Statistics

See the staggering numbers on domestic and sexual violence in North Dakota.

Nationwide impact

women

men

have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an IPV-related impact during their lifetime.1

Domestic violence in 2024

6,334

6,334 new victims2 of domestic violence were served by 17 domestic violence/sexual assault advocacy centers across North Dakota.3

304

304 victims of domestic violence were served in a single day.4

81%

81% of the victims were women.3

4,708

At least 4,708 children were directly impacted by these incidents.3

150

150 women were pregnant at the time they were assaulted.3

15%

At least 15% of the victims were under the age of 25; 4% were under the age of 18.3

23%

23% of new victims were people with disabilities. Of those, 20% were people with developmental disabilities, 29% had physical disabilities, and 51% were people with mental health disabilities.3

A closer look

At least 55% of victims served were physically abused.3

In at least 32% of cases, the abuser had a history of abusive behavior with other adults, including prior partners.3

Weapons were used in at least 12% of cases. Of those, guns were used in 23% of cases, and knives were used in 15% of cases.3

Alcohol use by the abuser was indicated in 22% of cases. Alcohol use by both the victim and abuser was indicated in 3% of cases.3

Advocacy

27%

27% of victims were self-referred to domestic violence advocacy centers; 16% were referred by law enforcement.3

481

Domestic violence advocacy centers provided victim assistance with 481 emergency protection orders.3

Domestic violence homicide

5

In 2023, 5 North Dakotans died in domestic violence-related incidents.5

40%

For the period 2004-2023 in North Dakota, 40% of deaths due to homicide involved domestic violence.5

The number reported for domestic violence homicides is consistent with that reported by the Attorney General. Domestic violence deaths include those involving a spouse, former spouse, parent, child, persons related by blood or marriage, persons in a present or former dating relationship, persons who are presently residing together or have resided together in the past, persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they are or have been married or have lived together at any time, other persons on premises when a domestic incident occurs, and romantic triangle situations.

Sexual violence in 2024

1,363

1,363 primary victims6 and 231 secondary victims of sexual assault were served by 17 domestic violence/sexual assault advocacy centers across North Dakota.7

1,101

At least 1,101 victims were female.7,8

782

At least 782 assailants were male.7,8

50%

50% of cases were male assailant, female victim.7

5%

5% of cases were male assailant, male victim.7

2%

2% of cases were female assailant, female victim.7

0.5%

0.5% of cases were female assailant, male victim.7

A closer look

At least 46% of the assaults occurred in the victim’s or the assailant’s home.7

At least 226 of primary victims were under the age of 18 years old at the time of the assault(s).7

In adult cases, 11% of the assailants were strangers. In child cases, 9% of the assailants were strangers.7

In at least 25% of all cases, the assailant was a friend/acquaintance/date of the victim.7

36% of new victims were people with disabilities. Of those, 17% were people with developmental disabilities, 37% had physical disabilities, and 46% were people with mental health disabilities.7

Advocacy

38%

38% of the crimes were reported to law enforcement.7

20,231

At least 20,231 services were provided to primary victims by advocacy center advocates from January to December 2024.7

30%

At least 30% of the victims were referred to sexual assault service providers by themselves, friends, or family members.7

19%

19% of adult victims contacted the sexual assault advocacy center about the crime within 2 days of the assault. 10% of adult victims contacted a sexual assault advocacy center within 3-30 days after the assault.7

For statistics on stalking, visit the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC) website.

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View past statistics

Domestic violence fact sheets
2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
Sexual assault fact sheets
2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Appendix

  1. Smith, S.G., Zhang, X., Basile, K.C., Merrick, M.T., Wang, J., Kresnow, M., Chen, J. (2018). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2015 Data Brief – Updated Release. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. Statistics represent new victims served in 2024. New = unduplicated for calendar year. Statistics include data from 17 of 19 domestic violence advocacy organizations.
  3. 2024 Domestic Violence Fact Sheet, North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition, May 2025
  4. National Network to End Domestic Violence (2025). 19th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report. Washington, DC. Retrieved from: NNEDV.org/DVCounts.
  5. State of North Dakota Office of the Attorney General, Bismarck, North Dakota, 2023, Homicide in North Dakota, 2023.
  6. Statistics represent new victims served in 2024. New = unduplicated for calendar year. Primary victims refers to the victim/survivor whom the sexual assault and/or child sexual abuse was directed at. Secondary victims refers to those who are indirectly affected by the sexual assault—i.e., children, siblings, spouses or intimate partners, grandparents, other affected relatives, friends, neighbors, etc. Statistics include data from 17 of 19 sexual assault advocacy organizations.
  7. 2024 Sexual Assault Fact Sheet, North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition, May 2025
  8. Victim or assailant’s gender was not identified in some cases.

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NDDSVC does not provide direct services to victims and survivors.
Contact a DV/SA advocacy center near you if you are looking for support. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.