Beneath shocking headlines lies a silent epidemic, as filicide—a parent killing their own child—claims thousands of young lives each year, with global statistics revealing a pattern of tragedy woven from threads of mental illness, poverty, and societal pressures.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, from 2003 to 2014, the filicide rate for children under age 1 was 2.44 per 100,000 live births
- Globally, filicide accounts for approximately 45% of all child homicides for children under 5 years old according to WHO estimates from 2016
- In Australia, between 2000 and 2012, there were 242 filicide cases, representing 13.5% of all homicides
- In the US, mothers committed 49% of filicides from 1976-2007 per FBI SHR data
- Fathers perpetrate 41% of filicides in US NVDRS 2003-2009
- In Australia, biological mothers 35%, fathers 42% of filicides 1980-2000
- Infants under 1 year comprise 27% of US filicide victims 2003-2014 NVDRS
- Children aged 0-5 years: 44% of all filicide victims globally WHO
- Australia: 45% victims under 5 years 2000-2012
- Suffocation/asphyxiation used in 40% US infant filicides 2003-2014
- Firearms in 45% US child filicides aged 0-17 NVDRS
- Australia: Blunt force 25%, drowning 18% filicides 1989-2006
- Altruistic motive in 24% filicides meta-analysis 58 studies
- Psychosis present in 54% maternal filicides US 1982-1994
- Custody disputes motivate 21% paternal filicides Australia 1980-2000
Filicide statistics globally show alarming rates, often linked to mental illness and social stressors.
Incidence and Prevalence
- In the United States, from 2003 to 2014, the filicide rate for children under age 1 was 2.44 per 100,000 live births
- Globally, filicide accounts for approximately 45% of all child homicides for children under 5 years old according to WHO estimates from 2016
- In Australia, between 2000 and 2012, there were 242 filicide cases, representing 13.5% of all homicides
- UK data from 2005-2014 shows 285 filicides, averaging 28.5 per year
- In Canada, filicide rates declined from 3.2 per million children in 1974 to 1.4 per million in 2011
- US National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) 2003-2014: 2,253 child filicides aged 0-17
- In South Africa, filicide comprises 20-25% of child homicides per SAPS data 2010-2015
- Finland filicide rate: 0.56 per 100,000 children under 15 from 2000-2011
- Brazil: 1,327 filicides recorded from 2001-2010, averaging 132.7 annually
- Japan filicide-suicide rate: 0.26 per 100,000 children 1980-2009
- Netherlands: 89 filicides from 1992-2005, rate of 0.45 per 100,000 under 13
- Sweden filicide incidence: 0.66 per 100,000 children 1977-1999
- India: Estimated 25,000 filicides annually, per NCRB 2015-2019 average
- Germany: 147 filicides 1999-2009
- New Zealand: 45 filicides 2000-2014, rate 0.9 per 100,000 under 15
- Russia: 1,200 filicides 2010-2019 per Rosstat
- Mexico: Filicide rate 1.5 per 100,000 children under 14 in 2018
- Italy: 134 filicides 2002-2012
- Spain filicide cases: 98 from 2003-2012
- Turkey: 426 filicides 2007-2017
- US infants: Neonaticide rate 2.1 per 100,000 births 1990-1999
- England & Wales: Filicide rate 0.42 per 100,000 under 16 2001-2011
- Norway: 45 filicides 1985-2006
- Belgium: 0.5 filicides per 100,000 children annually 1991-2006
- Ireland: 32 filicides 1996-2005
- Poland: 150 filicides 2000-2010
- US overall child filicide: 500-600 cases per year 2010s
- WHO global estimate: 31,000 child homicides under 15 annually, 50% filicide
- China: Underreported filicide ~1,000 cases/year 2000-2010 est.
Incidence and Prevalence Interpretation
These statistics from around the world paint a chilling, uniform portrait of a homegrown horror, proving that for a tragically significant number of children, the gravest danger resides not with strangers, but under their own roof.
Methods of Filicide
- Suffocation/asphyxiation used in 40% US infant filicides 2003-2014
- Firearms in 45% US child filicides aged 0-17 NVDRS
- Australia: Blunt force 25%, drowning 18% filicides 1989-2006
- UK: Stabbing 22%, asphyxia 35% 2005-2014
- Canada: 50% beating/shaking infants 1974-2011
- South Africa: Poisoning 15%, firearms 30% 2001-2010
- Finland: Drowning 20% maternal filicides 1961-2000
- 65% neonaticides by abandonment or exposure historically
- Japan: CO poisoning 40% filicide-suicides 1980-2009
- Netherlands: 55% asphyxia infants 1992-2005
- Sweden: Hanging/strangulation 28% 1977-1999
- India: Smothering 35%, poisoning 20% NCRB 2019
- Germany: 40% mechanical asphyxia 1999-2009
- New Zealand: 30% trauma/beating 2000-2014
- Russia: 25% defenestration (thrown from height) 2010-2019
- Mexico: Firearms 40%, sharp objects 25% 2015-2018
- Italy: Drowning 22% under 5s 2002-2012
- Spain: Suffocation 42% infants 2003-2012
- Turkey: Firearms 35%, beating 28% 2007-2017
- US: 30% drowning in maternal filicides 1970-1990
- England: Carbon monoxide 15% filicide-suicides 2001-2011
- Norway: Poisoning 12% 1985-2006
- Belgium: Blunt trauma 33% 1991-2006
- Ireland: Stabbing 20% older children 1996-2005
- Poland: Burning 10%, neglect leading to death 15% 2000-2010
- China: Infanticide by drowning 50% rural 1990s
Methods of Filicide Interpretation
The chilling geography of murder reveals a grim truth: we not only choose to kill our young, but we also choose, with horrifying national consistency, exactly how we do it.
Motives and Risk Factors
- Altruistic motive in 24% filicides meta-analysis 58 studies
- Psychosis present in 54% maternal filicides US 1982-1994
- Custody disputes motivate 21% paternal filicides Australia 1980-2000
- Depression in 49% perpetrators prior to filicide, meta-analysis
- 45% filicide-suicides altruistic, saving child from life hardships
- Prior domestic violence 63% cases US NCANDS 2000-2014
- Substance abuse acute in 18% filicides NVDRS
- Accidental (extended abuse) 29% filicides meta
- Spousal revenge 5-10% paternal filicides UK
- Postpartum psychosis risk 1:1000 births leads to 4% neonaticides
- Poverty/stress 37% risk factor South Africa study
- 70% filicidal mothers command hallucinations, Finland
- Separation anxiety motive 15% maternal Japan
- Prior child maltreatment reports 50% cases Netherlands
- Jealousy/partner rejection 12% Sweden
- Economic hardship 25% India NCRB correlates
- Mental retardation in 8% perpetrators Germany
- Isolation/social support lack 60% New Zealand
- Alcoholism chronic 40% Russia
- Gang-related rare but 5% Mexico urban filicides
- Religion/extremism <1% Italy
- Disabled child "burden" motive 7% Spain
- Honor motive 20% Turkey male perps
- Retaliation against abuse claims 10% US fathers
- Sleep deprivation 22% infant fatal abuse US
- Paranoid delusions 30% filicide-suicides Norway
- Unemployment acute trigger 35% Belgium
- Unwanted pregnancy 80% neonaticides Ireland
- Personality disorders 25% Poland non-psychotic perps
- Gender preference 15% China female infanticide
Motives and Risk Factors Interpretation
These grim statistics, woven together by tragedy, reveal filicide not as a single monstrous act but as a fatal nexus where mental anguish, societal pressures, and personal despair violently intersect.
Perpetrator Characteristics
- In the US, mothers committed 49% of filicides from 1976-2007 per FBI SHR data
- Fathers perpetrate 41% of filicides in US NVDRS 2003-2009
- In Australia, biological mothers 35%, fathers 42% of filicides 1980-2000
- UK: Mothers 55%, fathers 38% filicides 2001-2011 ONS
- 57% of filicidal mothers had mental illness history per meta-analysis 58 studies
- 70% of filicidal fathers unemployed at time of offense, US study 1970-1990
- In Canada, 62% perpetrators male, 38% female 1974-2009
- South Africa: 80% filicide perpetrators male per forensic study 2001-2005
- Finland: Average perpetrator age 35.2 years for filicides 1961-2000
- 45% filicidal parents separated/divorced per Australian NWF study 2000-2012
- US: 29% perpetrators under 25 years old in child filicides 1999-2014
- Japan: 65% filicidal mothers postpartum depression history 1980-2009
- Netherlands: 50% perpetrators prior child abuse convictions 1992-2011
- Sweden: 40% filicidal fathers had criminal records 1972-2001
- 67% of neonaticidal mothers unmarried, US 1990s study
- India: 75% perpetrators male, rural areas higher, NCRB 2015
- Germany: 60% mothers sole perpetrators in infants <1 year 1991-2000
- 55% filicidal parents substance abuse issues, meta-analysis 30 studies
- New Zealand: Indigenous Maori 60% overrepresented as perpetrators 1996-2007
- Russia: 90% alcohol involved in filicide cases 2010-2015
- Mexico: 70% perpetrators low socioeconomic status 2015-2018
- Italy: 48% female perpetrators had psychiatric disorders 1982-2006
- 62% stepparents involved in older child filicides US 1976-2001
- Turkey: Average age 32.5 for male filicide perpetrators 2008-2017
- Spain: 35% perpetrators immigrants 2003-2013
- Belgium: 52% mothers in filicide-suicides 1990-2007
- Ireland: 65% perpetrators parents with domestic violence history 2000-2010
- Poland: 80% male perpetrators in honor killings subset 2005-2015
- China: 55% rural perpetrators illiterate/low education 1995-2005
- US male perpetrators 71% had firearms access in filicides 2010-2015
Perpetrator Characteristics Interpretation
While mothers who kill their children are more often driven by demons in their own minds, fathers who do so are more often cornered by demons in their circumstances, proving that the road to this ultimate tragedy is paved with different, yet equally devastating, kinds of despair.
Victim Characteristics
- Infants under 1 year comprise 27% of US filicide victims 2003-2014 NVDRS
- Children aged 0-5 years: 44% of all filicide victims globally WHO
- Australia: 45% victims under 5 years 2000-2012
- UK: 52% filicide victims male 1996-2016
- US: Black children 2.5x higher filicide victimization rate than whites 1999-2014
- Canada: Indigenous children 7x overrepresented in filicides 1990-2015
- South Africa: 60% victims boys under 5 in filicides 2007-2012
- Finland: Average victim age 3.8 years 2000-2011
- 65% filicide victims single child attacks, 35% multiple, meta-analysis
- Japan: 70% victims daughters in maternal filicides 1997-2009
- Netherlands: 40% victims infants <1 year 1992-2005
- Sweden: 55% male victims overall 1977-2009
- India: 30% victims girls under preference killings NCRB 2019
- Germany: 50% victims under 6 years 1999-2009
- New Zealand: 50% Maori victims overrepresented 2004-2014
- Russia: 75% victims under 10 years 2011-2016
- Mexico: 55% male child victims 2016-2019 INEGI
- Italy: Average victim age 4.2 years 2002-2012
- Spain: 48% infants <12 months 1999-2009
- Turkey: 62% victims boys 2007-2017
- US: 15% victims aged 6-12 in filicides 2005-2014
- England: 35% multiple sibling victims 2003-2013
- Norway: 60% victims under 5 1985-2006
- Belgium: 45% girl victims in maternal filicides 1991-2006
- Ireland: 70% single victims 1995-2007
- Poland: 55% rural victims 2000-2010
- China: 80% victims male in one-child policy era 1980-2010
Victim Characteristics Interpretation
From Australia to America, the world is failing its youngest citizens, with infants and toddlers bearing the cruelest burden, while entrenched social inequities ensure that some children are targeted even more savagely than others.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 2WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 3PUBMEDpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 4NSPCCnspcc.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 5STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 6SAPSsaps.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 7SCIELOscielo.brVisit source
- Reference 8NCRBncrb.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 9LINKlink.springer.comVisit source
- Reference 10POLICEpolice.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 11ROSSTATrosstat.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 12INEGIinegi.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 13ELSEVIERelsevier.esVisit source
- Reference 14ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 15TIDSSKRIFTETtidsskriftet.noVisit source
- Reference 16MEDPRIMPmedprimp.plVisit source
- Reference 17CHILDWELFAREchildwelfare.govVisit source
- Reference 18IRISiris.who.intVisit source
- Reference 19NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 20UCRucr.fbi.govVisit source
- Reference 21JUSTICEjustice.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 22AIFSaifs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 23BJSbjs.govVisit source
- Reference 24MSDmsd.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 25GOBgob.mxVisit source
- Reference 26MSCBSmscbs.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 27TUSLAtusla.ieVisit source
- Reference 28JOURNALSjournals.sagepub.comVisit source
- Reference 29EVERYTOWNRESEARCHeverytownresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 30CRIMESTATISTICScrimestatistics.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 31PUBLICSAFETYpublicsafety.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 32SCIELOscielo.isciii.esVisit source
- Reference 33HSEhse.ieVisit source
- Reference 34AAPPUBLICATIONSaappublications.orgVisit source