Children all around the world are  suffering from hidden 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.

General Statistics

• About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.
• A report of child abuse is made every thirteen seconds.
• Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.
• It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.
• 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way.
• Child abuse occurs across every ethnic and cultural line, and within all religions and at all levels of education.
• 31% percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children.
• Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child.
• About 80% of 21 year old that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.
• The estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2007 is $104 billion.
• 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.
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Child Abuse & Criminal Behavior

• 14% of all men in prison in the U.S. were abused as children
• 36% of all women in prison were abused as children
• 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.
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Child Abuse Consequences

• 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
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Child Abuse & Substance Abuse

• Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely to abuse alcohol 
• 3.8 times more likely develop drug addictions
• Nearly two-thirds of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children
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Source:
Stewart, Chandra. "National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse | Childhelp. Web. 02 Apr. 2011.
http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics.