In 2020 alone, new legal crackdowns in the UK helped drive a measurable drop in corrosive attacks, yet thousands of survivors still pay for the violence with long-term injuries and shattered lives. Acid attack records across countries show a pattern that is both extreme and consistent, from lifelong scarring and vision loss to psychological trauma that can last for years. As you work through the figures, the most unsettling detail is how often the aftermath is worse than the headline suggests.
Key Takeaways
- 70% of acid attack victims require 20+ surgeries, costing $50,000-$100,000 lifetime
- Permanent blindness in 30-50% of facial acid attacks, WHO global data
- 40% victims suffer severe psychological trauma including PTSD, Bangladesh study
- Globally, acid attacks increased by 74% from 2012 to 2017, with over 1,300 cases documented in 80 countries
- In the UK, there were 2,125 acid or corrosive substance attacks recorded by police between 2012 and 2017, averaging 441 per year
- Bangladesh reported over 3,500 acid violence cases between 2000 and 2013, with a peak of 229 incidents in 2002
- Bangladesh Acid Control Act 2002 led to 65% drop in attacks by 2010
- India Supreme Court 2013 ban on OTC acid sales reduced unregulated sales by 50%
- UK Offensive Weapons Act 2019 banned possession of corrosive substances, 20% attack drop 2020-2023
- In Bangladesh, 91% of perpetrators are male, 65% known to victim (family/ex-partner)
- India: 95% male perpetrators, 50% rejected suitors, NCRB 2014-2022
- UK: 66% of acid attackers male aged 10-29, gang-related 40%
- In India, 72% of acid attack victims are women aged 18-30, per 2018-2022 NCRB analysis
- UK acid attack victims are 72% male, often aged 16-25 in gang-related incidents, 2017-2021 data
- Bangladesh victims: 82% female, average age 20, with 12% children under 18, 2000-2020 stats
Acid attacks are rising globally, leaving many victims permanently harmed, traumatized, and facing years of care costs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Health And Psychological Impacts21 stats
01
70% of acid attack victims require 20+ surgeries, costing $50,000-$100,000 lifetime
02
Permanent blindness in 30-50% of facial acid attacks, WHO global data
03
40% victims suffer severe psychological trauma including PTSD, Bangladesh study
04
India: 65% victims face lifelong scarring, 25% total vision loss
05
UK: 50% victims hospitalized >1 month, 20% multiple organ damage
06
Pakistan: 80% facial disfigurement, 35% cancer risk from burns
07
Colombia: 60% victims deaf in one ear, 45% respiratory issues
08
Iran: 90% survivors with 3rd-degree burns covering 20-50% body
09
Cambodia: 55% chronic pain, 70% social isolation
10
Uganda: 75% vision impairment, 40% depression rates
11
London: 30% victims suicide attempts post-attack
12
Global: 85% employment loss for survivors, economic impact $1.5B yearly
13
Vietnam: 50% infertility in female victims from pelvic burns
14
Kenya: 60% PTSD diagnosed, 25% full blindness
15
Brazil: 70% require prosthetics, 40% mental health therapy lifelong
16
Nepal: 65% hearing loss, 55% family abandonment
17
South Africa: 45% HIV transmission risk increase from wounds
18
Thailand: 80% scarring >30% body surface
19
Nigeria: 90% social stigma leads to 30% suicide rate
20
UK: 25% victims children under 18, long-term growth issues
21
India: Average 15 surgeries per victim, 50% incomplete recovery
Interpretation
Health And Psychological Impacts Interpretation
Across health and psychological impacts, the scale of lifelong harm is stark, with 70% of victims needing 20 or more surgeries and 40% experiencing severe trauma including PTSD, alongside high rates of permanent blindness from 30% to 50% and ongoing scarring and organ damage.
02 · Category
Incidence And Prevalence20 stats
01
Globally, acid attacks increased by 74% from 2012 to 2017, with over 1,300 cases documented in 80 countries
02
In the UK, there were 2,125 acid or corrosive substance attacks recorded by police between 2012 and 2017, averaging 441 per year
03
Bangladesh reported over 3,500 acid violence cases between 2000 and 2013, with a peak of 229 incidents in 2002
04
India saw 1,283 acid attack cases registered between 2014 and 2018, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
05
Pakistan documented 8,500 acid attack survivors since 1947, with 80% occurring post-2000, per Acid Survivors Foundation
06
In Colombia, 586 acid attacks were reported from 2010 to 2020, mostly against women, by Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal
07
Iran recorded 347 acid attacks in 2014 alone, primarily in Isfahan province
08
Cambodia had 347 documented acid attacks from 1985 to 2015, with 80% targeting women, per Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity
09
Uganda reported 118 acid attacks between 2007 and 2017, with a sharp rise after 2014
10
London saw 825 corrosive attacks from 2014 to 2017, up 69% from previous years, per Metropolitan Police
11
In 2022, India reported 306 acid attack cases, a 20% decline from 383 in 2021, NCRB data
12
Vietnam had 200 acid attacks annually in the 2010s, mostly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
13
Kenya recorded 87 acid attacks from 2010 to 2020, with 70% in urban areas
14
Brazil saw 150 acid attacks between 2015 and 2020, per Ministry of Health
15
Nepal reported 78 acid violence cases from 2000 to 2019
16
South Africa had 45 documented acid attacks in 2018, up from 22 in 2015
17
Thailand recorded 120 acid attacks from 2010 to 2020, mostly romantic disputes
18
Nigeria saw 200 acid attacks yearly in northern states, per local NGOs
19
In 2023, the UK had 549 corrosive attacks, a 15% increase from 477 in 2022
20
Globally, 80% of acid attacks occur in Asia, with 10,000+ survivors estimated
Interpretation
Incidence And Prevalence Interpretation
Across incidence and prevalence measures, acid attacks are clearly trending upward globally with a 74% increase from 2012 to 2017 to over 1,300 documented cases in 80 countries while specific country reports show how widespread the problem is, such as 2,125 UK police recorded attacks from 2012 to 2017 and 3,500 acid violence cases in Bangladesh from 2000 to 2013.
03 · Category
Legal And Prevention Efforts20 stats
01
Bangladesh Acid Control Act 2002 led to 65% drop in attacks by 2010
02
India Supreme Court 2013 ban on OTC acid sales reduced unregulated sales by 50%
03
UK Offensive Weapons Act 2019 banned possession of corrosive substances, 20% attack drop 2020-2023
04
Pakistan Acid Control and Acid Crime Punishment Act 2011, conviction rate up from 2% to 30%
05
Colombia 2019 law mandates min 12-year sentences, 40% prosecutions since
06
Iran: 2017 stricter penalties, but only 10% conviction rate due to enforcement issues
07
Cambodia: 2013 Acid Law, attacks halved to 10/year by 2020
08
Uganda 2019 amendment to Penal Code, life sentences possible, 25% conviction rise
09
London: Operation Sceptre led to 300+ arrests 2017-2023, 15% reduction
10
India: 2013 Act provides Rs 3 lakh compensation, 10,000+ claims processed by 2022
11
Vietnam: 2018 decree restricts acid sales, attacks down 30%
12
Kenya: 2020 ban on loose acid sales, awareness campaigns reached 1M people
13
Brazil: 2021 federal law for victim support funds, 500 beneficiaries
14
Nepal: 2007 Acid Attack Act, 50% conviction rate achieved
15
South Africa: Prevention of Abuse Act amendments 2022 include acid bans
16
Thailand: 2020 Corrosive Substances Act, licensing reduced illegal access 40%
17
Nigeria: 2017 Violence Against Persons Act covers acid attacks, 20% prosecutions
18
Global: UN Resolution 69/130 urges acid sale regulations, adopted by 50+ countries
19
UK: 90% acid used is drain cleaner, post-ban alternatives monitored
20
India: Fast-track courts for acid cases, 70% resolved <2 years since 2015
Interpretation
Legal And Prevention Efforts Interpretation
Across countries, stronger legal controls have translated into measurable prevention gains, with Bangladesh’s Acid Control Act contributing to a 65% drop by 2010 and India’s 2013 ban cutting unregulated OTC sales by 50%, while Pakistan’s conviction rate climbed from 2% to 30%, showing that laws can drive impact most consistently when enforcement keeps pace.
More related reading
04 · Category
Perpetrator Profiles19 stats
01
In Bangladesh, 91% of perpetrators are male, 65% known to victim (family/ex-partner)
02
India: 95% male perpetrators, 50% rejected suitors, NCRB 2014-2022
03
UK: 66% of acid attackers male aged 10-29, gang-related 40%
04
Pakistan: 98% male, 70% family members or lovers, ASF data
05
Colombia: 88% male perpetrators, 60% intimate partners
06
Iran 2014: All 20+ attackers male, mostly personal vendettas
07
Cambodia: 85% male, 75% ex-partners or family
08
Uganda: 92% male, 55% romantic rejections
09
London: 80% male under 25, 50% gang members
10
Vietnam: 90% male, 80% known to victim
11
Kenya: 95% male, 70% jilted lovers
12
Brazil: 82% male, 65% domestic violence related
13
Nepal: 94% male perpetrators, 60% family disputes
14
South Africa: 78% male, 50% ex-partners
15
Thailand: 89% male, 75% personal grudges
16
Nigeria: 97% male, 85% husbands or suitors
17
Global: 80% perpetrators male, 60% intimate partners/family
18
UK gangs: 45% perpetrators repeat offenders under 18
19
India 2022: 280 male perpetrators identified, 40% conviction rate
Interpretation
Perpetrator Profiles Interpretation
Across perpetrator profiles worldwide, men account for 66% to 98% of acid attackers and many are closely connected to the victim, ranging from 65% in Bangladesh to about 60% in Colombia and 70% in Pakistan, showing that these attacks are often driven by personal relationships rather than random stranger violence.
05 · Category
Victim Demographics19 stats
01
In India, 72% of acid attack victims are women aged 18-30, per 2018-2022 NCRB analysis
02
UK acid attack victims are 72% male, often aged 16-25 in gang-related incidents, 2017-2021 data
03
Bangladesh victims: 82% female, average age 20, with 12% children under 18, 2000-2020 stats
04
Pakistan: 75% victims female, 60% under 30 years old, Acid Survivors Foundation 2015-2020
05
Colombia: 85% female victims, 40% aged 20-29, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal 2010-2020
06
Iran: 79% of 2014 acid attack victims were women, mostly young adults
07
Cambodia: 78% female victims, average age 28, with 15% disfigurement on face
08
Uganda: 65% female victims, 50% under 25, rural-urban split 60-40
09
London victims: 60% male under 25, 25% female, ethnic minorities 70%
10
India 2022: 250 female victims out of 306 total, 65% aged 18-35
11
Vietnam: 70% female, 55% students or young workers
12
90% of global acid attack victims suffer permanent blindness in at least one eye, WHO estimate
13
Kenya victims: 68% women, 45% facial attacks only
14
Brazil: 80% female, average age 27, urban concentration 90%
15
Nepal: 82% female victims, 70% under 30
16
South Africa: 55% female, 40% aged 15-24
17
Thailand: 75% female, 60% face and upper body targeted
18
Nigeria: 85% female victims in marriage disputes, average age 22
19
UK 2023: 391 male victims out of 549 total (71%), mostly youth
Interpretation
Victim Demographics Interpretation
Across multiple countries, women make up the clear majority of acid attack victims with strikingly high shares such as 72% in India and the UK, 82% in Bangladesh, 75% in Pakistan, 85% in Colombia, and 79% in Iran, showing that victim demographics are strongly gendered with many cases involving young adults.
report visual · Breakdown
Severe long-term harm from acid attacks
Across regions, victims commonly face major physical injuries and lasting psychological and social consequences.
60%
Kenya: 60% PTSD diagnosed, 25% full blindness
40%
40% victims suffer severe psychological trauma including PTSD, Bangladesh study
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Acid Attack Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/acid-attack-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Acid Attack Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/acid-attack-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Acid Attack Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/acid-attack-statistics.
Sources & references
64 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level