Author: Darko Jacimovic

The latest malware statistics show that 10% of all computers were attacked by malicious programs in the first half of 2021.

Cyberattacks are an everyday thing now, and we are all slowly getting used to the idea that there are dangers around us. But somehow, we still don’t act accordingly.

Installing an antivirus is not enough—we have to combine it with proper computer hygiene. 

What does that mean?

Take a look at the statistics we have collected here, and you will get the idea. In this article, you will find some incredible stories about how a simple oversight can cause billions in damages and how the losses could have been prevented.

Most Common Types of Malware and Their Impact

Malware is any piece of software that is created to harm electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, etc. The motives are mainly financial gains but could also be cyber warfare, and these two are often intertwined. There are many forms of malware out there, but the most common ones are worms, viruses, botnets, trojans, spyware, and phishing attempts.

1. New malware is discovered every 0.2 seconds on average.

(AV-Test)

The German AV-Test institute registers new malware every 0.2 seconds, which amounts to almost 432,000 pieces of malware every day. The malware analysis showed that nearly 95% is designed for Windows, 3,2% is for Android, and 0,11% is for macOS.

The macOS structure makes it unpopular amongst hackers because it is compartmentalized and doesn’t allow viruses to run freely across the sectors. But, of course, if you are a Mac user, this doesn’t mean you should stop being careful. Even though they are less likely to become a computer virus victim, MacOS users are still susceptible to phishing and brute force attacks.

2. The malware infection statistics show that 75% of all malware in the first half of 2021 had been delivered by email.

(HP Wolf Security)

Emails are still the most popular way of distributing malware. Around 49% of phishing emails used invoices and other business transactions as bait, while another 15% were created as replies to intercepted company or personal emails. This method is called email thread hijacking, and new employees are one of the most susceptible categories since they are still learning about company structure and other employees.

3. 52% of the ransomware victims pay the ransom.

(Mimecast)

Unfortunately, the malware attack statistics show that 34% of individuals and organizations who paid the ransom never got control of their data back. On average, ransomware incidents cause six days of downtime, but 37% of the companies reported more than a week.

4. More than 3 million new pieces of mobile malware were detected in the last quarter of 2020.

(McAfee)

This is a significant increase from the previous quarter when more than a million and a half were discovered. A large percentage of this malware was related to Covid vaccination. According to McAfee’s mobile malware statistics, more than 90% of all pandemic-related malware are trojans. They take complete control of the device, access the user’s data, and transfer additional malware.

5. An average company using Windows RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) receives more than 600 failed login attempts.

(Sophos)

Due to the pandemic, many companies had to turn to remote work, and Windrows RDP was one of the preferred methods. This, in turn, led to an increase in brute force login attempts. This is one of the most common types of unsophisticated cyberattacks. 

Hackers use a vast number of username and password combinations to gain access to the company’s RDP. Hacking statistics show that the most commonly used usernames are administrator, admin, user, ssm-user, and test.

6. 40% of large companies have more than 10,000 ghost users.

(Varonis)

Furthermore, 59% of financial companies have more than 500 passwords that never expire. These numbers are every hacker’s wildest dream. Ghost (inactive) users are an easy way for them to gain access to the company’s servers, especially if they are combined with passwords that never expire. 

It all comes down to the fact that the hackers are only as good as we allow them to be. Bad computer hygiene has led to some of the most famous data breaches, Colonial Pipeline being the latest.

Interesting Antivirus Statistics

7. Norton LifeLock is the most commonly used antivirus program, with more than 13% market share.

(Statista), (Security.org)

Around 12.7% of users prefer Avast, and the percentage of ESET users is not much lower – 11.65%. McAfee, the first antivirus program ever released, is in sixth place, with around 7.5% of the market share. According to studies, more than 30% of antivirus users have free versions.

8. The global endpoint security market size in 2021 was worth $9.51 billion.

(Statista)

The market will continue to grow and is expected to reach $15.6 billion by 2024. Endpoint security is made up of firewalls, antivirus, intrusion detection, and other tools that protect from different types of malware attacks. With the evolution of cyber threats, antiviruses have evolved as well. As a result, the best antivirus software brands now offer much broader protection and can be considered to be endpoint security software.

9. Banking Trojan activity has spiked in the second half of 2020, with a 141% increase.

(McAfee)

The notorious Cerberus source code and BRATA trojan are two of the main contributors to this increase. Thanks to their unique obfuscation features and processes, the hackers managed to slip them through Google’s screening. Android malware statistics show that McAfee found five apps containing this malware on Google Play in 2020.

10. Android’s incorporated malware protection offers limited safety, as it detected only 82% of threats during an independent test. 

(AV-Comparatives)

Tests conducted by an independent organization showed that built-in malware protection is not enough to protect Android users. With just under 82% detection rate, Android ranked at the bottom of the list. Antiviruses like Bitdefender, Avira, G Data, and Kaspersky have a 100% detection rate, some of which even with their free versions.

11. Smartphone malware statistics show that more than 57% of new mobile malware in 2020 was adware.

(Statista)

New Android malware appears at a rate of almost half a million per month, and adware is the most common type. It is designed to automatically show or download advertising material when you are online. The most common examples are banners or pop-ups.

12. More than 98% of mobile banking attacks target Android devices.

(Kaspersky)

When it comes to the eternal battle — iOS vs. Android — the malware statistics show that iOS is slightly more secure. This is probably due to its closed architecture. For instance, the software and the hardware are developed together and closely intertwined, unlike Android. 

Furthermore, the apps featured in the store are examined in detail and approved by Apple, and iOS doesn’t allow users to side-load software. Android is open-source software, which has its advantages but makes it more vulnerable.

Computer Viruses: Statistics

13. ILOVEYOU (LoveBug) was the first major virus in the world, and it had infected more than 10% of all computers at the time.

(Forbes)

The worm first appeared in 2000 in the Philippines. Even though its creator didn’t have any supervillain intentions (just wanted to steal some passwords to access the internet for free), it caused massive worldwide problems. The malware detection statistics show that it affected every tenth computer in the world.

The worm would infect a computer and then send ILOVEYOU emails to all contacts in the address book. The infection spread very fast, clogging the network with emails. At some point, even the Pentagon, the CIA, and the UK Parliament all shut down their email systems to protect them from the surge. Cybercrime statistics show that the overall damage is assessed to be around $10 billion. 

14. Viruses make around 15% of all malware.

(Statista)

When we compare computer virus vs. malware numbers, we can see that viruses are not the most common form of malware. They are in second place on the list, far behind trojans that take up more than 64% of all malware in cyberspace. Worms are in third place, with little under 8%.

15. Mydoom is the most destructive virus so far, with $52.2 billion in damages.

(HP)

Also known as Novarg, this worm appeared in 2004 and caused a massive shake across the internet. The global malware statistics show that, at one point, it was responsible for 25% of all emails sent. Computer worms are a type of virus that is self-contained – it has everything it needs to function. Once it lands in a new device, it starts replicating and infects other connected devices.

In this case, the worm’s objective was to send infected emails to all email addresses it could scrape from the infected device. Even though it was created 17 years ago, Mydoom is still around and generates 1% of all phishing emails.

16. Malware stats show that almost 10% of all computers connected to the internet encountered malware in the second quarter of 2021.

(Securelist)

According to Kaspersky, the global average of computers that come into contact with malware is 9.43%. However, the average numbers are just one part of the story. In countries like Belarus and Mauritania, the percentages are much higher, 23.65% and 19.04%, respectively. 

They are followed by Moldova and Ukraine, both with over 18%. The US and Canada are much better, with just 6.24% and 8.86%, respectively.

17. More than 83% of new malware is developed to target Windows systems.

(Malwarebytes), (AV-Test)

A recent study analyzing malware statistics by operating system shows that the percentage of Windows malware is gradually increasing, from 78% in 2019 to 83% in 2020. This is hardly surprising since Windows is the most popular OS in the world. However, there are fluctuations in the percentages over the years, with high spikes or drops. 

This is because whenever an effective malware tool appears, it leads to an increase in cyberattacks. For instance, cybersecurity statistics show that macOS had a significant threat increase of over 400% in 2019. In that year, it had almost two times more detections per endpoint than Windows.

Malware Trends and Forecasts

18. Almost 70% of cybersecurity professionals had under a week to set up security when companies turned to remote work during the pandemic.

(ISC)

Furthermore, 22% of cybersecurity professionals state that they had less than a day. It is evident that that’s not enough to set up security protocols and educate the workforce. Only 16% had more than a week to finish these crucial tasks. They were not given more time because 67% of businesses had just under a week to move their operations online. The cybersecurity experts just had to follow clients’ demands.

19. 34% of all security incidents that organizations have experienced in 2020 involved malware.

(SOPHOS)

According to Sophos’s 2021 study, around a third of all cybersecurity incidents involved malware. Malware statistics further show that exposed data and ransomware were involved in 29% and 28% of cases, respectively. 

With the organizations forced to use cloud infrastructure due to the pandemic and remote work, there are much more tempting targets for the hackers. As a result, around 70% of IT professionals state that the cloud infrastructure they support has suffered a breach in the last year.

20. 66% of cybersecurity professionals report shortages of dedicated cybersecurity staff in their organizations.

(ISC)

A lack of workers may be the reason behind the grim internet security statistics. But even though there is a shortage of qualified cybersecurity staff, the global workforce gap is actually decreasing. It fell from 4 million to 3.1 million in 2020. 66% of that gap is reported in the Asia-Pacific region, and 12% in the US. Europe contributes to the overall numbers with just 5%.

21. 52% of businesses reported a growing volume of cyberattacks in 2021.

(Mimecast)

Furthermore, 60% reported that the attacks and malware are becoming more sophisticated, which is more worrying. When it comes to malware, quality is more important than quality. The malware statistics lead us to conclude that the vast majority of cyberattacks are low-quality, and they can be spotted easily. But the sophisticated attacks are much more dangerous, especially when distributed to new and inexperienced employees.

22. Even though the overall number of ransomware detections declined by 40% in 2020, ransomware attacks are more dangerous than ever.

(Securelist)

The statistics show that 1.49% of all malware detected in 2019 was ransomware. If we compare ransomware vs. malware total numbers, we can see that the percentage dropped to 1.08% in 2020. These figures would make you think that the situation is improving, but unfortunately, it’s not the case. 

Ransomware statistics indicate that the hackers just shifted from conducting mass attacks to highly sophisticated and targeted attacks on large and important organizations because they bring more money. For instance, CNA Financial allegedly paid hackers $40 million to get control of its systems back from the hackers.

Conclusion

The latest malware facts and data show that the digital world is more dangerous than the real world. But, in a way, we are to blame. Most of us don’t take computer hygiene and cybersecurity very seriously. We look both ways before crossing the street but fail to change our passwords occasionally, even though we are more likely to be a victim of malware than a hit and run victim.

The bottom line is that if we were more persistent in maintaining proper computer hygiene, cybercriminals would have a harder time achieving their goals. As long as they view it as easy money with no possibility of getting caught, they will keep developing and marketing new malware.

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Ransomware attacks can quickly turn into a nightmare for unprepared IT admins. In the past, hackers mostly operated on a linear scale, making it easy to predict their next move. These days, it’s more complicated.

As you’ll learn from these ransomware statistics, attacks nowadays are more elaborate, targeted, advanced, and broader. Consequently, the impact is also more detrimental. Furthermore, cybercriminals are gaining so much control that they can sway even large organizations to dance to their tune and give in to their financial demands.

Despite the combined efforts to secure information systems, recent statistics reveal a rising rate of successful attacks. But unlike other types of malware, ransomware is usually easier to spot. We’ve compiled some important facts about this type of cyberattacks to help you detect potential threats and strengthen your existing security systems.

The First and the Biggest Ransomware Attacks in History

1. The first documented ransomware attack happened in 1989 and targeted the healthcare industry.

(Palo Alto Networks)

Did you know the first targets of a ransomware attack were healthcare professionals?

Three decades ago, Dr. Joseph Popp, an active AIDS researcher at the time, devised a plan to give out 20,000 floppy disks to his fellow AIDS researchers across 90 countries. He told them the disks contained a program that could assess a person’s risk of contracting AIDS in the form of a questionnaire. But they didn’t have any idea they were infected with malicious software. They were the first victims of what would later become known as the AIDS Trojan.

According to ransomware statistics, 24% of data breaches today occur in the healthcare sector.

2. WannaCry is the biggest ransomware attack in history.

(Raconteur)

Launched in 2017, WannaCry is considered the biggest and most widespread ransomware attack in history. It’s estimated to have crippled 200,000 computers in 150 countries, putting the world in a state of frenzy for four days.

The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK was most severely affected by this attack and is believed to have lost £92 million (almost $125 million). Cyence, a cyber risk modeling firm, assessed that the total loss caused by WannaCry was close to $4 billion.

General Ransomware Stats

3. The average cost of remediating a ransomware attack is a staggering $761,106.

(Sophos)

In 2020, Sophos conducted a survey among 5,000 IT managers across six continents. What’s shocking about its findings is that paying cybercriminals the ransom money is only one half of the cost involved. Companies also need to pay for all the working hours required to restore their systems, clean up the damage caused by the attack, and strengthen their cybersecurity.

The average ransomware demand globally is estimated at $761,106. Organizations that decide not to pay the ransom spend around $732,520 to recover their systems. Businesses that pay lose twice the amount due to all the additional costs, totaling close to $1.45 million.

4. Since 2016, more than 4,000 ransomware attacks have occurred daily.

(Federal Bureau of Investigation)

In the four years since January 2016, more than 4,000 ransomware attacks have been carried out daily, according to ransomware statistics from 2020 published by the FBI. The most common targets include private businesses, home users, and even government networks.

Experts believe that the sudden shift toward remote work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to drive this number up. More than ever, it is crucial to have multiple layers of security, even for home networks.

5. Cybercriminals use bitcoin as a ransom currency because of its anonymity.

(ECPI University)

Some of the latest ransomware attacks show us how standard ransomware is slowly morphing into crypto-ransomware. Bitcoin is a widely used digital currency, and most cybercriminals nowadays demand ransom in this rather than some physical currency. 

Not only is bitcoin untraceable, but it also isn’t overseen by any banks or government bodies. Plus, sending, receiving, and converting it to cash doesn’t require hackers to reveal their personal information.

6. 1 in 3,000 emails that pass security filters contains malware, including ransomware.

(Fortinet)

According to email phishing attacks statistics, using a filter tool doesn’t entirely eliminate the risk of ransomware. Although it provides some level of security, 1 in 3,000 emails that pass through commonly used filters may still be infected with some type of malware, ransomware included.

Furthermore, 1 in 4,000 emails contains malware previously unknown to cybersecurity experts. To avoid falling victim to ransomware, employees should learn how to differentiate between legit and malicious emails. Investing in a reliable email encryption service is also a smart idea.

7. On average, targeted organizations pay a ransom of $233,817.

(Coveware)

Malware statistics from the third quarter of 2020 show that the average ransom payment was $233,817. This marks a 31% increase from the second quarter and a 47.8% increase from the first quarter of the year. For comparison, the average payment in the third quarter of 2019 was $41,198, which means that its value has gone up by a staggering 467.5% year-over-year.

8. The average downtime due to a ransomware attack is 19 days.

(Coveware)

According to ransomware attacks statistics, it’s not just the average ransom payment that increased over the past year — the average downtime caused by the attacks also saw a significant rise. In the third quarter of 2020, the downtime was 19 days, up 19.2% from 16 days in the second quarter. In the third quarter of 2019, the average downtime was 12.1 days, which translates to an annual increase of 57%.

9. Only 26% of targeted organizations pay the ransom, but not all get their data back.

(Sophos)

2020 ransomware statistics reveal that about one in four companies worldwide ends up paying the ransom to regain access to its files. However, in some cases, not everything goes according to plan. 

Sonos reports that 1% of organizations pay the ransom and never get their files back. Looking at country-specific statistics, India has the highest percentage of organizations that decide to pay the ransom (66%), while Spain has the lowest (only 4%).

10. Cybersecurity insurance pays the ransom 94% of the time.

(Sophos)

Cybersecurity insurance is one of the main anti-ransomware trends in today’s cyber world. In fact, 84% of organizations report having it. In times of security breaches, it can aid financially.

However, only 64% of organizations have policies that cover ransomware incidents, meaning that the other 20% aren’t protected in such cases. When organizations with anti-ransomware insurance are targeted by hackers and decide to pay the ransom, 94% of the time, it’s actually the cybersecurity insurance companies that cover the cost.

11. In 2020, 99% of organizations that paid the ransom received a functioning decryption tool.

(Coveware)

Ransomware stats from the first quarter of 2020 reveal that 99% of victims who pay the ransom receive a functioning decryptor and successfully regain access to their files. This is up from 97% in the final quarter of 2019. However, these statistics show that 1% of organizations permanently lose their data even after paying the ransom.

Ransomware is the primary income source for the so-called Ransomware-as-a-Service groups of hackers. For this reason, they’re careful that the data they’ve stolen doesn’t get corrupted beyond recovery; otherwise, they risk losing their profits. However, mistakes sometimes happen, so it’s crucial not to shell out a hefty sum of money before considering all your options.

12. According to ransomware statistics from 2019, organizations lost more than $7.5 billion due to ransomware attacks.

(Emsisoft)

In 2019, at least 966 government agencies, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions were on the receiving end of the worst sequence of ransomware attacks ever recorded. 

The impact was severe, especially for the healthcare industry. Medical records were inaccessible or even lost, which placed people’s lives at risk. The attacks also resulted in the cancellation of urgent surgical procedures and redirection of patients to other institutions.

13. In 2019, the FBI’s IC3 received 2,047 ransomware complaints with an estimated loss of over $8.9 million.

(Federal Bureau of Investigation)

In its annual ransomware statistics report for 2019, the FBI recorded 2,047 complaints related to ransomware. While the mere number of cases doesn’t look that worrying, the associated losses have a colossal value of over $8.9 million. 

This report only refers to the complaints filed to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and not directly to FBI agents or offices. Therefore, the actual cost and the number of attacks are probably much higher.

14. In 2020, there were 127 newly discovered ransomware families.

(Statista, Dark Reading)

This number is slightly higher than the year before, when there were only 95 new families detected. A typical ransomware attack today is more advanced than in the past. According to cybersecurity experts, hackers have learned they shouldn’t target thousands of victims at once and expect a few of them to succumb to their demands. 

Instead, cybercriminals now focus on specific organizations that are more likely to pay the ransom to have their data restored as soon as possible. That’s why their interest has shifted from home users to local governments, healthcare providers, and smaller businesses with outdated operating systems.

Industry-Specific Ransomware Statistics

15. The private sector suffers more ransomware attacks than the public sector.

(Sophos)

Contrary to what we repeatedly hear from the media, it’s not the public but the private sector that’s most often the target of cybercriminals. In 2019, only 45% of public sector organizations were victims of ransomware attacks. This is well below the 60% of media, leisure, and entertainment organizations that were also targeted, according to 2019 phishing statistics.

So why are the headlines claiming the opposite? That’s mainly because public organizations are financed from the public funds and obliged to report ransomware attacks. Private organizations don’t have such protocols, allowing them to keep any data breach or attack a secret.

16. New ransomware threats are mainly targeting the healthcare industry.

(Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency)

The FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security recently called a conference with healthcare executives to warn them of an imminent cybercrime threat to hospitals and care providers. Namely, the global pandemic has caused a significant disruption in the healthcare sector, making it susceptible to some of the latest ransomware threats.

Thankfully, after receiving intel, the FBI was able to give warnings on impending cyber attacks. This gives the healthcare sector time to strengthen its networks and systems. However, with the increased healthcare spending during the pandemic, providers might find it challenging to locate funds to invest in their cybersecurity.

17. The total loss caused by ransomware attacks against US healthcare providers has hit over $157 million since 2016.

(HIPAA Journal)

According to ransomware statistics, the healthcare sector was the target of 172 attacks since 2016. 74% of these attacks were aimed at hospitals, while the remaining 26% targeted secondary institutions like dental services and nursing homes. In all, the ransomware demand was $16.48 million, but healthcare providers only paid $640,000. The rest of the cost was associated with data retrieval, damage reparation, and improvements in cybersecurity.

18. Between the second and third quarter of 2020, there’s been a massive 388% increase in ransomware attacks in the education sector.

(Emsisoft)

Higher education ransomware statistics reveal that the number of targeted institutions spiked from 8 in the second quarter to 31 in the third quarter of 2020. But unlike other industries, ransomware attacks on educational institutions typically follow a specific pattern.

Namely, cybercriminals compromise a network in early summer and slowly exfiltrate data from the institution. 

On average, they spend 56 days on these networks, waiting for the “right moment” to commence a full-scale attack. For hackers, that moment is the beginning of the school year, after which, during the third quarter, they hit the targeted institutions with ransom demands. By following this pattern, they’re able to inflict the most damage to their targets.

Top Ransomware Trends in 2020

19. Experts reported one ransomware attack every 11 seconds in 2021.

(Cybercrime Magazine)

According to available data, almost six ransomware attacks occurred every minute in 2021. This is a significant increase from one attack every 40 seconds in 2016 and one every 14 seconds in 2019. These numbers exclude attacks on individuals and focus on businesses. That’s alarming as ransomware stats reveal that home users with insufficient antivirus software are more at risk of attacks than organizations that invest millions in cybersecurity.

20. The parcel and shipping sector could be the next big target of ransomware attacks.

(Nextgov)

Some analysts predict that, in 2022, the shipping and delivery industry could also become the target of ransomware attacks. Driven by people’s dependency on these services during the lockdown, hackers will most likely perceive it as a viable opportunity to extort more money.

21. The global cost associated with ransomware recovery exceeded $20 billion in 2021.

(Cybercrime Magazine)

Out of all the different forms of cybercrime, ransomware is by far the fastest-growing. In 2021, the total ransomware costs associated with data recovery had exceeded $20 billion, 57 times more than in 2015. As ransomware attacks become more targeted and sophisticated, organizations will have to invest lots of money to improve their cybersecurity.

22. By 2025, organizations will invest more than $1 trillion in their cybersecurity.

(Cybercrime Magazine)

According to industry estimates for the period between 2019 and 2023, based on FBI ransomware statistics, the cost of cybercrime could reach $5.2 trillion. The ongoing online threats organizations face will press them to invest more in cybersecurity.

One layer of security won’t suffice in repelling cyberthreats from sophisticated hackers. Businesses will have to use a combination of the best antivirus software, a firewall, email filtering programs, and other security tools to ensure optimum defense. As a result, this will push worldwide spending on cybersecurity products and services to over $1 trillion by 2025.

Conclusion 

The cyberworld isn’t that different from the world we live in. To protect your property and assets, you need to have a security system in place. Likewise, organizations that handle valuable customer data need to secure their networks and update their systems regularly.

Recent ransomware attacks show us that hackers aren’t going anywhere. What’s more, they won’t hesitate to take advantage of any difficult situation, even if it’s a global pandemic that affects us all. Organizations must arm their systems with the right tools to counter any possible attacks. A business’s loss is a hacker’s gain, so you must be proactive, now more than ever.

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The real estate market is known to fluctuate very often. Most of these fluctuations result from current events, changing seasons, and shift in supply and demand.

Such volatility makes it difficult for buyers and sellers to determine the price during negotiations. When this happens, buyers, sellers, and agents rely on real estate statistics to gain insights into the real estate industry and make predictions. 

​Real Estate Prices

The real estate market is just like any other market. Prices fluctuate based on supply and demand. When the demand is high, and the supply is low, prices are bound to rise and vice versa. When the demand is low and the supply is high, prices will drop. Below are some of the latest real estate price trends in the country. These statistics can help us understand consumer behavior and the real estate market as a whole. 

​1. The value of US homes reached $36.2 trillion in 2020. 

(Zillow)

The US’s real estate industry has been growing exponentially in the past decade, after the biggest housing downturn in the country’s history. In fact, the most recent real estate industry statistics show that the value of all homes combined reached $36.2 trillion in 2020, marking a $2.5 trillion increase in value in 2020 only. 

According to Zillow, the growth in real estate’s value results from people reevaluating housing options because of remote work during the pandemic. 

​2. The average sale price of luxury homes climbed by 1.6% year-over-year to reach $1.63 million in Q4 of 2019. 

(PR Newswire)

The luxury housing prices statistics show that this increase marked the highest gain since Q3 of 2018. Still, despite this increase is an improvement from the 4% drop in Q1 of 2019, it still hasn’t returned to the growth recorded in recent years. 

3. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 2.22% toward the end of 2020.

(Freddie Mac)

The year 2020 saw a downward trend in average interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages in the US. According to real estate market statistics, the average interest rate dropped to 2.22% toward the end of the year. This is one of the lowest interest rates recorded in the past 30 years.

​4. The national median price for homes in March 2021 reached $370,000.

(Norada Real Estate)

In March 2021, the national median price for housing increased by 15.6% compared to the previous year’s median price. The increase in prices is the result of tight inventory and growing demand among millennials. However, keep in mind that the median price may vary per state. It’s vital to check out the real estate statistics by zip code when deciding to purchase real estate. For example, San Jose, California’s real estate prices grew by 10.8%, whereas Harrisburg, Pennsylvania only saw a 3.8% growth in prices.

​5. The bottom 20% of earners spend 40.3% of their income on housing. 

(BLS)

Research shows that low earners in the US spend most of their income on housing. In fact, according to real estate statistics, they spend as much as 40.3% of their salary on housing. This is a massive chunk of the household income. Furthermore, they spend 31.2% of their income on food and transportation, 2.5% on personal insurance and pension, 9.6% on healthcare, and 2.6% on apparel and services. 

On the other hand, top earners spend less on housing. More precisely, this income group spends 29.7% of the household income on rental fees or mortgages.

​Real Estate Demographics

Understanding real estate buyers’ demographics is crucial. By doing research, we obtain vital information on potential buyers like age, gender, income, and other preferences. We get to answer what percentage of buyers belong to the working class or what percentage might buy a vacation home.

All this additional information can help sellers and agents gain insights into consumer buying behavior in the real estate industry. Furthermore, it shows agents the current real estate trends, allowing them to close deals faster. Below are some latest statistics on buyers’ demographics. 

​6. Only 38.5% of people under 35 are homeowners.

(Statista)

The more older people get, the more concerned they become about having a property to their name. Only 38.5% of people under 35 are homeowners. On the other hand, 61% of people aged 35–44 and 69.8% aged 45–54 own houses. The biggest percentage of homeowners are people over 65, standing at 80.2%. 

​7. US real estate stats show that 38% of homeowners purchase new homes to avoid renovations.

(NAR)

The National Association of Realtors Research Group published in its report the reasons why homeowners purchase new homes. About 38% of all new homeowners bought their new homes to avoid the cost of renovations and any possible issues with plumbing or electricity. This is the most predominant reason for buying a new house, followed by designing the house (31% of buyers) and amenities (21% of buyers). 

​8. 29% of young buyers regret rushing the process of purchasing a house, according to US home buying statistics.

(Forbes)

The process of buying a house is often tedious and stressful. There are many details to consider, like mortgage payment and interest rates. Because of the overwhelming amount of information, many young buyers make the mistake of rushing the buying process. Making an overnight decision about spending that much money without thinking the whole thing through is seldom the right choice. Statistics even show that 29% of young homeowners eventually regret their purchase decision. 

​Real Estate Trends

Following real estate trends is essential to buyers, sellers, and agents for many reasons. For example, these trends allow buyers to identify the perfect time to purchase properties. On the other hand, it gives sellers information about their target market or potential buyers’ preferences. Also, trends help agents and realtors find properties for lease or sale according to the customers’ needs and emerging trends in real estate. 

​9. There was a 5.6% increase in US real estate sales from 2019 to 2020.

(Norada Real Estate)

Despite the pandemic that affected multiple industries in the US, the real estate industry ended the year 2020 strong. There was a 5.6% increase in overall sales in 2020, which translates to 5.64 million sold homes and properties.

​10. The homeownership rate in Q2 of 2020 was 67.9%, which was the highest rate since 2008. 

(Housing Wire)

Real estate statistics show that the homeownership rate increased to 67.9% in Q2 of 2020 from 65.3% in the previous quarter. This growth resulted from low interest rates that allowed more Americans to qualify for mortgages. That enabled Americans to buy more houses than in the past 13 years. 

​11. 50% of all buyers found the home they purchased on the internet, according to housing market statistics.

(NAR)

The first step in the buying process in real estate nowadays is to look for properties through different channels. Looking for properties online allows buyers to get a glimpse of the homes they consider purchasing. As such, it’s crucial for websites showcasing properties to have high-resolution photos to entice buyers. This proves to be an effective way to close deals since 50% of homeowners found their homes on the internet. 

12. Based on current trends in real estate, closing on a house for first-time buyers takes about 35 to 50 days.

(The Balance)

Homebuyers who receive loan pre-approval tend to close on a house faster than usual. The closing time for those with pre-approval depends on the underwriting process, but this usually takes a week. However, for those who take the regular route, closing on a house happens within 30 days. And for first-time homebuyers with a loan application for a down payment, approval can take anywhere between 35 and 50 days.

13. The latest home buying statistics show an 8.2% increase in houses sold in February 2021 compared to the previous year’s figures.

(US Census Bureau)

A joint report from the US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that approximately 775,000 houses were sold in February 2021. Although this marks an 18.2% decline from January’s sales, it’s still higher than the previous year’s sales for the same period.

​14. Older millennials are more inclined to use websites for house-hunting. 

(NAR)

According to real estate statistics in 2019, 98% of older millennials use online websites to search for homes. By contrast, only 72% of the silent generation use websites for home search. Furthermore, data shows that 73% of potential buyers use mobile websites or apps for their search.

​15. Only 8% of homeowners regretted buying a home instead of just renting.

(Forbes)

A survey on homeowners regarding their real estate purchase shows that a very few regret buying their current homes. In fact, housing market stats indicate that only 8% of buyers wish they were renting houses instead. Of those who were disappointed with their purchase, the most common reason for dissatisfaction is the costs incurred in repairing all the damages. If renters encounter a problem with the property, they can simply report it to their landlords to have it fixed.

​16. The California real estate market accounts for 21.4% of the nation’s housing value.

(Zillow)

Real estate statistics by state clearly show California’s contribution to the market. Apparently, 21.4% of the country’s real estate value comes from California. That means that homes in this US state have a cumulative value of $7.8 trillion. This amount equals the British and European stock exchanges’ market cap combined. 

​17. Approximately 44% of buyers use the internet first when they start looking for houses. 

(NAR)

The real estate market trends of the past are entirely different from the trends of today. Back then, homebuyers would go through the ads in newspapers to find listed homes. The way we look for houses has changed over time because buyers can now find everything they need by tapping on their phone screens or clicking the mouse button. Today, about 44% of buyers check listed properties online first when looking for new homes. 

​18. Current US real estate trends show that homes sell faster than in previous years.

(Zillow)

According to Zillow, homes spent about 25 days on the market in 2020 before they went under contract, down from 30 days the previous year. Once the seller accepts the offer for the property, the closing period usually takes 30 to 45 days. Overall, it takes 55 to 70 days to sell real estate in the US.

​19. According to real estate sales statistics, 88% of buyers find websites helpful in looking for properties. 

(Properties Online)

Most buyers consider online sites the most helpful resource in searching for homes. In fact, 88% of buyers deem websites very helpful in providing information about real estate. The second most beneficial source of information for buyers is the real estate agent, with 79% of buyers appreciating agents’ assistance.

​Real Estate Agent Statistics 2019 and 2020

Realtors and agents are essential to closing a sale in real estate. They serve as a bridge between sellers and potential buyers. For that reason, agents have access to both buyers and sellers, which means working with them will speed up the whole process of buying a property. 

Most agents are also skilled in negotiating the terms and conditions of a contract so that buyers and sellers can get what they expect after closing the sale. Here are some of the latest real estate agent statistics.

​20. 64% of realtors are women.

(NAR)

NAR’s latest report shows that as of 2020, the association has 1,451,031 members. Of that number, more than half, or 64%, are women. According to NAR, the median age of realtors is 55 years old, so your realtor is likely a 55-year-old woman who is a homeowner and has a college degree. 

​21. Real estate agent stats indicate that 41% of all buyers found their real estate agent through referrals.

(NAR)

Most buyers find their real estate agents through referrals. Buyers who are satisfied with their agents recommend them to their relatives, friends, or neighbors. NAR reports that 41% of home buyers found their real estate agents through referrals. Only 5% of buyers met their agents during an open house visit, and only 3% met them through personal contact by the agent using email and telephone.

​22. About 90% of buyers are willing to recommend their agents to others.

(Pipedrive)

According to real estate agent sales data, the referral rate is one of the most critical aspects of a real estate career. Fortunately, most buyers are comfortable with recommending agents to their friends and family. In fact, 90% of buyers say they would either use their agents again or recommend them to other buyers. This shows the importance of providing a seamless sales experience where both buyers and sellers have confidence in their real estate agents. When this happens, a single sale can turn into multiple selling opportunities.

​23. Real estate agent turnover rate in the country is 88%. 

(Realty Times)

It’s difficult to know for sure what the turnover rate is for real estate agents, but it currently stands at around 88%. Many agents debate over the possible explanations for this high and troubling number. But some of the most common reasons are stiff competition and lack of mentors for new agents.

​24. According to the latest realtor statistics, real estate agents assisted 89% of sellers during the sale.

(NAR)

It appears that the majority of home sellers depend on their real estate agents when selling their homes. Agents assisted approximately 89% of sellers during the closing process. A closer inspection of the data by NAR found that 41% of sellers found those agents through friends’ and family’s referrals. 

​25. Real estate brokers and agents earn approximately $82,447, according to national real estate statistics.

(Data USA)

The latest data on real estate agents’ salaries shows that brokers and agents earn $82,447 on average. The data also shows a substantial gap between the average income of male and female real estate agents. Records show that men earn $103,470 on average, while women make only $64,643.

​26. 48% of firms think they will have difficulty keeping up with technological advances in the next two years.

(NAR)

Real estate marketing statistics are used to identify the top tools firms use for their leads generation. These tools are social media platforms, multiple listing service sites, brokerage websites, and listing aggregator sites. Despite the advantage real estate companies can gain by using these tools, 48% still believe they will have difficulties keeping up with technology.

​27. 73% of homeowners prefer to list their properties with agents who use videos for advertising property. 

(Record-Bee)

Drone photography, one of the real estate technology trends, seems to be an effective home-selling tool. The striking visuals allow agents to showcase homes differently from how they advertised several years ago. Apparently, properties with aerial shots tend to sell 68% faster than those with regular images. This is why 73% of homeowners say they prefer agents who take advantage of digital video technology. 

​28. 82% of agents want to improve their social media presence.

(Social Media Today)

Today, real estate trends are leaning more and more toward technology, and social media seems to be leading the pack. A survey conducted among real estate agents shows that most agents want to improve their social media presence in 2021. There’s a good reason for this strategy. Apparently, 44% of agents attracted new clients the year before because of their social media posts.

​Real Estate Statistics 2020 and 2021 Trends

Real estate predictions are among the most crucial aspects agents and investors need to consider in the real estate business. These predictions are based on many factors, such as trends, technology, consumer needs, and help real estate agents adjust their strategy accordingly. Let’s see what 2021 will bring. 

​29. Home prices increased by 11.2% by January 2021.

(Wall Street Journal)

According to real estate statistics by city, even small cities like Bridgeport in Connecticut will see high prices unlike any realtor has seen in about 15 years. According to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index, the national price growth was 11.2% towards the end of the year that ended in January. This widespread price growth implies fierce competition among buyers for the limited supply of homes.

30. Researchers predict a 2.7% increase in home prices for 2021.

(PR Newswire)

Researchers expect US real estate statistics to report increasing figures for home prices in 2021. The new estimates are now at 2.7%, which is a significant increase from the 0.9% experts initially predicted for 2021. This is by far the most optimistic forecast from experts since the first quarter of 2018.

​Conclusion

Real estate prices often fluctuate. Several factors affect the price change, but the most common reason is supply and demand.

Change isn’t limited to prices; we can see from real estate data how the buying and selling process has also changed over the years. What was once a popular way of doing things is now obsolete. Case in point, the internet has made newspaper ads for real estate marketing a thing of the past. Now, realtors and agents turn to social media and websites for advertising.

The ever-evolving market of real estate is the reason why agents, sellers, and buyers need to know the latest statistics. By understanding the current trends, all parties get the most out of every closed sale. 

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Wait. Didn’t I park right here? Maybe a bit further down the block? No. The car’s not here. If this has happened to you, you’re probably part of the car theft statistics.

However, in this case, it’s not just your car that has disappeared. The paperwork for tomorrow’s client meeting is missing, and your company laptop is gone too. You have the sudden urge to cry, but instead, you dial 911.

Unfortunately, this is a frequent occurrence considering that a car is stolen every 36 seconds in the US. It’s important to note that you can take some steps to reduce the risk of your car getting stolen. 

However, for now, let’s look at the statistics for one of the most common property crimes in the United States and hopefully raise some awareness. 

Car Theft Statistics in the United States

1. The number of car thefts increased by 10.9% in 2020 over 2019.

(USA Today, NICB)

The number of car thefts spiked in 2020. From 794,019 in 2019, it increased to 880,595 in 2020. Authorities believe it was primarily due to the economic downturn, depleted social and educational programs, and law enforcement realignment. 

However, owner complacency remains one of the biggest risk factors. Even though a car is a significant investment, owners don’t always do enough to protect it.

2. There were 880,595 motor vehicle thefts nationwide in 2020.

(Kelley Blue Book)

Grand theft auto statistics show that it’s one of the most common property crimes in the US. The definition of such an offense is stealing a motor vehicle with no intention of returning it to the owner. 

It differs from theft for joyriding, wherein the perpetrator handles the vehicle without the owner’s permission but has no intention of stealing it. Grand theft auto is the theft of motor vehicles with or without the use of weapons. It’s a felony in every state.

3. The national car theft rate in 2020 was 246 per 100,000 residents.

(Statista)

In 2019, the rate was 220.8, and it was around 230 the year before. Even though these car theft rates seem high, they are a significant improvement from 658.9 in 1991. Since then, the rates have been steadily declining, primarily due to advanced car alarms and other anti-theft equipment.

4. Car thefts caused $7.4 billion in losses in 2020. 

(Insurance Information Institute)

The average loss per incident of theft was $9,166. It’s evident that car theft is a significant burden, both for victims and the economy in general. With car prices increasing in 2022, the average loss is bound to rise as well. 

5. The average stolen car recovery rate in 2020 was 56.4%.

(Statista)

Contrary to the common belief that stolen cars never get found, more than half of them are actually brought back to their owners. Out of all stolen properties, cars have the best recovery percentage. In comparison, household goods are recovered in only 39% of cases, while TVs and jewelry have an under 5% chance of being found. Unfortunately, although the vehicles are recovered, they don’t always come back in one piece.

6. The best chance of recovering a stolen car is within 72 hours after it gets stolen.

(The Motley Fool)

Automobile theft statistics indicate that the best chance of recovering a stolen vehicle is within three days after the theft. Still, statistics reveal that many people never see their stolen cars again. Instead of sitting and waiting for the police to find your car, you can help them by collecting valuable information. 

If you have one of the best GPS trackers on your car, you can find out its location and have the police check corresponding security cameras. Talk with cab drivers — they are observing, reliable witnesses.

Carjacking and Car Burglary Statistics

7. In 2020, almost half of the stolen cars in New York City were stolen while they were left running. 

(The New York Times)

The Big Apple saw 6,858 vehicle thefts in 2020, up from 3,988 the year before. Remarkably, 3,450 of them were stolen with the keys left inside or with the engine running. NYPD’s records show that there were 1,634 instances of such auto theft in 2019, which was around 40% of the total figures. 

Car theft statistics show that the percentage has risen significantly. The authorities believe that it’s due to the pandemic, where people were in a hurry to pick up or drop off supplies, thereby forgetting their keys inside the car.

8. Teslas are almost 90% less likely to be stolen than the average car.

(CNBC)

Great news for Tesla owners — they are not very popular among car thieves. Looking at car theft rates by model, you’ll see that this applies to all-electric vehicles in general. Experts believe that it’s because these cars are mostly parked near the owner’s home and very often in garages for recharging. 

Additionally, thieves can’t know how much of the battery power is left and how far they can go before it runs out, and they can’t really make a quick stop at a gas station. Lastly, many of them have advanced GPS tracking devices that are interconnected with the system and can’t be disabled.

9. The number of carjacking cases in Minneapolis rose by 537% in 2020.

(PEW, Chicago Tribune, ABC News)

Unfortunately, carjacking facts show that Minneapolis is not the only city affected. Chicago PD reported a 135% increase, while Washington DC and New Orleans reported an increase of 116% and 126%, respectively. 

Unfortunately, no national data is available yet because many police departments list this crime differently (violent crime, robbery, auto theft, etc.). This problem also prevents the authorities from centralizing data and generating carjacking statistics by state.

Experts believe that one of the reasons for this spike is that wearing masks on the street is the new normal, and victims no longer react when they see a masked person approaching their car. With crime spikes like this, having the best pepper spray for self-defense might be a good idea.

10. In 2020, the total number of thefts from cars in LA surpassed the number of stolen vehicles by about 20%.

(LAPD, Cincinnati.com) 

LAPD reported 40,678 stolen vehicles and 51,731 total thefts from vehicles in 2020. Car break-in statistics show that this is a widespread crime. For instance, it accounts for 11% of all crimes in Cincinnati. 

Police say this is one of the most preventable crimes, as simple precautions like locking the doors and hiding valuables can dramatically reduce one’s chances of becoming a victim.

11. 57% of Americans don’t worry that their cars could be stolen or broken into.

(Statista)

Even though a car is stolen every 36 seconds in the US, car owners generally think that their vehicles are safe. Only less than half of Americans find auto theft statistics worrying and fear their car might be stolen or burglarized. Americans seem to worry more about cybercrimes and identity theft. A little over 70% of US residents fear these crimes the most.

12. Every 36 seconds, a motor vehicle is reported stolen in the United States.

(NICB)

Stolen car data shows that you should worry. Auto theft is a very profitable crime, and despite new car alarm systems, statistics show that any vehicle can be a target for thieves. Every day, these offenders find new and sophisticated ways to steal vehicles. Most cars are stolen for transportation, but many are stripped and sold for parts, so even older cars are not safe.

Interesting Motor Vehicle Theft Statistics

13. 74.5% of stolen vehicles are cars. 

(FBI, Statista)

Thieves steal trucks, buses, motorcycles, and all other types of vehicles, but FBI statistics reveal that cars are at the greatest risk, accounting for 74.5% of all vehicle thefts. Considering that cars make up only about 60.5% of all registered vehicles in the US, the percentage of stolen cars is very high. 

14. The number one stolen car in America is the Ford Full-size Pick-up Truck.

(NICB)

Motor vehicle thieves seem to have their favorite car model, and it’s not the Range Rover, Ferrari, or Lexus. For the second year in the row, the Ford Full-size Pick-up Truck tops the list, with the Chevrolet Pick-up Truck as the runner-up. 

Of the ten most stolen vehicles, six are Japanese models. The Honda Civic, once the most common stolen car, is now in the third spot, closely followed by the Accord.

15. New Year’s Day is the holiday with the most number of vehicle thefts. 

(Insurance Information Institute)

The latest statistics recorded 2,320 car thefts during New Year’s Day, making it the US holiday with the most instances of vehicle thefts. Celebrations turn daily life upside-down, and that can work to the thieves’ advantage. Burglaries are common around the holidays because the police are busy breaking up rowdy parties. 

In addition, owners tend to be a bit carefree during the holiday season, which increases the theft rate. According to auto theft stats, other US holidays with the most vehicle thefts are Labor Day and Presidents’ day, with more than 2,000 motor vehicle thefts reported during each of these days. 

16. 3% of car thefts are committed by boyfriends and girlfriends.

(FBI)

The FBI analyzed more than 91,000 car theft cases in 2020 and concluded that romantic partners are responsible for 3% of car thefts. However, other people close to us can also be responsible because the FBI also discovered that 6% of car thefts in 2020 were committed by parents and friends (3% each). 

Furthermore, stolen car statistics show that 8% of vehicles were taken by the owner’s acquaintance. Even grandparents are not an exception, with 1% of all car thefts in 2020 being committed by them. 

17. 74% of carjackings involve some kind of weapon.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics)

Auto thefts that include violence are still happening. According to gun violence statistics, 45% of carjackings involve firearms. Additionally, 11% involve knives, and 18% involve other weapons. In such a dangerous situation, the police say that the proper course of action is to hand over your keys.

Auto Theft Statistics By State

18. Colorado has the highest car theft rate in the US.

(Statista)

Per 100,000 residents in Colorado, 524.3 cases of auto theft were recorded in 2020. The state is closely followed by the District of Columbia and New Mexico, with theft rates of 476.8 and 427.6, respectively. 

In comparison, the national average is 246, and when it comes to car theft statistics by city, Bakersfield, California, has the highest cases at 905.41 per 100,000 inhabitants. 

19. Vermont has the lowest car theft rate in the US. 

(Statista)

The state has a car theft rate of only 42.4 per 100,000 residents. That’s pretty low compared to the national average of 246. The other safest cities are Maine and New Hampshire, with theft rates of 63.8 and 76.4, respectively. 

20. In 2020, New York had a car theft rate of 101.7. 

(The New York Times, Statista)

Car theft data from 1990 shows that there were 2,000 stolen cars per 100,000 residents in New York. However, that figure is significantly lower today. Burglary statistics show that car theft had an impressive drop in the last 30 years, mostly due to new car models that are more difficult to steal and traffic jams that make a quick getaway almost impossible.

21. New York car thieves love Hondas the most. 

(NICB)

Data from 2020 show that around 1,850 Honda Civics, Accords, and CR-Vs were stolen in the state. Pick-up trucks are thieves’ favorites on a national level, but the most stolen cars differ by state. For example, in states where most residents live in urban communities, thieves primarily target sedans and family cars.

Results from New Jersey show similar trends—Honda Civics and Accords were the most stolen models there too. The explanation is simple: pick-up trucks are less common in these states, so they’re less likely to be stolen. They also don’t blend in easily, are faster for the police to track down, and are generally harder to resell. 

22. Car theft statistics by state show that nearly a third of US car thefts in 2020 happened in California, Texas, and Florida.

(Insurance Information Institute)

Of the 810,400 motor vehicle thefts reported nationwide in 2020, 290,870 happened in these three states. California holds the highest number, with 168,323 recorded car thefts that year. It’s shocking to think that this figure is even greater than the combined numbers from Texas and Florida (84,276 and 38,271, respectively). 

23. California has had a surprisingly high car recovery rate—89% in the last two years.

(CHP, CHP)

Another interesting car statistic from California is that even though it’s the state with the most recorded incidents of car theft, it’s also the state with one of the highest car recovery rates. For example, data from 2019 and 2020 show that law enforcement agencies managed to recover more than 89% of stolen vehicles. Furthermore, about two-thirds of them were recovered intact or in drivable condition.

Conclusion

According to Consumer Reports, the average price of a new car in the US is $45,000. Meanwhile, the prices of used vehicles are also on the rise. So, we can all agree that a car is a significant investment. 

However, when it comes to car thefts and car break-ins, statistics still show that a large percentage of them could have been easily prevented by simply locking car doors, rolling down windows, and taking the keys out of ignition. Car theft is most often a crime of opportunity, and if we don’t give thieves a chance, it will significantly reduce the number of thefts. So, the next time you park your car, go through the safety measures you can take to avoid theft. 

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The internet has improved our lives in many ways, but it has also brought about unexpected changes. Cyberbullying statistics show that classroom bullying has now moved to the cyberworld. Sadly, it has turned many people’s lives into a nightmare.

Even though it takes place online, cyberbullying can have a tremendous negative impact on the victims, especially at a young age.

The following stats and facts will help you understand the seriousness of this problem and tell you more about the often horrifying consequences it can have. Let’s take a look.

Worrying Online Harassment Statistics

1. 11% of Americans have cyberstalkers.

(Pew Research Center)

This percentage, however, is not the only worrying thing.

What’s really disturbing is that the intensity of insults has increased. Cyberharassment has moved from simple name-calling to more severe forms, such as physical threats, sexual harassment, stalking, etc.

All of these categories have doubled in percentages in the last three years. For instance, 14% of cyberbullied people report receiving physical threats, and 11% have stalkers.

2. 36.5% of middle and high schoolers in the US have experienced cyberbullying at least once.

(Cyberbullying.org)

It’s clear that there we have a problem with cyberbullying in schools. Statistics show that 17.4% of kids say that they have been cyberbullied in the previous month.

As far as bullies are concerned, 14.8% of teens admitted to bullying others at least once. Teens are more likely to experience cyberbullying than traditional bullying.

The latter one is time-restricted, as teens spend a limited time in school or on the street. However, they are constantly online, making it much easier for them to become victims. Also, the harassment can last 24/7. 

3. A cyberbullying survey shows that 20% of tweens (9 to 12-year-olds) have experienced cyberbullying.

(Cyberbullying.org)

Cyberbullying affects children too, since many parents allow their kids to use smartphones and computers. They know how to surf the internet before they learn to tie their shoes. With limited useful knowledge of the world around them and undeveloped social skills, they become easy prey in the online world. 

4. Almost 25% of teens have seen mean and hurtful posts about them online.

(Cyberbullying Research Center)

Cyberbullying statistics reveal that mean comments are the most common type of cyberbullying. Online rumors are also widespread, with 22% of teenagers saying they’ve experienced them. Impersonation is another dangerous form of cyberbullying, and 10.1% of teenagers have been victims of it.

5. 44% of US adults experienced online harassment in 2020.

(Statista)

Teenagers aren’t the only ones who experience cyberbullying. Cyberbullying research showed that 37% of US adults were called offensive names online, while 28% were intentionally embarrassed by others.

Severe forms of online harassment are also common. For example, 15% of adults said they were threatened with physical violence, 12% were stalked or sexually harassed online, and 11% were repeatedly harassed by the same person.

6. 52% of LGBTQ teens have experienced cyberbullying.

(Cyberbullying Research Center)

Even though the US has made significant progress in promoting LGBTQ rights in recent years, online bullies still frequently target LGBTQ teens. Studies on cyberbullying show that 52% of LGBTQ teens nationwide have experienced online bullying, much more than 35% of non-LGBTQ teens who have been cyberbullied.

The authors note that male non-heterosexual students aged 12–17 (30%) are more likely to experience online bullying than non-heterosexual females (25.8%).

However, the most common targets are transgender students. 33.3% of them said they were bullied online in the past, while a staggering 66.7% said they had been cyberbullied within the previous 30 days.

Social Media Cyberbullying Statistics

7. Almost 10% of cyberbullied students experience harassment every day.

(Ditch the Label)

Furthermore, more than 20% of students say they are cyberbullied once or several times a week. What’s worrying, especially nowadays when we’re promoting diversity, is that 47% of victims say they are harassed because of their clothes and appearance.

8. 75% of all cyberbullying victims have experienced online harassment on Facebook.

(Statista)

Facebook is the most popular social network in the world, so it’s only natural that online harassment happens there. However, it’s also present on other social media platforms. When it comes to cyberbullying on social media, statistics show that 24% of users who reported cyberbullying were victimized on Twitter and Instagram.

9. Around 8% of people had their intimate photos and material shared without their consent.

(American Psychology Association)

Furthermore, the study has shown that women fall victim to “revenge porn” much more frequently than men. They are also much less likely to distribute non-consensual adult material. The research also shows that female victims have physical and psychological consequences more than male victims.

The Effects of Cyberbullying on Mental Health

10. Victims of cyberbullying are almost twice more likely to attempt suicide.

(Science Daily)

Cyberbullying victims under the age of 25 are twice more likely to attempt suicide or harm themselves than their peers who haven’t experienced online harassment. According to the authors, young males were more at risk of suicidal behavior.

The study also shows that perpetrators are at higher risk of having suicidal thoughts. It shows that the problem is complex and that cyberbullies could benefit from professional help.

11. 36% of young cyberbullying victims develop depression.

(Ditch the Label)

Furthermore, 44% of cyberbullying victims become anxious. These aren’t the only adverse effects of cyberbullying, as statistics also show that 12% of cyberbullying victims become antisocial after the incident.

Another 12% of young victims gradually develop an eating disorder, 8% turn to drugs and alcohol, while 3% engage in risky sexual behavior.

12. 47% of teens say cyberbullying has had a severe impact on their self-esteem.

(Ditch the Label)

According to the same survey, 26% of teens say that a cyberbullying incident has had an extreme impact on their self-esteem, while another 21% say the effect was significant. When it comes to the relation between cyberbullying and depression, statistics show that 37% of bullied students have experienced reduced optimism.

In 46% of the cases, online harassment has had a massive impact on teens’ future ambitions. The effects of bullying have also spilled over into their lives at home and school. More precisely, 51% of students say cyberbullying has negatively impacted their studies, while 46% say their home life has suffered, too.

13. Only 20% of US minors get treatment for their mental health problems.

(CDC)

Even though more than 20% of US minors experience mental health problems due to social trauma and cyberbullying, data reveals that only one in five of them receive the professional care they need to get better. This happens for a variety of reasons, including a lack of providers for a specific issue in a particular area and long waiting lists for some treatments. In addition, the lack of health insurance and high costs are other common reasons kids don’t receive professional care.

Other Cyberbullying Statistics

14. Cyberbullying is most prevalent among middle school students.

(CDC)

According to the CDC, 33% of US middle school students have reported being bullied online. Online harassment is almost as common in American high schools, where 30% of students have reported their own negative experiences.

Furthermore, 20% of combined school students and 5% of primary school students have also reported cyberbullying.

15. More than half of parents with children aged 11–18 say their kids have been bullied.

(Homeschooling Teen)

In recent years, we’ve seen a disturbing trend emerging in statistics for cyberbullying and traditional bullying among school-age children. Namely, one research found that 59.9% of parents with children aged 14–18 said their kids were bullied either online or on the school premises. 56.4% of parents with children aged 11–13 and 47.7% with kids aged 6–10 said the same thing.

16. Almost a fifth of all bullying happens on social media.

(Homeschooling Teen)

While most kids (82.8%) are bullied at school, it’s interesting to note that 19.2% also experience it on social media, as bullying facts reveal. Children are also commonly harassed on the school bus (32.5%) or at a location outside of school (17%).

As for online bullying, apart from social media, most of it occurs in text messages (11%), through online games (7.9%), and on various websites (6.8%). Additionally, 3.8% of parents said their kids were harassed via phone. These disturbing statistics urge parents to think about internet safety for their kids.

17. 20% of cyberbullied students skip school due to their experiences.

(UNICEF)

The latest UNICEF studies on cyberbullying say that 1 in 3 young people from 30 countries has experienced cyberbullying. Following this, 1 in 5 of them has decided to skip school due to harassment. 

When asked to share their thoughts about whose responsibility it is to stop cyberbullying, 32% pointed fingers at the government. On the other hand, 29% said internet companies, including social media platforms, should be responsible.

18. Cyberharassment statistics show that almost 25% of cyberbullied girls are victims of rumors.

(Cyberbullying Research Center)

In 2019, 38.7% of girls aged 12–17 admitted they were victims of cyberbullying. Gender doesn’t seem to be a determining factor, though, as 34.1% of boys also experienced cyberbullying. However, the way they were bullied was different.

Most girls (24.8%) said someone spread negative rumors about them online, while most boys claimed someone threatened to physically hurt them, either in a text message (13.1%) or on social media (12.8%).

Global Cyberbullying Stats 

19. 33.5% of British teens are bullied in mobile games.

(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Mobile games can get very competitive, and it doesn’t take much for sore losers to become cyberbullies. Research shows that 33.5% of British teens experience bullying while playing mobile games. These are mostly isolated incidents, as only 9% say they’ve been bullied repeatedly.

Although relatively low, these cyberbullying rates should still be taken seriously, as 39.4% of the bullied teens said the harassment they suffered made them feel very upset. Only 4.2% decided to report the incident to the gaming platform.

20. 26% of survey respondents in Russia believe that sexual orientation is the primary motive for cyberbullying.

(Statista)

Cyberbullying is very common in Russia, and more than a quarter of internet users believe sexual orientation is the key motive. Furthermore, 24% of people cite a person’s physical appearance or the things they write online.

Furthermore, 23% say that people behaving differently from others are common cyberbullying targets. A person’s financial status can also turn them into cyberbullying victims, statistics show. On that note, 21% of Russians say that people are ridiculed online for being either rich or poor.

21. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a 70% spike in hate speech during youngsters’ online chats.

(L1ght)

Due to lockdowns and the general fear of contracting coronavirus, people spend more time indoors and online.

This, in turn, has increased their exposure to cyberbullying. Current online bullying facts and statistics show an increase of about 70% in hate speech between youngsters during online chats. Online gaming communities have also seen a significant rise (40%) in toxic communication.

22. Almost a third of sextortion victims have attempted or committed suicide.

(National Institute of Justice)

Sextortion is one of the most terrible types of cyberharassment with severe consequences. A blackmailer typically threatens to expose a victim’s intimate pictures online if the victim doesn’t agree to a series of demands. Usually, the victim is asked to provide sexual favors or money. 

To avoid being publicly shamed, the victim agrees with the blackmailer’s demands. Unfortunately, some victims even try to hurt themselves. FBI analyzed 43 sextortion cases, and its cyberbullying suicide stats show that 28% of victims attempted or committed suicide.

23. 50% of people check their former or current partner’s phone and search history, making it the most common form of cyberstalking.

(Statista)

Even though it seems benign, this is still a form of cyberstalking. Not-so-benign forms are much rarer but still very much real. For instance, 9% of people create fake profiles to keep an eye on their partners’ activities. Cyberstalking statistics also say that a whopping 10% use apps to monitor their former or current partners’ messages, phone calls, emails, etc.

24. 11% of cyberharassment victims experience intrusive or suicidal thoughts.

(Statista)

People react differently to cyberharassment. For instance, more than a third (36%) changed or stopped their online activities, while 25% started feeling anxious and depressed. More than 25% decided to act and contact social platforms, police, or attorneys. Unfortunately, some victims are severely traumatized. Regarding the relation between cyberbullying and suicide, statistics show that 11% of people start having suicidal thoughts.

Conclusion

With so many internet and social media users, cyberbullying is becoming more and more of a global problem. We are witnessing not only the rise in occurrence rates but also in the severity of cyberbullying. The number of sexual harassment, physical threats, and cyberstalking cases has spiked in the last few years.

Cyberbullying facts and statistics show that anyone who uses social media or posts on message boards is a potential victim. Therefore, it’s important to raise awareness about this issue and its adverse effects on people’s mental health and sense of security. 

If you experience cyberbullying, make sure to report it to the authorities or the online platform where it happened. That’s the best way to contribute to solving this problem once and for all.

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