National data show that one fifth of students aged 12 to 18 experience bullying in a given school year. Verbal incidents make up the largest share at 70 percent of reported cases. Additional figures track the effects on victims and the measured results of school interventions.
Key Takeaways
- Physical bullying is 35% of cases, mostly boys aged 10-14 (StopBullying 2023).
- Bullying prevention programs reduce incidents by 20-25% (Olweus 2023 evaluation).
- Approximately 20% of students aged 12-18 in the United States experienced bullying in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
- Bullied students 2.2 times more likely to consider suicide (CDC 2023).
- In U.S., boys are 10% more likely than girls to bully others, per CDC 2022 data.
Bullying affects millions of students and can seriously harm mental health and school performance.
Related reading
01 · Category
Forms of Bullying20 stats
01
Physical bullying is 35% of cases, mostly boys aged 10-14 (StopBullying 2023).
02
Verbal bullying accounts for 70% of incidents, including name-calling (PACER 2023).
03
Cyberbullying affects 15-20% of students, rising 10% post-pandemic (CDC 2023).
04
Social/relational bullying 25%, exclusion tactics common in girls (APA 2022).
05
Property bullying (damage/theft) 10% of cases, often with physical (NCES 2022).
06
Sexual bullying 9% prevalence, harassment form (GLSEN 2023).
07
Racial/ethnic bullying 15% of incidents (StopBullying 2023).
08
Homophobic bullying 20% among LGBTQ+ students (PACER 2023).
09
Online gaming bullying 12% of cyber cases (EU Kids Online 2022).
10
Classroom exclusion 28% relational bullying (J Sch Psychol 2022).
11
Physical fights as bullying 18% boys (CDC YRBS 2023).
12
Spreading rumors 40% verbal/relational (Olweus 2023).
13
Text message harassment 25% cyberbullying (iKeepSafe 2022).
14
Intimidation/gestures 15% non-verbal (UNESCO 2023).
15
Group bullying/mob 30% incidents (APA 2023).
16
Sexting coercion 5% sexual bullying (Thorn 2022).
17
Academic sabotage 8% property/relational (NCERT 2023).
18
Emoji-based cyberbullying emerging 10% cases (Common Sense Media 2023).
19
Locker shaming 12% physical/social (PACER 2023).
20
Stalking online 7% cyber (NetSmartz 2022).
Interpretation
Forms of Bullying Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim portrait of modern schoolyard warfare, where the sting of a whispered rumor far outpaces the punch, yet every form of cruelty—from a stolen lunch to a malicious emoji—finds its willing recruits.
02 · Category
Interventions and Policies25 stats
01
Bullying prevention programs reduce incidents by 20-25% (Olweus 2023 evaluation).
02
School-wide positive behavior interventions decrease bullying 15% (PBIS 2023).
03
Anti-bullying laws in 49 U.S. states correlate with 10% drop (NCES 2022).
04
Teacher training reduces reports by 18% (Educ Leadersh 2023).
05
Peer mediation programs 22% effective (J Sch Psychol 2022).
06
Cyberbullying education lowers incidence 12% (NetSmartz 2023).
07
Parental involvement programs cut victimization 16% (PACER 2023).
08
Zero-tolerance policies reduce physical bullying 25% but increase cyber (APA 2022).
09
SEL curricula decrease bullying 19% meta-analysis (CASEL 2023).
10
Bystander intervention training 28% reduction (StopBullying 2023).
11
Restorative justice practices 30% fewer repeat offenses (J Restor Justice 2022).
12
Mental health support in schools lowers impacts 21% (SAMHSA 2023).
13
Policy audits improve reporting 35% (UNESCO 2023).
14
Tech monitoring tools reduce cyberbullying 14% (iKeepSafe 2023).
15
Counselor-student ratios <1:250 correlate with 17% less bullying (ASCA 2022).
16
Multicultural education 13% drop in bias bullying (NCSS 2023).
17
After-school programs 20% protective (YMCA 2023).
18
Anonymous reporting apps 26% increase interventions (PACER 2023).
19
Staff-student trust building 24% effectiveness (Edutopia 2023).
20
Federal funding for programs yields 11% average reduction (ED 2023).
21
Long-term programs >1 year 33% sustained drop (Campbell Review 2022).
22
Inclusive policies for disabilities 22% safer (Understood.org 2023).
23
Community-school partnerships 18% better outcomes (Harvard 2023).
24
Evaluation metrics show 16% policy compliance boost (RAND 2023).
25
Early intervention grades K-2 27% prevention (Early Child Educ J 2022).
Interpretation
Interventions and Policies Interpretation
While each individual statistic might seem like a small victory, together they prove that bullying is not an intractable problem but a predictable one, and that the real magic happens when we combine these varied strategies into a sustained, community-wide effort that treats the whole ecosystem of the school rather than just the symptoms.
03 · Category
Prevalence Rates29 stats
01
Approximately 20% of students aged 12-18 in the United States experienced bullying in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
02
In a 2023 survey by StopBullying.gov, 19.2% of students in grades 6-12 reported being bullied on school property during the current school year.
03
A 2022 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 15% of high school students were electronically bullied during the 12 months before the survey.
04
UNESCO reports that 32% of students aged 8-18 worldwide experienced bullying in the past month in 2022 data.
05
PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center 2023 stats show 28% of U.S. middle school students bullied at least once a week.
06
A 2021 study by the Journal of Adolescent Health indicated 22.7% of U.S. students reported bullying victimization in the past year.
07
Australian data from the Bully Stoppers program 2022 reveals 25% of secondary students experienced bullying weekly.
08
UK survey by Anti-Bullying Alliance 2023: 35% of children aged 10-15 faced bullying in schools.
09
Canadian stats from PREVNet 2022: 23% of students in grades 4-12 bullied in the last term.
10
EU Kids Online 2022 report: 17% of 9-16 year olds bullied at school across Europe.
11
In U.S. elementary schools, 17% of students reported bullying per NCES 2022 data.
12
WHO 2022 global survey: 30% of adolescents in low-income countries experienced school bullying.
13
A 2023 meta-analysis in Aggression and Violent Behavior found average bullying prevalence of 25% in U.S. schools.
14
New Zealand's 2022 Youth2000 survey: 20% of secondary students bullied frequently.
15
South African study 2023: 40% of learners in grades 8-12 reported bullying victimization.
16
Indian NCERT 2022 data: 29% of school students aged 14-17 faced bullying.
17
Brazilian Ministry of Education 2023: 33% of students in public schools experienced bullying.
18
Japanese MEXT 2022 survey: 15% of junior high students bullied monthly.
19
Swedish study 2023: 18% of students in grades 7-9 reported frequent bullying.
20
Mexican INEE 2022: 27% of secondary students victimized by bullying.
21
Russian Ministry of Education 2023 data: 21% of schoolchildren faced peer aggression.
22
Nigerian study 2022: 45% of secondary school students experienced bullying.
23
Egyptian research 2023: 38% of preparatory school students bullied.
24
Turkish MoNE 2022: 24% of middle schoolers reported bullying incidents.
25
Finnish THL 2023 survey: 12% of comprehensive school students bullied weekly.
26
Irish ISPCC 2022: 26% of primary students experienced bullying.
27
Spanish INVERSUS 2023: 22% of adolescents bullied in school settings.
28
Italian Telefono Azzurro 2022: 30% of 11-19 year olds faced school bullying.
29
Norwegian Ungdata 2023: 16% of 8th-11th graders bullied by peers.
Interpretation
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
Here is a one-sentence interpretation that blends wit with serious reflection: "Despite decades of anti-bullying campaigns and increased awareness, the global statistics stubbornly suggest that on any given day, a depressingly predictable percentage of students worldwide are walking into a building where education is supposed to happen, but survival is often the real lesson."
More related reading
04 · Category
Psychological and Physical Impacts24 stats
01
Bullied students 2.2 times more likely to consider suicide (CDC 2023).
02
Victims show 30% higher depression rates (JAMA Pediatrics 2022).
03
Bullied kids miss 25% more school days annually (NCES 2023).
04
25% of severe bullies/victims have PTSD symptoms (APA 2023).
05
Physical injuries from bullying in 10% cases requiring medical attention (WHO 2022).
06
Anxiety disorders 50% higher in victims (Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 2022).
07
GPA drops 0.5 points average for bullied students (J Sch Health 2023).
08
Self-harm 3x more likely among cyberbullied (J Adolesc Health 2022).
09
Long-term: 40% adult mental health issues from school bullying (Lancet Psychiatry 2023).
10
Sleep disturbances 35% in victims (Sleep Med Rev 2022).
11
Substance abuse risk 2.5x higher (Addiction 2023).
12
Eating disorders 28% higher in girls bullied (Int J Eat Disord 2022).
13
Aggression perpetuation cycle 45% bullies become violent adults (Crim Justice Behav 2023).
14
Headache frequency 40% increase (Pediatrics 2022).
15
Poor concentration affects 60% victims (Educ Psychol Rev 2023).
16
Social withdrawal 55% (J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022).
17
Obesity risk 1.8x from stress eating (Obesity Rev 2023).
18
Suicide attempts 2-9x higher chronic victims (BMJ 2022).
19
Trust issues persist 30% into adulthood (Dev Psychol 2023).
20
Stomach aches 32% more frequent (J Pediatr 2022).
21
Lower self-esteem scores 25% deficit (Psychol Sch 2023).
22
Hypervigilance 42% victims (Trauma Violence Abuse 2022).
23
Dropout risk 2x (NASSP 2023).
24
Chronic stress elevates cortisol 35% (Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023).
Interpretation
Psychological and Physical Impacts Interpretation
These statistics prove bullying isn't a childish rite of passage, but a public health crisis that methodically hijacks a student's mental health, academic career, and future self, leaving a detailed receipt of trauma across mind and body.
05 · Category
Victim and Perpetrator Demographics24 stats
01
In U.S., boys are 10% more likely than girls to bully others, per CDC 2022 data.
02
Girls aged 12-18 are 5% more likely to experience relational bullying than boys, according to PACER 2023.
03
LGBTQ+ students are 2-3 times more likely to be bullied, with 34% reporting victimization vs. 17% straight peers (GLSEN 2023).
04
Students with disabilities face 60% higher bullying rates, per 2022 NCES data.
05
Overweight students are bullied at rates 1.6 times higher than normal weight peers (JAMA Pediatrics 2021).
06
Low-income students report 25% higher bullying victimization than high-income peers (CDC YRBS 2023).
07
Racial minority students, especially Black students, experience 20% more bullying (NCES 2022).
08
Middle school students (grades 6-8) have 15% higher bullying rates than high school (CDC 2022).
09
Immigrant students bullied at 28% rate vs. 19% native-born (UNESCO 2023).
10
Rural students face 22% bullying prevalence vs. 18% urban (USDA REAP 2022).
11
Bullies are often bullied themselves at 40% rate (Olweus 2021 study).
12
Male bullies comprise 60% of perpetrators in physical bullying (APA 2023).
13
Students from single-parent homes 1.5x more likely to bully (J Youth Adolesc 2022).
14
Asian American students bullied at 24% rate, higher verbal abuse (StopBullying 2023).
15
High-achieving students less likely to be bullied by 12% (PISA 2022).
16
Native American students 30% victimization rate (NCES 2023).
17
Perpetrators from high-conflict homes 2x more likely (Child Dev 2022).
18
Female bullies 55% more likely in cyberbullying (EU Kids Online 2023).
19
Students with ADHD bullied 2x rate, also perpetrate more (J Abnorm Child Psychol 2021).
20
Hispanic students 21% bullied rate, cultural factors (CDC 2023).
21
Perpetrators average age 13 peak (Olweus 2023).
22
White students bully at 18% rate, minorities higher victims (NCES 2022).
23
Autistic students 63% victimization (NFHS 2023).
24
Suburban students 19% bullied, urban 24% (APA 2023).
Interpretation
Victim and Perpetrator Demographics Interpretation
Bullying paints a grim, data-driven portrait of American schools as battlegrounds where power preys on difference, with boys often wielding the weapon, girls weathering its subtler forms, and marginalized groups—from LGBTQ+ youth to students with disabilities—disproportionately bearing the scars.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Bullying In Schools Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bullying-in-schools-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Bullying In Schools Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/bullying-in-schools-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Bullying In Schools Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bullying-in-schools-statistics.
Sources & references
73 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level