Bullying can affect anyone, anywhere – at school, work, home, or within the community. According to UNICEF, it’s marked by three key traits: intent, repetition, and power imbalance. Bullies intentionally cause pain, whether through physical actions, hurtful words, or behavior, and they do this repeatedly. Boys often face more physical bullying, while girls are more likely to experience emotional bullying.
Bullying is a repeated behavior, not just a one-time event. It usually involves a power difference, with the bully often being stronger, bigger, or more popular. Bullying can occur both in person and online. Cyberbullying typically happens through social media, SMS/text messages, instant messaging, email, or any online platform where children interact.
Children most at risk are often the most vulnerable, such as those from marginalized communities, low-income families, different gender identities, children with disabilities, or those who are migrants or refugees.
Here are some important bullying statistics that show just how much this issue affects our youth.
Bullying
19.2% of students report being bullied on school property. This report shares findings on bullying in U.S. public and private schools based on the 2022 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (1)
16.7% of males and 21.8% of females reported experiencing bullying, highlighting a gender disparity. This report gives national estimates of how often students ages 12–18 in grades 6–12 experience bullying at school. (1)
Among bullied students, 11.9% were made fun of, called names, and insulted, 13% were rumored about, 4.9% were physically pushed or tripped, and 3.7% were excluded. (1)
Bullied students reported that bullying occurred in the following places. (1)
44.2% of bullied students report notifying an adult at school about the incident. (1)
Across twelve studies, about 30% of the teens surveyed have reported experiencing cyberbullying at some point in their lives. Around 13% of teens reported being cyberbullied in the 30 days before the survey. (2)
One in five (20.9%) tweens aged 9-12 have been cyberbullied, bullied others, or witnessed cyberbullying. Six percent of tweens have been cyberbullied multiple times, and another 8.5% experienced it once or twice. Only a small number, 3.2%, admitted to cyberbullying others. (3)
Approximately 50% of 9- to 12-year-olds reported being bullied at school, while 14.5% reported being bullied online. Interestingly, 5% of students reported being bullied, but not at school or online. This highlights that bullying can occur in various places and contexts beyond just school and the internet. (3)
Thirteen percent of tweens experienced bullying both online and at school, while only 1% were solely bullied online. In other words, 93% of those who faced cyberbullying also faced bullying at school, and 26% of those bullied at school also experienced bullying online. (3)
Effects of Bullying Statistics
Bullied students report that bullying negatively impacts their self-esteem (27.8%), relationships with friends and family (18.5%), school performance (19.7%), and physical health (13.4%). Recent research indicates that children or teenagers who are bullied are twice as likely to need mental health services as adults. (1)
In the current study, 69.1% of tweens who were cyberbullied reported that it negatively affected their feelings about themselves. Almost one-third (31.9%) mentioned that cyberbullying affected their friendships. Additionally, 13.1% said it impacted their physical health, and 6.5% reported it influenced their schoolwork. (3)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), students who are bullied are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, sleep problems, lower grades, and may even drop out of school. The effects of bullying extend to individuals, families, schools, and society as a whole. It can make young people feel powerless, intimidated, and humiliated due to the aggressive actions of others. (4)
Cyberbullying Statistics
Among bullied students aged 12-18, 21.6% faced bullying online or through text messages. Text bullying involves sending mean, embarrassing, false, or hurtful messages to or about someone through cell phone text messaging. This can also include sexting, which is sending sexually suggestive messages to or about someone. (1)
In 2023, 55% of students reported lifetime cyberbullying, with 27% experiencing it in the past 30 days. The most commonly reported forms of cyberbullying include mean or hurtful comments posted online, exclusion from group chats, spreading rumors online, and someone embarrassing or humiliating them online. (5)
Adolescent girls are more likely to have experienced cyberbullying in their lifetimes compared to boys (59.2% vs. 49.5%). (5)
Facts About Bullying
35% of U.S. parents with kids under 18 are very worried about bullying; 39% are somewhat worried. (6)
About 53% of U.S. teens see online bullying as a major problem, 40% as a minor issue, and 6% as not a problem. Black and Hispanic teens, teens from lower-income households, and teen girls are more likely than others to see online harassment as a major problem. (7)
21% of Black teens report being targeted online due to their race or ethnicity, compared to 11% of Hispanic teens and 4% of White teens. Hispanic teens are the most likely to report being constantly asked about their whereabouts, activities, or companions by someone other than a parent. White teens are more likely than Black teens to say they’ve been targeted by false rumors. (7)
One-third of the world’s youth faces bullying, with rates ranging from 7% in Tajikistan to 74% in Samoa. Boys generally experience slightly higher rates of bullying in school compared to girls. However, in countries where bullying is most widespread, girls are more vulnerable. (8)
Around 160,000 teens skip school daily due to bullying. Bullying can severely harm a child’s well-being. It can negatively impact their mental health, lead to substance abuse, and increase the risk of suicide. (9)
More than 3.2 million students experience bullying each year. 70.6 percent of young people report having witnessed bullying in school. (9)
Among college undergraduates, 18.5% reported occasional bullying, and 22% reported being victims of cyberbullying. 38% of students believe that their school, college, or university does not take bullying seriously. (10)
35% of employees report experiencing bullying in the workplace. Thirty percent of Americans have experienced workplace abuse, while another 19% have witnessed it. In total, 49% are affected by workplace bullying, and 66% are aware that it happens. (11)
56% of LGBTQ students have been cyberbullied in their lifetime, compared to 32% of non-LGBTQ students. Over 87% of LGBTQ students have been bullied at school at some point in their lives, compared to 72% of non-LGBTQ students. (12)
Final Thought
Bullying behaviors can deeply impact high school students, affecting their mental health and academic performance. It’s essential to recognize that bullying can happen anywhere—on school grounds, in the school building, or even on the school bus. Justice statistics reveal that both male and female students, including Hispanic and Asian students, are vulnerable. Over the school year, many witness bullying but feel powerless to intervene.
To create a safer environment, we must prioritize bullying prevention. Understanding the school characteristics that contribute to bullying can help us develop effective strategies. By fostering a supportive atmosphere, we can ensure that all students feel safe and valued. Together, we can make a difference and put an end to bullying.
References
- NCES – Student Reports of Bullying: Results From the 2022 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey
- Cyberbullying Research Center: Cyberbullying Facts
- CN Stop Bullying Cyber Bullying Report
- CDC: BULLYING SURVEILLANCE AMONG YOUTHS
- Cyberbullying Research Center: 2023 Cyberbullying Data
- Pew Research Center: Parenting in America Today
- Pew Research Center: Teens and Cyberbullying 2022
- UNESCO: New SDG 4 Data on Bullying
- WOC: CHILDREN WHO ARE PERCEIVED AS DIFFERENT ARE OFTEN THE TARGET OF BULLYING
- University of St. Thomas Police Department: Bullying
- CMC: Uncovering The Truth: Bullying In The Workplace Statistics
- Cyberbullying Research Center: Bullying, Cyberbullying, and LGBTQ Students
