2024 Statistics on Domestic & Sexual Violence

NDDSVC releases 2024 fact sheets on domestic and sexual violence

BISMARCK, N.D. — Each year, the North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition (NDDSVC) compiles data from domestic violence and sexual assault victim advocacy centers across the state to put together annual fact sheets. The fact sheets give a snapshot of how many victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are reaching out for help and what kinds of violence they are facing.

The latest fact sheets show that 6,334 victims of domestic violence and 1,363 victims of sexual assault were served by advocacy centers in 2024, a 3.3% and 5.8% increase from 2023 respectively. 

NDDSVC says that domestic violence can happen to anyone, but women and children are most commonly victimized. Of the domestic violence victims served in 2024, 81% were women. At least 150 women were pregnant at the time they were assaulted, and 4,708 children were directly impacted by domestic violence incidents. 

Women and children are also most commonly victimized in sexual assault cases. At least 1,101 of the 1,363 sexual assault victims served in 2024 were women, and at least 226 primary victims were under the age of 18 at the time of the assault(s). 

People with disabilities in North Dakota were also highly impacted. In 2024, 23% of new domestic violence victims served were people with disabilities. Of the sexual assault victims served, more than one third (36%) were people with disabilities. 

While their annual data gives insight into how many people are reaching out for help, NDDSVC says that it doesn’t represent the full scope of how many North Dakotans are experiencing domestic and sexual violence. The number of victims served in 2024 is only a fraction of the people experiencing violence they say, as many cases go unreported, not every victim reaches out for support, and some victims may get help from sources outside of NDDSVC’s 18 member organizations. The coalition says that funding to continue services is essential to reaching more victims and survivors. 

“As the need for advocacy services grows year after year,  funding has never been more important,” said Seth O’Neill, NDDSVC’s Executive Director. “These statistics only scratch the surface of how many North Dakotans are experiencing violence, and we must continue outreach, crisis intervention, and violence prevention work in order to end domestic and sexual violence for good.”

NDDSVC says advocacy centers work tirelessly to provide essential, life-saving services every single day. According to the 2024 fact sheets, 20,231 services were provided by advocates to victims of sexual assault from January to December. Domestic violence advocates provided victim assistance with 481 emergency protection orders.

View the 2024 Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault fact sheets and more statistics from NDDSVC.

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic or sexual violence, free and confidential help is available 24/7 in North Dakota. Find an advocacy center near you by visiting the North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition’s website.

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The North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition (NDDSVC) supports and serves as a unified voice for 18 domestic violence/sexual assault (DV/SA) victim advocacy centers across North Dakota. From training and educational materials to public awareness and legislative policy change, NDDSVC works to provide North Dakota communities with the best tools and information to better support victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.