Every number represents a child.
Every number represents a child.
Child abuse and neglect remain serious problems in communities across America, including military families. Understanding the scope of the problem is an important part of prevention, intervention and protecting children.
The statistics below are based on recent government data and are identified by year so you know exactly what the numbers represent.
Child abuse and neglect in America
- 1,868 children died from abuse or neglect in the United States in 2024.
- 77.6% of child maltreatment fatalities among reporting states involved neglect.
- 39.9% involved physical abuse. A child may experience more than one form of maltreatment.
Young children remain especially vulnerable to abuse and neglect because of their age, dependence on caregivers and limited ability to protect themselves or seek help.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Child Maltreatment 2024.
Child abuse and neglect in Texas
- 53,543 children were confirmed victims of child abuse or neglect in Texas in FY2024.
- In FY2025, 124 Texas children died as a result of confirmed abuse or neglect.
Of those deaths:
- 73.4% were children age 3 or younger.
- 55.6% resulted from neglect.
- 44.4% resulted from abuse.
Texas also recorded 64 confirmed abuse or neglect near-fatalities during FY2025.
Substance use continues to be an important risk factor. In 70.2% of confirmed child maltreatment fatalities, a parent or caregiver was actively using a substance or under the influence of at least one substance that affected their ability to care for the child.
Active domestic violence was identified in 41 families involving confirmed child abuse or neglect fatalities.
41% of fatalities involved a parent or caregiver who reported active mental-health concerns.
Source: Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, FY2024 agency data and Child Maltreatment Fatalities and Near Fatalities Annual Report, FY2025.
Child abuse and military families
Child abuse does not stop at the gates of a military installation.
In FY2023, the Department of Defense recorded 26,978 reports of domestic and child abuse incidents.
Of those incidents, 14,110 met the Department of Defense definition of abuse.
Military families can face circumstances that differ from those experienced by many civilian families, including deployments, frequent relocations, separation from extended family and other demands associated with military life.
Recognizing abuse, improving reporting, strengthening coordination between military and civilian agencies, and ensuring children receive appropriate services remain critical parts of protecting military-connected children.
The Department of Defense and individual military services have continued efforts to improve coordination among Family Advocacy Programs, military law enforcement and civilian child-protection organizations.
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, Domestic and Child Abuse: DOD Needs to Clarify Guidance on Incident Determination Committee Notifications, GAO-24-106985.
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