GITNUXREPORT 2025

Knife Injury Statistics

Knife injuries cause thousands of US injuries, mostly affecting young males.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Youth aged 10-19 are the most frequently affected group in knife injuries in urban areas worldwide

Statistic 2

Approximately 50% of stabbing injuries in hospital ERs involve victims under the age of 30

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In the US, rates of knife injuries are highest in urban areas and among males, with males accounting for over 80% of injuries

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The median age for knife injury victims in many urban centers is 24 years old

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The predominance of male victims in knife injuries is consistent across global data, with male victims comprising over 70%

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Children under age 10 account for roughly 10% of all knife injuries in pediatric trauma centers

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Male homicide victims are 5 times more likely to be stabbed than female victims

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Approximately 55% of all knife injuries involve self-inflicted wounds, primarily among adolescents and young adults

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Among known perpetrators of knife assaults, approximately 60% are acquaintances or friends of the victims

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In the UK, knife injuries in hospitals increased by 8% from 2019 to 2020

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Knife injuries tend to have a higher rate of complications, including infection, with up to 25% requiring surgical intervention

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The average hospital stay for knife wound patients is approximately 4 days

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Knife injuries in hospitalized patients show a 15% re-admission rate within 30 days

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In 2022, hospital emergency rooms reported over 250,000 cases involving knife injuries in the US

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In urban hospitals, stab wound treatment costs average around $4,500 per case

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The most common locations for hospital-treated knife injuries are the abdomen (30%) and limbs (50%)

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In the United States, approximately 17,000 injuries involving knives or cutting instruments are reported annually

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Knife-related injuries account for about 13% of all assault injuries treated in emergency departments in the US

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Around 1,300 deaths annually in the US are caused by stab wounds

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The incidence rate of knife injuries in South African hospitals is estimated at 35 per 100,000 population annually

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About 85% of all prison stabbings involve homemade or improvised weapons

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In a survey of assault-related injuries, 70% of victims reported being attacked with a knife or similar weapon

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Knife-related assaults globally account for approximately 2 million hospital admissions annually

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In Australia, knife assault rates decreased by 10% between 2010 and 2019

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In the US, approximately 13% of all homicides involve a stabbing wound

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Approximately 65% of knife injuries in emergency departments are classified as accidental, while 35% are intentional

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The global prevalence of knife injuries among violence-related injuries is approximately 70%

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The majority of accidental knife injuries occur in the kitchen, with an estimated 60% of such injuries happening during food preparation

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Hospitals in Mexico reported over 90,000 knife injury cases in 2019, with an increase of 5% from the previous year

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About 12% of all violent crimes involve some form of knife attack, according to police records worldwide

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The overall mortality rate from knife injuries in the UK is approximately 2.1 per 100,000 population

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Knife injury patterns differ between city and rural areas, with urban zones experiencing higher incidence rates

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Children in conflict zones are at a 3-fold higher risk of sustaining knife injuries during violent incidents

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Rates of hospital admissions for knife injuries have been rising by approximately 5% annually over the past decade in several European countries

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Knife injuries are involved in roughly 40% of domestic violence cases in certain urban centers

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The incidence of non-fatal knife injuries is highest during holiday seasons, with a 20% increase compared to other times of the year

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In Canada, knife-related injuries account for approximately 15% of all violent trauma cases

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Key Highlights

In the United States, approximately 17,000 injuries involving knives or cutting instruments are reported annually
Knife-related injuries account for about 13% of all assault injuries treated in emergency departments in the US
Around 1,300 deaths annually in the US are caused by stab wounds
In the UK, knife injuries in hospitals increased by 8% from 2019 to 2020
Youth aged 10-19 are the most frequently affected group in knife injuries in urban areas worldwide
Approximately 50% of stabbing injuries in hospital ERs involve victims under the age of 30
The incidence rate of knife injuries in South African hospitals is estimated at 35 per 100,000 population annually
About 85% of all prison stabbings involve homemade or improvised weapons
Knife injuries tend to have a higher rate of complications, including infection, with up to 25% requiring surgical intervention
The average hospital stay for knife wound patients is approximately 4 days
In the US, rates of knife injuries are highest in urban areas and among males, with males accounting for over 80% of injuries
In a survey of assault-related injuries, 70% of victims reported being attacked with a knife or similar weapon
Knife-related assaults globally account for approximately 2 million hospital admissions annually

Every year, thousands in the United States and around the world suffer from knife injuries—shattering lives, filling emergency rooms, and revealing alarming trends among youth and urban populations that demand urgent awareness and action.

Demographics and Victim Profiles

Youth aged 10-19 are the most frequently affected group in knife injuries in urban areas worldwide
Approximately 50% of stabbing injuries in hospital ERs involve victims under the age of 30
In the US, rates of knife injuries are highest in urban areas and among males, with males accounting for over 80% of injuries
The median age for knife injury victims in many urban centers is 24 years old
The predominance of male victims in knife injuries is consistent across global data, with male victims comprising over 70%
Children under age 10 account for roughly 10% of all knife injuries in pediatric trauma centers
Male homicide victims are 5 times more likely to be stabbed than female victims
Approximately 55% of all knife injuries involve self-inflicted wounds, primarily among adolescents and young adults
Among known perpetrators of knife assaults, approximately 60% are acquaintances or friends of the victims

Demographics and Victim Profiles Interpretation

These stark statistics reveal that urban knife violence predominantly affects young males, with a troubling mix of accidental, self-inflicted, and peer-related injuries, underscoring a societal knife-edged crisis that demands comprehensive intervention.

Hospital and Medical Treatment Data

In the UK, knife injuries in hospitals increased by 8% from 2019 to 2020
Knife injuries tend to have a higher rate of complications, including infection, with up to 25% requiring surgical intervention
The average hospital stay for knife wound patients is approximately 4 days
Knife injuries in hospitalized patients show a 15% re-admission rate within 30 days
In 2022, hospital emergency rooms reported over 250,000 cases involving knife injuries in the US
In urban hospitals, stab wound treatment costs average around $4,500 per case
The most common locations for hospital-treated knife injuries are the abdomen (30%) and limbs (50%)

Hospital and Medical Treatment Data Interpretation

As knife injuries surge and hospital costs climb, urban hospitals face a daunting reality where a quarter of cases demand additional surgery, yet the data suggests that behind the grim statistics, a sharp increase in violence and its costly toll on healthcare is clearly cutting close to home.

Prevalence and Incidence of Knife Injuries

In the United States, approximately 17,000 injuries involving knives or cutting instruments are reported annually
Knife-related injuries account for about 13% of all assault injuries treated in emergency departments in the US
Around 1,300 deaths annually in the US are caused by stab wounds
The incidence rate of knife injuries in South African hospitals is estimated at 35 per 100,000 population annually
About 85% of all prison stabbings involve homemade or improvised weapons
In a survey of assault-related injuries, 70% of victims reported being attacked with a knife or similar weapon
Knife-related assaults globally account for approximately 2 million hospital admissions annually
In Australia, knife assault rates decreased by 10% between 2010 and 2019
In the US, approximately 13% of all homicides involve a stabbing wound
Approximately 65% of knife injuries in emergency departments are classified as accidental, while 35% are intentional
The global prevalence of knife injuries among violence-related injuries is approximately 70%
The majority of accidental knife injuries occur in the kitchen, with an estimated 60% of such injuries happening during food preparation
Hospitals in Mexico reported over 90,000 knife injury cases in 2019, with an increase of 5% from the previous year
About 12% of all violent crimes involve some form of knife attack, according to police records worldwide
The overall mortality rate from knife injuries in the UK is approximately 2.1 per 100,000 population
Knife injury patterns differ between city and rural areas, with urban zones experiencing higher incidence rates
Children in conflict zones are at a 3-fold higher risk of sustaining knife injuries during violent incidents
Rates of hospital admissions for knife injuries have been rising by approximately 5% annually over the past decade in several European countries
Knife injuries are involved in roughly 40% of domestic violence cases in certain urban centers
The incidence of non-fatal knife injuries is highest during holiday seasons, with a 20% increase compared to other times of the year
In Canada, knife-related injuries account for approximately 15% of all violent trauma cases

Prevalence and Incidence of Knife Injuries Interpretation

Despite a global prevalence where knives inflict a staggering 70% of violence-related injuries, the steady rise in hospital admissions and fatalities underscores that from culinary mishaps to deadly assaults, the blade remains an unwelcome and sharp reminder of how everyday objects can turn lethal in our pursuit of safety and justice.