Facts and statistics

Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children.  In 2007, approximately 5.8 million children were involved in an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations.

  • Number of Child Deaths Per DayFour children die in this country every day from child abuse and neglect
  • Every six minutes, in the USA, a child is sexually abused
  • 90% of the time, a child is sexually abused by someone he or she knows, not a stranger
  • Nationally, child sexual abuse costs taxpayers an estimated $24.4 billion a year for health care, social services and law enforcement
  • National studies show that communities without a Child Advocacy Site spend 30% more money to deliver the same services
  • One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday
  • A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds
  • It is estimated that 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates
  • McMahon/Ryan has helped over 3,000 local children-more than 400 every year

Sexual Abuse Stats from Rainn.org

  • 15% of all rape victims are under the age of 12
    • 29% are ages 12-17
    • 44% are under age 18
  • Girls age 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault
  • 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker
    • 34.2% of their attackers were family members
    • 58.7% were acquaintances
  • Only 7% of the perpetrators were strangers to the victim