Recent Statistics Child abuse and neglect is a devastating and costly social problem. In the United States, more children are reported to have sustained abuse and neglect than in any other industrialized nation. Moreover, the US spends more money than other countries to combat this problem. The number of reports of abuse and neglect have risen dramatically over the past decade.
Girls are as likely as boys to suffer from child abuse and neglect.
Children ages five and younger represent 40 percent of the maltreatment cases. Sadly, children are more likely to victimized by their parents than by other adults. According to a recent report published by the Child Welfare League of America, child abuse and neglect reporting in the states mirrors the national trend. To get an accurate portrayal of child abuse and neglect in this country, more uniformity in reporting, investigating and validating is needed. A Look at the States.