Dog bites remain a serious public health issue in the United States, with millions of incidents reported every year.
Recent data shows that around 4.5 million dog bites occur annually, leading to approximately 800,000 people requiring medical treatment.
Pit bulls are linked to about 65.6% of fatal dog attacks, while Rottweilers are responsible for around 10.4%. The financial burden of dog bites is also heavy, with claims related to dog bites and injuries exceeding $1.1 billion in 2023.
In this article, I have covered the latest statistics on dog bites and fatalities, including details on the death rate by breed, state, and more.
Dog Bite Statistics (2025 Key Highlights)
- 4.5 million dog bites occur every year.
- Over 800,000 people need medical attention for dog bites every year.
- Every day, around 1,000 people in the United States require emergency care treatment for serious dog bite injuries.
- 1 in 53,843 people in the United States die from a dog bite every year.
- More than 50% of dog bite victims are children.
- Pitbulls cause the most fatal dog attacks, responsible for 284 deaths, or 65.6% of all dog bite fatalities.
- California has the highest number of dog bite incidents in the United States, with 5,795 cases.
Dog Bite Statistics By Breed
In the United States, Pitbulls are responsible for the highest number of fatal dog attacks, accounting for 284 deaths, or 65.6% of all dog bite fatalities.
Rottweilers are the second most dangerous breed, contributing to 10.4% of these fatal incidents.
Since 2016, over 46 different dog breeds have been linked to fatal attacks, including Akitas, Boxers, Chow Chows, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Giant Schnauzers, Huskies, Labrador Retrievers, Mastiffs, Pitbull-types, Rottweilers, and various other breeds and mixes.
Here is a table showing the breeds that are involved in most dog bite death incidents:
| Breed | Deaths |
|---|---|
| Pit Bull | 284 |
| Rottweiler | 45 |
| German Shepard | 20 |
| Mixed-Breed | 17 |
| American Bulldog | 15 |
| Mastiff or Bull Mastiff | 14 |
| Husky | 13 |
| Unknown breed | 11 |
| Labrador | 9 |
| Boxer | 7 |
| Doberman Pinscher | 6 |
The strongest bite force is seen in the Kangal Dog Breed, with 743 PSI.
Here is an overview of dog breeds with the strongest bite force while attacking.
| Dog Breed | Dog Bite Force |
|---|---|
| Kangal | 743 PSI |
| Doberman Pinschers | 600 PSI |
| English Mastiff | 556 PSI |
| Wolfdog | 406 PSI |
| Rottweiler | 328 PSI |
| African Wild Dog | 317 PSI |
| American Bull Dog | 305 PSI |
| German Shepherd | 238 PSI |
| American Pitbull | 235 PSI |
| Dutch Shepherd | 224 PSI |
| Chow Chow | 220 PSI |
| Malinois | 195 PSI |
(Source: cdc.gov, American Veterinary Association, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, PITBULLINFO.ORG)
Dog Attacks And Deaths Due To Dog Bites
Around 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year; a small fraction of these bites result in serious injuries or even death.
Take a look at the data below to learn more about how many dog attacks occur per year:
- 1 in every 53,843 deaths in the United States occur due to a dog bite.
- With 30 to 50 fatal dog attacks yearly, only 1% of bites result in death.
- There are around 885,000 dog bite victims who require critical medical care.
- 900+ emergency room visits are recorded due to fatal dog bites annually in the US.
- 45.3% of dog bite injuries occur on the legs, hands, and arms.
- Approximately 5-15% of dog bites can become infected with bacteria such as rabies, Capnocytophaga, Pasteurella, and Staphylococcus.
- More than 5,300 postal workers were attacked by dogs in 2022.
- It is seen that stray dogs are more likely to bite than pet dogs. Stray dogs commit 15.55% of dog bites. (National Library of Veterinary Medicine.)
- There are around 885,000 dog bite victims who require critical medical care.
- Injuries due to dog bites make up more than 80% of the total animal bites in the United States.
(Souce: American Veterinary Association, DogsBite.org,
Dog Bite Attacks On Children
In 2020, there were 45 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States, and 29 of those victims were children.
Here is more data on the same:
- Among the total dog bites in the US, more than half of the dog bite victims are children.
- Over 2 million children in the United States are bitten by dogs yearly.
- Compared to the 1994 survey, there was a 47% drop in the incidence of dog bites among children, notably among boys and those aged 0–4 years.
- Most severe dog bites (80%) in children involve the neck and head.
- More than 40% of the households with children in the United States have at least one dog. This increases the chances of a child being bitten by a dog.
- Half of the child dog bite attacks are due to the animal being provoked.
(Source: National Canine Research Council, avma,org, WAF)
Dog Bite Fatalities By Age & Gender
- Males are more likely to get attacked (52.6%) by the dogs than females (47.4%).
- Males face 54.3% of most fatal dog attacks.
According to a study on dog bite fatalities from 2010 to 2021. There were 430 fatalities in the U.S.
Out of those 430, the following chart displays the average number of fatalities by different age groups and genders.
| Age Groups | Number of Fatalities | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | 137 | 61 | 76 |
| 5 to 9 | 42 | 9 | 33 |
| 10 t0 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| 15 to 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 to 24 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 25 to 29 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
| 30 to 34 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| 35 to 39 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| 40 to 44 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 45 to 49 | 21 | 12 | 9 |
| 50 to 54 | 23 | 13 | 10 |
| 55 to 59 | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| 60 to 64 | 24 | 14 | 10 |
| 65 to 69 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| 70 to 74 | 18 | 14 | 4 |
| Over 75 | 55 | 35 | 20 |
| Unspecified | 4 | N/A | N/A |
(Source: NCBI, NSC injury facts, PubMed.gov)
Dog Attack and Bite Statistics By State
California and Texas account for the highest number of dog bite incidents in the United States.
Florida and Ohio also report a significantly higher number, ranking third and fourth for the most dog bite cases.
The following table displays the states with the highest number of dog bite incidents:
| Rank | State | Dog Bite Incidents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 5,795 |
| 2 | Texas | 4,600 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,710 |
| 4 | Ohio | 2,310 |
| 5 | Illinois | 2,275 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 2,205 |
| 7 | Michigan | 1,760 |
| 8 | New York | 3,395 |
| 9 | Georgia | 1,830 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 1,710 |
Source: Personal Injury SanDiego
Texas and California experience fatal dog attacks substantially more than any other state.
However, other states also have their fair share of fatal injuries caused by Dog Bites.
The following table includes state-wise fatalities and attacks from 2010 to 2021:
| States in the United States | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| California | 48 |
| Texas | 47 |
| Florida | 31 |
| North Carolina | 22 |
| Ohio | 21 |
| Georgia | 20 |
| Oklahoma | 14 |
| South Carolina | 14 |
| Michigan | 13 |
| Arizona | 10 |
Settlement Costs Of Dog Bites
The average dog bite settlement amount in the United States is $64,555. However, settlement amounts can vary widely depending on the injuries’ severity, the dog owner’s liability, and whether the case goes to trial.
Here are some more stats on the same:
- The number of average dog bite claims in 2022 was 17,597.
- In 2022, a 31.7% increase was seen in dog bite claiming costs as compared to 2021, when the average payout was $49,025.
- The dog-related injury settlement cost over $1 billion in the United States in 2022.
Here is a year-over-year rising cost of dog attack claims.
| Year | Number of Dog Attack Claims | The Total Value of Claims |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 7,359 | $483,700,000 |
| 2014 | 16,550 | $530,800,000 |
| 2015 | 15,352 | $571,300,000 |
| 2016 | 18,123 | $602,200,000 |
| 2017 | 18,522 | $686,300,000 |
| 2018 | 17,297 | $674,900,000 |
| 2019 | 17,802 | $796,800,000 |
| 2020 | 17,597 | $853,700,000 |
| 2021 | 17,989 | $881,900,000 |
| 2022 | 17,597 | $1,136,000,000 |
- California has the most dog attack claims, accounting for 11% of all claims.
- Florida comes next with the 1,331 claims.
Here are the top 10 states with the highest number of claims made in 2022:
| State | Number of Claims Made |
|---|---|
| California | 1,954 |
| Florida | 1,331 |
| Texas | 1,017 |
| New York | 969 |
| Michigan | 905 |
| Pennsylvania | 805 |
| Illinois | 729 |
| Ohio | 658 |
| New Jersey | 550 |
| Georgia | 475 |
Conclusion: 4.5 Million Dog Bites Are Recorded Every Year
Dog bites continue to be a major issue in the United States, with around 4.5 million bites reported each year. This results in approximately 800,000 people seeking medical treatment annually and, tragically, 30 to 50 fatalities from dog attacks.
Children, especially those under 12, are the most vulnerable, making up about 60% of all bite victims, with kids aged 5 to 9 being the most at risk.
In addition, 5-15% of dog bites lead to infections, some of which can be quite serious, caused by bacteria like rabies and Capnocytophaga.
You might want to read our post on Lost Dog Statistics
