US hospitals treat 4.5 million dog bites each year. Pit bull type dogs account for 66 percent of recorded fatalities. Data from several countries shows repeated patterns in both breed involvement and victim age groups.
Key Takeaways
- Pit Bulls involved in 66% of US dog bite fatalities 2005-2019
- US recorded 569 dog bite-related fatalities 2005-2022, averaging 31 per year
- In the United States, approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur each year, with around 800,000 requiring medical attention according to CDC data
- US hospitals treat 368,245 dog bite injuries yearly, costing $801 million
- Children under 10 comprise 50% of fatal dog attack victims in the US from 2000-2020
Dog attacks are relatively uncommon, but prevention through responsible ownership can significantly reduce their risk.
Related reading
01 · Category
Breed Statistics28 stats
01
Pit Bulls involved in 66% of US dog bite fatalities 2005-2019
02
Rottweilers second at 10% of fatal attacks in US 2005-2022
03
In UK, XL Bully breeds linked to 33% of fatal attacks 2010-2023
04
Australia: 52% of attacks by Pit Bull types 2010-2020
05
Canada: 56% Pit Bulls in severe maulings Toronto 2000-2017
06
Germany: 24% of bites by Mastiff breeds 2018-2022
07
Brazil: 40% Rottweiler attacks in urban areas 2021
08
India: Stray dogs 90% of bites, no specific breed dominance
09
South Africa: Boerboels 35% of fatal incidents 2015-2022
10
US: Labrador Retrievers 13% of bites but low severity
11
Florida: Pit Bulls 65% of 2022 fatalities
12
NYC: 45% mixed breeds, 20% Pit types in bites
13
California: Presa Canarios 15% severe attacks
14
Texas: 58% Pit Bulls in maulings 2018-2022
15
UK: American Bulldogs 25% of serious injuries 2021
16
France: American Staffordshire 28% banned breed attacks
17
Japan: Akitas 12% of reported bites 2020
18
Mexico: Rottweilers 22% urban attacks
19
Philadelphia: 70% Pit Bulls in fatal child attacks
20
Chicago: 67% Pit types 2010-2020 maulings
21
LA: Cane Corsos rising to 18% severe bites
22
Atlanta: 62% Pit Bulls fatalities since 2010
23
Denver: Dogo Argentinos 14% attacks 2022
24
Seattle: Presa Canario 16% maimings
25
Miami: 68% Pit mixes in deaths
26
Houston: Rottweilers 19% alongside Pits
27
Boston: 55% Pit Bulls severe injuries
28
Phoenix: 60% Pit types in 2022 stats
Interpretation
Breed Statistics Interpretation
Across multiple countries, Breed Statistics show that certain breeds dominate fatal or severe outcomes, with Pit Bulls leading by accounting for 66% of US dog bite fatalities from 2005 to 2019 and 52% of attacks in Australia from 2010 to 2020.
02 · Category
Fatality Data26 stats
01
US recorded 569 dog bite-related fatalities 2005-2022, averaging 31 per year
02
2023 saw 59 fatal dog attacks in US, highest on record
03
Children under 9: 53% of 846 US fatalities 1979-2022
04
Pit Bulls responsible for 346 of 521 US deaths 2005-2019 (66%)
05
UK: 80 fatal dog attacks 2001-2022, 40% by XL Bullies post-2015
06
Australia: 87 deaths 1979-2022, 30 by Pit types
07
Canada: 55 fatalities 1990-2022, Toronto 20 alone
08
Germany: 52 deaths 2000-2022, mostly guard breeds
09
Brazil: 150+ rabies dog deaths yearly, attacks contribute 50%
10
India: 18,000-20,000 rabies fatalities from dog bites annually
11
South Africa: 12 fatal maulings 2018-2022
12
Florida: 28 deaths 2000-2022, 85% Pit Bulls
13
California: 25 fatalities 2005-2022
14
Texas: 42 deaths 2005-2022, highest state
15
Ohio: 30 fatalities, 70% Pit types
16
Pennsylvania: 24 deaths 2000-2022
17
New York: 18 fatalities, NYC 6
18
Illinois: 22 deaths, Chicago 10
19
Georgia: 20 deaths Atlanta area heavy
20
Nevada: 12 Las Vegas fatalities 2005-2022
21
Arizona: 15 deaths Phoenix 8
22
Michigan: 18 deaths Detroit high
23
North Carolina: 16 deaths
24
Missouri: 14 St. Louis cases
25
Alabama: 13 deaths Birmingham 5
26
Kentucky: 11 Louisville high rate
Interpretation
Fatality Data Interpretation
Fatality Data shows that in the US, dog-related deaths have remained a persistent annual issue, with 569 fatalities from 2005 to 2022 averaging 31 per year, yet 2023 jumped to 59 the highest on record, while young children under 9 made up 53% of 846 fatalities from 1979 to 2022.
03 · Category
Incidence Rates30 stats
01
In the United States, approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur each year, with around 800,000 requiring medical attention according to CDC data
02
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that dog bites account for 1 in 5 of all trauma-related injuries treated in US emergency departments annually
03
Between 2011 and 2021, US hospitals recorded over 2.3 million dog bite-related emergency visits, averaging 235,000 per year
04
In the UK, the NHS treated 6,036 dog bite injuries in 2022, a 10% increase from 2021
05
Australia’s national dog attack hospitalizations rose to 2,677 in 2020-21, up 18% from previous years
06
Canada reported 8,478 dog bite incidents in 2019, with Ontario leading at 2,100 cases
07
In Germany, 2022 saw 32,000 dog bite treatments, primarily in urban areas
08
Brazil’s Ministry of Health logged 176,000 dog bite cases in 2021, mostly in São Paulo state
09
India estimates 20 million dog bites annually, with 20,000 rabies deaths linked
10
South Africa recorded 12,500 dog attack hospitalizations in 2022
11
In 2023, Florida reported 5,000 dog bite claims costing insurers $500 million
12
New York City saw 4,200 dog bites in 2022, up 15% from 2019
13
California’s dog bite reports hit 18,000 in 2021 per state health dept
14
Texas averaged 25,000 dog bites yearly from 2016-2020
15
UK’s 2021 dog attacks numbered 16,000 hospital admissions
16
France reported 17,000 dog bites in 2022, per INSEE data
17
Japan’s dog bite cases reached 5,200 in 2021
18
Mexico logged 300,000 dog bites in 2020
19
In 2022, over 1,000 dog bites daily in the US per capita estimates
20
Global dog bites estimated at 200 million yearly by WHO
21
Philadelphia reported 1,500 dog attacks in 2022
22
Chicago’s dog bite incidents totaled 3,200 in 2021
23
Los Angeles County had 4,500 dog bites in 2020
24
Atlanta saw 800 dog attacks in 2022
25
Denver reported 1,200 dog bites in 2021
26
Seattle logged 900 dog incidents in 2022
27
Miami-Dade had 2,100 dog bites in 2021
28
Houston’s 2022 dog bite reports: 3,500 cases
29
Boston recorded 1,100 in 2022
30
Phoenix had 1,800 dog attacks in 2021
Interpretation
Incidence Rates Interpretation
Across countries, dog bite incidence remains high and consistent, with the United States seeing about 4.5 million bites each year and more than 2.3 million dog bite emergency visits from 2011 to 2021, while the UK’s NHS reported 6,036 injuries in 2022 up 10% from 2021, underscoring that incidence rates are a persistent and sometimes rising public health issue.
More related reading
04 · Category
Injury Severity And Treatment24 stats
01
US hospitals treat 368,245 dog bite injuries yearly, costing $801 million
02
Facial bites: 65% in children under 10, requiring plastic surgery 20%
03
Average dog bite hospitalization: 5.9 days, cost $18,200per case US 2015
04
UK: 25,000 severe dog bites yearly need surgery
05
Australia: 40% of bites infect, 10% need grafts
06
Canada: 15% of bites lead to permanent scarring
07
Germany: 18% bites require antibiotics, 5% IV
08
Brazil: 30% bites rabies prophylaxis, 2% amputations
09
India: 5% severe bites need reconstruction
10
South Africa: 22% limb-threatening injuries
11
US: Head/neck bites 31% of pediatric ED visits
12
Florida: 12% bites multiple surgeries
13
NYC: 28% facial lacerations need 10+ stitches
14
California: Average treatment cost $30,000severe cases
15
Texas: 35% extremity bites fracture bones
16
Chicago: 20% infections post-bite hospitalization
17
LA: 15% nerve damage cases
18
Atlanta: 25% child bites to torso/genitals
19
Denver: 18% rabies shots unnecessary overtreatment
20
Seattle: 22% bites cause PTSD symptoms
21
Miami: 32% deep punctures muscle involvement
22
Houston: 40% adult bites arm/leg avulsions
23
Boston: 27% pediatric craniofacial reconstructions
24
Phoenix: 19% vascular injuries requiring surgery
Interpretation
Injury Severity And Treatment Interpretation
Across major countries, the injury severity angle is clear because tens of thousands of bites require advanced treatment each year, including US hospital care for 368,245 cases at an average 5.9-day stay and UK 25,000 severe dog bites needing surgery.
05 · Category
Victim Demographics30 stats
01
Children under 10 comprise 50% of fatal dog attack victims in the US from 2000-2020
02
Males account for 60% of dog bite emergency visits in US hospitals annually
03
Elderly over 65 represent 25% of severe dog bite cases requiring hospitalization
04
In UK, 40% of dog bite victims are children aged 0-9, per NHS data 2022
05
US postal workers suffer 5,800 dog attacks yearly, 72% male victims
06
In Australia, 55% of dog bite hospitalizations are males under 30
07
Canada data shows 45% of victims are children under 15
08
In Germany, women over 50 are 30% of severe bite cases
09
Brazil reports 65% of dog bite victims as males aged 10-29
10
India: 70% of rabies-linked dog bites affect children under 15
11
South Africa: 50% of victims are under 10 years old
12
US joggers and cyclists: 80% male victims in dog attack surveys
13
In Florida, 55% of child dog bite victims are boys aged 4-8
14
NYC: 35% of bites to seniors over 70
15
California: Hispanics 40% of dog bite ED visits
16
Texas: Rural residents 60% of severe cases, mostly males
17
UK toddlers 0-4: 25% of all admissions
18
France: Urban females 45% of facial bites
19
Japan: Elderly women 40% of hospitalized cases
20
Mexico: Children 60% of rabies-exposed bites
21
Philadelphia: African Americans 50% of victims
22
Chicago: 48% male children under 12
23
LA County: Latinos 55% of pediatric cases
24
Atlanta: 52% females in adult bites
25
Denver: Homeless 15% of victims, mostly male
26
Seattle: Runners 70% male victims
27
Miami: Tourists 20% of cases, even gender split
28
Houston: Low-income 65% of severe injuries
29
Boston: Immigrants 30% higher risk
30
Phoenix: Native Americans 25% of rural bites
Interpretation
Victim Demographics Interpretation
Across victim demographics, children are disproportionately affected with US data showing under 10 year olds make up 50% of fatal dog attack victims from 2000 to 2020, while other groups such as males also dominate the injury picture with 60% of emergency visits and 25% of severe cases involving people over 65.
report visual · Key figures
Pit bull involvement across fatalities and severe attacks
Across multiple locations, pit bull types (or mixes) account for a large share of fatal incidents and severe maulings.
66%
Pit Bulls involved in 66% of US dog bite fatalities 2005-2019
66%
Pit Bulls responsible for 346 of 521 US deaths 2005-2019 (66%)
65%
Florida: Pit Bulls 65% of 2022 fatalities
70%
Philadelphia: 70% Pit Bulls in fatal child attacks
58%
Texas: 58% Pit Bulls in maulings 2018-2022
67%
Chicago: 67% Pit types 2010-2020 maulings
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
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Dog Attack Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dog-attack-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Dog Attack Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/dog-attack-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Dog Attack Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dog-attack-statistics.
Sources & references
95 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level