GITNUXREPORT 2025

Stalking Statistics

Millions stalked annually; most victims are women, primarily through cyber means.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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The average duration of stalking before victims seek help is approximately 1 year

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About 61% of victims stalked by a current or former partner report that the stalking caused them to fear for their safety

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Victims of stalking have an increased risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, with some studies indicating nearly 75% report mental health effects

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Stalking incidents often escalate to physical violence in about 20-25% of cases

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Victims of stalking report a 70% decrease in their quality of life and sense of safety

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About 65% of stalking victims have experienced emotional distress that impairs their daily functioning

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The emotional impact of stalking can lead to PTSD in approximately 30-40% of victims

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Approximately 45% of stalking victims report feeling anxiety about their safety on a daily basis

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Victims often change their routines or relocate due to stalking, with about 20% reporting relocation

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Approximately 10% of stalking victims experience physical assault as a direct consequence

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Stalking-related police reports tend to increase during major holidays or significant life events, indicating heightened victim vulnerability

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The financial costs associated with stalking victims, including medical, legal, and loss of employment, average around $10,000 per victim

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The fear of retaliation is a common reason why victims delay reporting stalking incidents to authorities

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Almost 60% of stalking victims have reported feeling afraid for their safety at some point during the stalking ordeal

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Law enforcement agencies report that only about 15-20% of stalking cases lead to arrests or prosecution, indicating challenges in enforcement

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The legal penalties for stalking vary widely, with some states allowing for imprisonment of 1-5 years, and others having more lenient sentences

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The most common stalking behaviors include repeatedly following or waiting for the victim, making threats, and unwanted phone calls

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Law enforcement agencies report that stalking cases are more complex and require specialized training for effective intervention

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The most common time for stalking incidents to occur is between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

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The legal definition of stalking varies by state but typically includes a pattern of repeated, unwanted behaviors that cause fear or distress

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Nearly 50% of stalking victims report that their stalker engaged in threatening behavior, including death threats

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The most typical warning signs of stalking include repeated unwanted communications, unauthorized surveillance, and physical following

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Approximately 7.5 million individuals are stalked annually in the United States

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Women are more likely to be stalked than men, accounting for about 78% of victims

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About 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking during their lifetime

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Nearly 1 in 10 women and 1 in 44 men are stalked during pregnancy

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The majority of stalkers are known to their victims, often being intimate partners or previous acquaintances

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There is a significant underreporting of stalking incidents, with estimates suggesting only about 30% are reported to authorities

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Approximately 17% of women and 3% of men experienced stalking during their lifetime, according to the National Violence Against Women Survey

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Nearly half of stalking victims are stalked for more than 12 months before intervention

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The median age of stalking victims is 30 years old, with a wide age range involved

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Approximately 20% of stalkers are seeking to rekindle a past relationship

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Nearly 85% of stalking victims know their offender; about 60% are friends, ex-partners, or family members

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Approximately 10-20% of stalkers have a criminal history for violence or harassment

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Stalking can occur across all demographic groups but has higher prevalence in urban areas

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Victims of stalking experience an average of 3-4 contacts or incidents per week

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Approximately 40% of stalkers are motivated by romantic rejection or jealousy

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The majority of stalkers are male and victims are predominantly female

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Teenagers and young adults are increasingly targeted by stalkers, especially via social media platforms, accounting for over 30% of digital stalking cases

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Men who are stalked often experience stalking by current or former intimate partners, similar to women, but are less likely to seek help

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The average age of first stalking experience is around 17 years old for minors, indicating early exposure to stalking phenomena

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Many stalking incidents are initiated by obsessive behaviors, with approximately 40% of stalkers displaying obsessive tendencies

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Nearly 60% of stalking victims are harassed via electronic communication

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Stalkers often use social media platforms as a primary means of contact

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About 75% of stalking victims experience some form of digital harassment

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Around 80% of stalking cases involve some form of cyberstalking

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About 25% of stalking cases involve cyberstalking alone, with some cases combining cyber and offline stalking

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Rutgers University research indicates that about 60% of stalking incidents involve digital tools such as GPS tracking, fake accounts, and hacking

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Technological advances have made it easier for stalkers to track victims, with 25% of stalkers using GPS tracking devices

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Victims of cyberstalking report that it can be more persistent and invasive than offline stalking, with some experiencing ongoing harassment over months or years

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A significant number of stalking victims report instances of cyberstalking only, with estimates ranging from 10% to 25% of all stalking cases

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Key Highlights

Approximately 7.5 million individuals are stalked annually in the United States
Women are more likely to be stalked than men, accounting for about 78% of victims
About 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking during their lifetime
Nearly 60% of stalking victims are harassed via electronic communication
Stalkers often use social media platforms as a primary means of contact
The average duration of stalking before victims seek help is approximately 1 year
About 75% of stalking victims experience some form of digital harassment
Nearly 1 in 10 women and 1 in 44 men are stalked during pregnancy
The majority of stalkers are known to their victims, often being intimate partners or previous acquaintances
About 61% of victims stalked by a current or former partner report that the stalking caused them to fear for their safety
There is a significant underreporting of stalking incidents, with estimates suggesting only about 30% are reported to authorities
Victims of stalking have an increased risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, with some studies indicating nearly 75% report mental health effects
Approximately 17% of women and 3% of men experienced stalking during their lifetime, according to the National Violence Against Women Survey

Every year, over 7.5 million Americans find themselves targeted by stalkers—mostly women—and as technology amplifies the reach of harassment, understanding the scope and impact of stalking has never been more urgent.

Impact and Consequences of Stalking

The average duration of stalking before victims seek help is approximately 1 year
About 61% of victims stalked by a current or former partner report that the stalking caused them to fear for their safety
Victims of stalking have an increased risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, with some studies indicating nearly 75% report mental health effects
Stalking incidents often escalate to physical violence in about 20-25% of cases
Victims of stalking report a 70% decrease in their quality of life and sense of safety
About 65% of stalking victims have experienced emotional distress that impairs their daily functioning
The emotional impact of stalking can lead to PTSD in approximately 30-40% of victims
Approximately 45% of stalking victims report feeling anxiety about their safety on a daily basis
Victims often change their routines or relocate due to stalking, with about 20% reporting relocation
Approximately 10% of stalking victims experience physical assault as a direct consequence
Stalking-related police reports tend to increase during major holidays or significant life events, indicating heightened victim vulnerability
The financial costs associated with stalking victims, including medical, legal, and loss of employment, average around $10,000 per victim
The fear of retaliation is a common reason why victims delay reporting stalking incidents to authorities
Almost 60% of stalking victims have reported feeling afraid for their safety at some point during the stalking ordeal

Impact and Consequences of Stalking Interpretation

Stalking’s stealthy one-year march from harassment to grave safety threats, coupled with its profound mental health toll and often devastating ripple effects on victims’ lives, underscores a compelling urgency for earlier intervention and more robust protective measures.

Legal and Law Enforcement Aspects

Law enforcement agencies report that only about 15-20% of stalking cases lead to arrests or prosecution, indicating challenges in enforcement
The legal penalties for stalking vary widely, with some states allowing for imprisonment of 1-5 years, and others having more lenient sentences

Legal and Law Enforcement Aspects Interpretation

With only a fraction of stalking cases resulting in justice and penalties ranging from a slap on the wrist to years behind bars, it's clear that without stronger enforcement and uniform laws, stalking remains a low-risk, high-reward game for predators.

Methods and Behaviors in Stalking Cases

The most common stalking behaviors include repeatedly following or waiting for the victim, making threats, and unwanted phone calls
Law enforcement agencies report that stalking cases are more complex and require specialized training for effective intervention
The most common time for stalking incidents to occur is between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
The legal definition of stalking varies by state but typically includes a pattern of repeated, unwanted behaviors that cause fear or distress
Nearly 50% of stalking victims report that their stalker engaged in threatening behavior, including death threats
The most typical warning signs of stalking include repeated unwanted communications, unauthorized surveillance, and physical following

Methods and Behaviors in Stalking Cases Interpretation

While nearly half of stalking victims face threats that threaten their safety, the complex, often late-night behaviors—like repeated following and unwanted calls—highlight the urgent need for law enforcement to receive specialized training to unravel these disturbing patterns and protect those targeted.

Prevalence and Demographics of Stalking

Approximately 7.5 million individuals are stalked annually in the United States
Women are more likely to be stalked than men, accounting for about 78% of victims
About 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking during their lifetime
Nearly 1 in 10 women and 1 in 44 men are stalked during pregnancy
The majority of stalkers are known to their victims, often being intimate partners or previous acquaintances
There is a significant underreporting of stalking incidents, with estimates suggesting only about 30% are reported to authorities
Approximately 17% of women and 3% of men experienced stalking during their lifetime, according to the National Violence Against Women Survey
Nearly half of stalking victims are stalked for more than 12 months before intervention
The median age of stalking victims is 30 years old, with a wide age range involved
Approximately 20% of stalkers are seeking to rekindle a past relationship
Nearly 85% of stalking victims know their offender; about 60% are friends, ex-partners, or family members
Approximately 10-20% of stalkers have a criminal history for violence or harassment
Stalking can occur across all demographic groups but has higher prevalence in urban areas
Victims of stalking experience an average of 3-4 contacts or incidents per week
Approximately 40% of stalkers are motivated by romantic rejection or jealousy
The majority of stalkers are male and victims are predominantly female
Teenagers and young adults are increasingly targeted by stalkers, especially via social media platforms, accounting for over 30% of digital stalking cases
Men who are stalked often experience stalking by current or former intimate partners, similar to women, but are less likely to seek help
The average age of first stalking experience is around 17 years old for minors, indicating early exposure to stalking phenomena
Many stalking incidents are initiated by obsessive behaviors, with approximately 40% of stalkers displaying obsessive tendencies

Prevalence and Demographics of Stalking Interpretation

With millions stalked annually—primarily women, often by known perpetrators—the silent epidemic highlights that obsession and jealousy transcend gender and age, yet underreporting and digital vulnerabilities leave many victims in the shadows of awareness and intervention.

Technology and Cyberstalking

Nearly 60% of stalking victims are harassed via electronic communication
Stalkers often use social media platforms as a primary means of contact
About 75% of stalking victims experience some form of digital harassment
Around 80% of stalking cases involve some form of cyberstalking
About 25% of stalking cases involve cyberstalking alone, with some cases combining cyber and offline stalking
Rutgers University research indicates that about 60% of stalking incidents involve digital tools such as GPS tracking, fake accounts, and hacking
Technological advances have made it easier for stalkers to track victims, with 25% of stalkers using GPS tracking devices
Victims of cyberstalking report that it can be more persistent and invasive than offline stalking, with some experiencing ongoing harassment over months or years
A significant number of stalking victims report instances of cyberstalking only, with estimates ranging from 10% to 25% of all stalking cases

Technology and Cyberstalking Interpretation

As technology increasingly becomes a tool of torment rather than safety, nearly 60% of stalking victims face ongoing digital harassment—revealing that in the modern era, being watched isn't just a threat, but an omnipresent digital reality that blurs the lines between online and offline torment.