adopted new and more comprehensive methods to estimate the economic toll of child maltreatment in the U.S. It includes the Value of Life, which puts a monetary figure on the tragic loss of life due to abuse. Additionally, the Quality of Life metric assesses the long-term mental, physical, and emotional damage suffered by children who survive abuse but are left with lifelong consequences.
The analysis used updated numbers to estimate how many children are affected each year. These figures reflect both substantiated cases (confirmed by child protective services) and investigated cases (including unconfirmed). These new data points provide a more accurate and alarming picture of the nationwide burden of abuse.
The lifetime cost per child who survives maltreatment has surged from $210,000 to $830,000. This figure includes medical costs, lost productivity, criminal justice expenses, child welfare services, and the intangible costs of pain and suffering. The increase reflects a deeper understanding of the long-lasting damage abuse causes throughout a person's life.
The estimated cost for a child who dies due to abuse has risen from $1.3 million to $16.6 million. This dramatic increase stems from the use of improved methods that account for the full value of a life lost — not just earnings, but societal contributions, future potential, and emotional cost to families and communities.
While the annual economic burden of confirmed cases is already high at $428 billion, the cost skyrockets to $2 trillion when all investigated cases are considered. This highlights how widespread the problem is and how deeply it affects the nation’s economy, healthcare, education systems, and social fabric.
In 2024, Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) across the United States served 372,613 children, providing a comprehensive view of the current landscape of child abuse and neglect. These centers play a crucial role in delivering coordinated support services—such as forensic interviews, medical exams, therapy, and case management—to children who have experienced various forms of maltreatment. The data collected by CACs offers valuable insights into who is most affected, helping professionals and policymakers tailor prevention and intervention strategies. Trends in demographics, types of abuse, and referral sources highlight systemic gaps and allow for more targeted resource allocation to protect vulnerable children and support their long-term healing.
Children of all ages were impacted, but the highest number of cases involved older youth. Here’s the age-wise breakdown:
🔹 0–5 years: 102,368 children
🔹 6–10 years: 133,884 children
🔹 11–17 years: 193,239 children
Girls continue to be disproportionately represented in abuse reports—especially in sexual abuse cases, which remain the most frequently reported form of maltreatment.
🔹 White, Non-Latino: 144,585
🔹 Black/African American: 69,570
🔹 Hispanic/Latino: 66,437
🔹 American Indian/Alaska Native: 7,909
🔹 Multiple Racial Identities: 14,844
🔹 Race Not Reported/Tracked: 61,948
More than half of all abuse cases involved someone closely related or familiar to the child. Parents were the most frequent offenders, underscoring the deeply personal and often hidden nature of child abuse.
🔹 Parent: 122,747
🔹 Other relatives: 62,417
🔹 Parent’s partner (boyfriend/girlfriend): 18,459
🔹 Other known person: 71,185
🔹 Unknown: 35,591
Children under 11 made up nearly 64% of abuse victims, highlighting the increased vulnerability of younger children—especially those aged 0–5—due to their dependency and limited ability to speak up or seek help.
🔹 Female: 235,940 (63%)
🔹 Male: 134,165 (36%)
🔹 Undisclosed/Declined: 2,508
While White children made up the largest share, Black and Hispanic children were still significantly represented—pointing to systemic disparities in both the risk of abuse and how cases are reported or addressed.
🔹 Sexual abuse: 229,036
🔹 Physical abuse: 89,687
🔹 Neglect: 35,343
🔹 Witness to violence: 27,874
🔹 Drug endangerment: 14,922
Sexual abuse remains the most commonly reported form, accounting for over 60% of all cases handled by CACs in 2024.
These statistics make one thing clear: younger children, girls, and those in vulnerable family or racial groups are more frequently impacted by abuse. Understanding these patterns is critical to building stronger protection, prevention, and response systems.
Source: 2024 Annual CAC Service Statistics – National Children’s Alliance
In 2024, 372,613 children received support from Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) across the U.S. These centers provide a safe, child-focused environment where young survivors can begin their healing journey through trauma-informed services, such as counseling, medical exams, and advocacy. With early intervention and the right support, many children can recover and thrive after abuse. CACs play a vital role in helping kids rebuild trust, strengthen emotional resilience, and develop coping skills that support long-term well-being. Healing is possible—with safety, stability, and consistent care.
258,735 children underwent onsite forensic interviews, a critical first step in ensuring safety and justice
Awareness campaigns reached over 90 million impressions, helping break the silence and stigma
These numbers prove that recovery is real. With access to therapy, safe spaces, medical care, and strong community response, children can begin to heal emotionally, physically, and mentally—often going on to lead healthy, thriving lives.
Source: 2024 Annual CAC Service Statistics – National Children’s Alliance
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – About Child Sexual Abuse
Council of Europe – Child Sexual Abuse Protection Measures
National Library of Medicine – Child Abuse and Neglect Overview
National Children’s Alliance – Children’s Advocacy Centers Statistics
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) – Child Maltreatment Report 2022
Source: All statistics are from the Child Maltreatment Report 2022 (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau)
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