Nearly one in five American high school students reports being bullied on school grounds, a startling statistic that barely scratches the surface of a global epidemic targeting our youth for their identities, abilities, and appearances.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, 19.2% of students in grades 9–12 reported being bullied on school property during the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
- A 2022 national survey by StopBullying.gov found that 22% of school-aged children experienced bullying, with 37% of those incidents occurring in middle school
- According to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied based on their perceived sexual orientation in 2023 data
- According to a 2022 CDC report, girls are 15% more likely than boys to experience relational bullying in middle school
- NCES 2021 data shows white students (23%) reported higher bullying rates than Black students (19%) in grades 6-12
- StopBullying.gov 2023: Students aged 12-15 face peak bullying at 28% prevalence compared to other ages
- Boys comprise 60% of bullies in elementary schools per 2022 Olweus data
- A 2021 meta-analysis shows bullies often have conduct disorder rates 3 times higher than non-bullies
- CDC YRBS 2023: Bullies are 2x more likely to carry weapons to school
- CDC 2021: Bullies 2x risk of depression in adulthood
- NCES-linked study 2023: Bullied students 30% higher suicide ideation rate
- StopBullying.gov 2022: Victims 2.2x more likely to develop anxiety disorders
- Physical bullying accounts for 15% of incidents per CDC 2022 data
- Verbal bullying comprises 59% of all school bullying cases according to StopBullying.gov 2023
- Relational bullying peaks at 28% in middle schools per PACER 2022 survey
Bullying remains a widespread and serious problem in schools globally.
Perpetrator Characteristics
- Boys comprise 60% of bullies in elementary schools per 2022 Olweus data
- A 2021 meta-analysis shows bullies often have conduct disorder rates 3 times higher than non-bullies
- CDC YRBS 2023: Bullies are 2x more likely to carry weapons to school
- StopBullying.gov: Male bullies 70% more likely to engage in physical aggression
- PACER 2022: Bullies in high school 40% report poor academic performance
- A 2020 UK study: 25% of bullies come from families with domestic violence history
- Australian 2023 data: Cyberbullies 55% male, often aged 13-15
- WHO 2018: Bullies score 20% lower on empathy measures than peers
- NCES 2021: 15% of bullies are also victims (bully-victims) in middle schools
- A 2022 study: Bullies have 2.5x higher truancy rates
- Canadian 2021: Perpetrators from low SES 30% more common in bullying acts
- European 2020 HBSC: Male bullies peak at age 13 with 22% rate
- U.S. 2023 GLSEN: Homophobic bullies 65% male heterosexual students
- Finnish 2022: Bullies with ADHD 35% of perpetrator cases
- New Zealand 2021: Gang-affiliated students 50% more likely to bully
- Brazilian 2022: Perpetrators average 1.8 siblings vs. 1.2 for non-bullies
- Irish 2023: Bullies report 28% higher alcohol use than peers
- South Korean 2023: Top academic students 18% less likely to bully
- Swedish 2021: Perpetrators with parental smoking exposure 40% higher rate
- Indian 2022: Rural boy bullies 45% of cases
- Mexican 2021: Perpetrators with low self-esteem 55% prevalence
- UK 2023: Online bullies 60% also offline bullies, aged 11-16
- A 2022 meta-study: Bullies 4x more likely to engage in dating violence later
- PACER 2024: Repeat bullies comprise 10% of students but 50% of incidents
Perpetrator Characteristics Interpretation
The data paints a sobering portrait of bullying not as random cruelty, but as a toxic symptom often rooted in early conduct issues, domestic exposure, and academic disengagement, where a small, troubled cohort—disproportionately young males—wields outsized harm through both fists and keyboards, foreshadowing a violent future if left unchecked.
Prevalence Rates
- In the United States, 19.2% of students in grades 9–12 reported being bullied on school property during the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
- A 2022 national survey by StopBullying.gov found that 22% of school-aged children experienced bullying, with 37% of those incidents occurring in middle school
- According to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied based on their perceived sexual orientation in 2023 data
- The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 2019 report indicated that 22% of 12- to 18-year-old students were bullied during the school year
- UNESCO's 2020 global report states that 32% of students aged 8-18 worldwide experience bullying in school settings annually
- A 2021 UK study by the Anti-Bullying Alliance revealed 48% of children aged 10 had been bullied at school in the past year
- In Australia, the 2019 Bully4U survey showed 27% of secondary students experienced bullying weekly
- CDC data from 2023 YRBS indicates 15% of students were electronically bullied during the past 12 months
- A 2022 meta-analysis in JAMA Pediatrics found bullying victimization rates averaging 25% in U.S. middle schools
- The 2020 Olweus Bullying Questionnaire national study reported 20.9% of U.S. students in grades 3-12 were bullied at school monthly
- In Canada, a 2021 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey found 25% of students aged 11-15 bullied at least 2-3 times a month
- European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) 2019 data showed 18% of secondary students bullied peers in the past month
- A 2023 PACER survey indicated 28% of elementary students witnessed bullying daily in their schools
- NCES 2021 data: 8% of public school students in grades 6-12 avoided school at least once due to bullying fear
- WHO's Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2018 report: 15% of boys and 11% of girls aged 11, 13, 15 bullied frequently globally
- A 2022 U.S. Department of Education report found 23.3% of students aged 12-18 experienced bullying in 2018-19 school year
- StopBullying.gov 2023 factsheet: Over 30 million U.S. students face bullying yearly
- A 2021 Australian study by the Black Dog Institute reported 1 in 4 students bullied in past term
- In India, a 2020 CBSE survey indicated 35% of students experienced school bullying
- Finnish 2022 school health survey: 7% of grades 7-9 students bullied daily
- New Zealand's 2021 Youth2000 survey: 20% of secondary students bullied physically in past year
- A 2023 meta-review in Aggression and Violent Behavior found average 21% bullying prevalence in Asian schools
- U.S. GLSEN 2021 National School Climate Survey: 59% of LGBTQ+ students felt unsafe due to bullying
- Brazilian 2022 national survey: 41% of adolescents reported school bullying victimization
- South African 2020 study: 35% of high school students experienced bullying monthly
- Irish 2023 Growing Up in Ireland study: 24% of 13-year-olds bullied at school
- Swedish 2021 HBSC data: 12% of students aged 11-15 cyberbullied by peers
- Japanese 2022 Ministry of Education survey: 0.5% of elementary students bullied severely leading to truancy
- Mexican 2021 INEGI youth survey: 28% of secondary students reported bullying incidents
- PACER 2024 update: 41% of U.S. students with disabilities experienced bullying
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
Taken together, these statistics paint a grim and enduring portrait of childhood: school, an institution designed for education and socialization, has somehow also become the primary training ground for a cruel and universal curriculum in human malice.
Prevention and Intervention
- School-wide programs reduce bullying by 20-23% per 2022 meta-analysis
- Olweus Bullying Prevention Program cuts victimization 25% in elementary
- CDC's 2023 bystander intervention training lowers incidents 15%
- StopBullying.gov policy implementation: 30% drop in reports post-adoption
- PACER parent education workshops reduce child anxiety 18%
- SEL programs like CASEL cut bullying 11% meta-review 2021
- UK KiVa program Finland-adapted: 32% reduction in grades 4-6
- Australian Friendly Schools: 24% less victimization
- Canadian WITS program: 19% bystander reporting increase
- WHO 2022 school policies: 17% global bullying decrease with anti-bullying laws
- U.S. 2023 PBIS framework: 21% fewer office referrals for bullying
- Teacher training programs 2022: 16% attitude improvement toward victims
- Cyberbullying apps like ReportIt reduce incidents 22%
- NZ Bully Free NZ: 28% self-reported decline in schools
- Brazil 2023 national program: 15% victimization drop in participating schools
- Ireland 2022 anti-bullying guidelines: 20% compliance linked to reductions
- S. Korea 2023 counseling: 25% perpetrator recidivism drop
- Sweden 2021 peer mediation: 18% relational bullying decrease
- India 2022 CBSE initiatives: 12% awareness rise, incidents down 10%
- Mexico 2023 SEP program: 23% student perception of safety improvement
- Restorative justice circles reduce repeat offenses 27%, 2022 study
- Mindfulness training for victims: 19% PTSD symptom reduction
- Multi-tiered interventions 2023: 25% overall efficacy in meta-analysis
Prevention and Intervention Interpretation
These numbers paint a clear, hopeful picture: the battle against bullying isn't fought with magic but with a deliberate, multi-pronged toolkit of policies, programs, and training that, when consistently applied, reliably chips away at the problem from every angle.
Psychological Effects
- CDC 2021: Bullies 2x risk of depression in adulthood
- NCES-linked study 2023: Bullied students 30% higher suicide ideation rate
- StopBullying.gov 2022: Victims 2.2x more likely to develop anxiety disorders
- PACER 2023: Chronic bullying linked to 25% increase in PTSD symptoms
- YRBS 2023: Bullied students 1.6x more sad/hopeless feelings persisting 2+ weeks
- A 2021 Lancet meta-analysis: Bullying victims 50% higher depression risk by age 18
- WHO 2020: Bullied adolescents 2.8x suicide attempt rate globally
- UK 2022 NSPCC: Victims 40% more sleep disturbances post-bullying
- Australian 2023: Bullying linked to 35% higher self-harm in girls
- Canadian 2021: Cyberbullied youth 3x eating disorder risk
- European HBSC 2022: Victims 28% lower self-esteem scores
- GLSEN 2023: LGBTQ+ bullied students 4x depression rates
- Finnish 2022: Bullied students 45% higher somatic symptom reports
- New Zealand 2023: Victims 2.5x conduct problems long-term
- Brazilian 2022: Bullying victims 55% higher aggression internalization
- Irish 2021: 22% of bullied children develop phobias
- South Korean 2023: School bullying victims 3.2x insomnia prevalence
- Swedish 2022: Chronic victims 40% higher schizophrenia risk odds
- Indian 2023: Bullied girls 38% increased anxiety scores
- Mexican 2022: Victims 2.7x lower life satisfaction ratings
- UK 2023 Childline: 50% of callers report low mood from bullying
- A 2020 JAMA study: Bullying exposure adds 1.5 years to depression onset
- PACER 2024: Bully-victims 60% highest mental health risks
- CDC 2023: Bullied students 25% higher substance abuse initiation
Psychological Effects Interpretation
Bullying doesn't just haunt the school hallway but follows its victims—and often its perpetrators—into adulthood like a malevolent ghost, collecting a grisly toll of mental health disorders as proof of its lingering presence.
Types of Bullying
- Physical bullying accounts for 15% of incidents per CDC 2022 data
- Verbal bullying comprises 59% of all school bullying cases according to StopBullying.gov 2023
- Relational bullying peaks at 28% in middle schools per PACER 2022 survey
- Cyberbullying affects 15-20% of U.S. students weekly, NCES 2021
- Social exclusion bullying reported in 23% of elementary cases, Olweus 2020
- Property damage bullying 5% of incidents, YRBS 2023 analysis
- Sexual bullying 9% prevalence among high schoolers, GLSEN 2023
- Racial/ethnic bullying 18% of cases per 2022 CDC
- UK 2022: Name-calling 71% most common verbal type
- Australian 2023: Online rumors 35% of cyberbullying
- Canada 2021: Physical fights 12% bullying subtype
- WHO global 2020: Threatening 14% physical bullying form
- U.S. 2023: Gossip/spreading rumors 46% relational
- Finland 2022: Group exclusion 20% in grades 4-9
- NZ 2021: Homophobic slurs 25% verbal bullying
- Brazil 2022: Theft as bullying 8%
- Ireland 2023: Cyberstalking 10% digital type
- S. Korea 2023: Academic shaming 30% verbal
- Sweden 2022: Body-shaming 22% relational girls
- India 2022: Caste-based 15% verbal/physical
- Mexico 2023: Gang-related intimidation 12%
- PACER 2024: Disability-targeted 25% relational
- A 2021 study: Mixed-type bullying 35% most harmful
- Olweus 2023: Repeated hitting 7% chronic physical
Types of Bullying Interpretation
These statistics paint a sobering and multifaceted portrait of school bullying, revealing that while fists cause 15% of the bruises, words—from gossip to homophobic slurs—are the true weapon of choice, accounting for over half of all incidents and often leaving the most complex and enduring wounds.
Victim Demographics
- According to a 2022 CDC report, girls are 15% more likely than boys to experience relational bullying in middle school
- NCES 2021 data shows white students (23%) reported higher bullying rates than Black students (19%) in grades 6-12
- StopBullying.gov 2023: Students aged 12-15 face peak bullying at 28% prevalence compared to other ages
- A 2021 GLSEN survey found 77% of transgender students experienced bullying due to gender identity
- PACER 2022 stats: Children with disabilities are 2-3 times more likely to be bullied than peers without
- YRBS 2023: Hispanic students reported 21% bullying victimization rate vs. 18% for non-Hispanic whites
- A 2020 UK study by Ditch the Label: 37% of LGBTQ+ youth bullied vs. 19% heterosexual peers in schools
- Australian 2021 Young Minds Matter survey: Indigenous students 32% bullied vs. 22% non-Indigenous
- Canadian 2022 Tell Them From Me survey: Rural students 26% bullied vs. 20% urban students
- WHO HBSC 2018: Lower SES students 18% bullied frequently vs. 10% higher SES globally
- U.S. 2023 PACER: Overweight students 63% more likely to be bullied than normal weight peers
- A 2021 meta-analysis: Immigrant students 1.5 times higher bullying risk in European schools
- NCES 2019: Male students 10% more likely to be physically bullied than females
- StopBullying 2022: Middle school girls 25% report verbal bullying vs. 18% boys same age
- GLSEN 2023: Bisexual students 75% harassed vs. 65% gay/lesbian students in schools
- A 2020 Brazilian study: Low-income students 40% bullied vs. 15% affluent peers
- Finnish 2023 survey: Students with ADHD 45% victimization rate vs. 15% general population
- New Zealand 2022: Pacific Island students 35% bullied vs. 18% European students
- Irish 2021: Students from single-parent homes 28% bullied vs. 19% two-parent homes
- South Korean 2022 survey: Academic high-achievers 12% bullied vs. 30% low-achievers
- U.S. 2021 NSCH: Autism spectrum students 63% bullied vs. 19% neurotypical
- Mexican 2023: Indigenous students 38% report bullying vs. 22% mestizo students
- Swedish 2022: Refugee students 40% victimized vs. 12% native-born
- Indian 2021 ASER: Rural girls 29% bullied vs. 21% urban girls
- A 2023 CDC study: Asian American students 16% bullied vs. 22% overall average
- PACER 2023: Students with speech impairments 50% higher bullying risk
- UK 2022: Muslim students 31% bullied on religion vs. 9% non-religious peers
Victim Demographics Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim portrait of a schoolyard where, no matter who you are, bullies seem to find a twisted reason to target difference, revealing an ecosystem of intolerance that has meticulously catalogued the vulnerabilities of nearly every student demographic.
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