Characteristics of fatality victims of child maltreatment, 2022

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

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Child Maltreatment

Q:	What are the characteristics of fatality victims of child maltreatment?
A:	In 2022, 45% of all child fatality victims were under the age of one, the majority (60%) were male, and 37% were white.

Estimated number of fatality victims	1,990
Fatality Rate*	2.7
Age
Under 1	45%
1	13%
2	9%
3	6%
4 to 7	12%
8 to 11	6%
12 to 17	9%
Unknown and ages 18-21	0.2%
Gender
Male	60%
Female	40%
Race/ethnicity
White	37%
Black	35%
Hispanic	14%
Asian/Pacific Islander	1%
American Indian/Alaskan Native	1%
Multiple race	7%
Unknown	6%
Reported maltreatment types of child fatalities**
Neglect	76%
Physical Abuse	42%
Medical Neglect	8%
Psychological Maltreatment	2%
Sexual Abuse	1%
Other	1%
Child fatalities by relationship***
Parent	82%
Mother Only	30%
Two Parents of Known Sex	23%
Father Only	15%
Mother and Nonparent	10%
Two Parents of Known Sex and Nonparent	2%
Father and Nonparent	1%
One or More Parents of Unknown Sex	<0.5%
Three Parents of Known Sex	<0.5%
Relative	5%
Unmarried partner of parent	1%
Other nonparent	6%
Professional	2%
Unknown	5%

Notes: Demographic and relationship information is based on sample data reported by a varying number of states. Because the national estimate of child fatalities is influenced by which states report, even small fluctuations in the data can affect the national estimate and the national rate.
*Rate is per 100,000 children under 18 in the U.S. population.
**A child can be the the victim of more than 1 maltreatment type.
***Professional includes adults who care for children as part of their employment duties, such as child daycare providers, foster parents (non-relative), and group home staff, as well as other professionals. Other nonparent includes friends and neighbors, legal guardians, and other.

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Infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 3) accounted for 72% of child fatalities in 2022.
Eight in ten (82%) child fatalities in 2022 were caused by one or more parents; 30% were perpetrated by the mother acting alone.
About three-fourths (76%) of fatalities in 2022 were the result of neglect.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/victims/qa02109.asp?qaDate=2022. Released on April 18, 2024.

Data Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. Child Maltreatment 2022. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.