Sex Offender Registry Statistics: 2024 Data for All 50 States

Total Number of Registered Offenders Continues to Climb

Our analysis reveals that 795,066 people appeared on sex offender registries throughout the United States in 2024. This represents approximately 8,000 more offenders than in 2023.

These figures naturally fluctuate as individuals are added to and removed from registries throughout the year. Since we initiated this research in 2019, this marks the highest count of individuals on state registries. Typically, at least 750,000 people remain on the registries at any given time.

Explore the map below and our data appendix at the end of this article to discover each state's total number of registrants and population-adjusted rates.

Sexual Assault Rates

Various forms of sexual misconduct, including indecent exposure, possession of explicit materials involving minors, or human trafficking, can result in placement on a state's offender registry. While regulations differ across states, rape and sexual assault consistently trigger sex offender registration requirements nationwide. Although rape rates decreased nationally between 2021 and 2022 according to FBI data, significant state-by-state variations persist.¹

States with the highest rates of reported rapes

Per 100,000 residents

The most recent state-level data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) comes from 2022, which prevents perfect comparison with the latest sex offender registry information.

Nevertheless, we observe that several states with the highest sex offender rates also show the highest population-adjusted rape rates: Alaska, Arkansas, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Michigan.

Child Maltreatment Rates

While the FBI doesn't specifically track child sexual abuse statistics, this offense typically results in sex offender registration. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publishes annual statistics about child mistreatment, including sexual abuse.²

Nationally, nearly 11 percent of all child maltreatment victims (HHS's official terminology) experienced sexual abuse. This makes child sex abuse the third most prevalent form of child abuse, following neglect and physical abuse.

Throughout all states and Puerto Rico, more than 59,000 children were documented as sex abuse victims in 2022, similar to the number in 2021. The population-adjusted rate of child sex abuse also remained largely the same between 2021 and 2022 with about 82 victims per 100,000 children nationwide.

States with the highest rates of minor sexual abuse victims

Per 100,000 children under 18

Child sex abuse was reported in Arkansas at a rate of 267 per 100,000 children in 2022, the highest rate in the nation. This figure is more than three times the overall national rate. North Dakota had the lowest rate, and 30 other states also had rates lower than the national average.

When looking at all three lists in this report, only Arkansas ranked in the top 10 for the highest rates of sexual offenders, rape, and child sexual abuse. This indicates that this state, in particular, has significant challenges with sexual violence and the rehabilitation of offenders.

Conclusion

The growing number of registered sex offenders and ongoing sexual violence crimes underscore the continued need for community awareness and vigilance. When used appropriately, sex offender registries serve as an important resource for improving neighborhood and home security. You can search for offenders in your area at the National Sex Offender Public Website.³

Although sex offender registries offer valuable information, building truly safe communities demands a comprehensive strategy including education, prevention programs, and survivor support services. Through staying informed and implementing proactive measures, we can collectively work to reduce sexual crimes and create safer environments for all residents.

If you or a loved one has experienced sexual assault or abuse and needs support, call RAINN’s 24/7 national hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE for free assistance.⁴

Methodology

We individually searched each state’s online sex offender registry to calculate the number of people listed as of August 2024. In several states, the number of registrants was unavailable on state registry websites. In these cases, we contacted law enforcement public information officers and other state officials who provided us with the most updated numbers for their states by email or phone. Updated figures from New Jersey were unavailable at the time of our 2024 report, so our report uses figures from 2023.

The child sex abuse data referenced in our report was from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 2022 Child Maltreatment Report. To determine the number of cases per 100,000 residents under 18, we compared the data with population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The rape data was collected from Table 5 of the 2022 Crime in the U.S. Report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. To determine the number of cases per 100,000 residents, we compared the data with the 2022 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Limitations

Please note these are not lists of every person who has ever committed, been arrested for, or convicted of a sex offense.

These figures change on an ongoing basis as states have varying requirements regarding who has to register and how long their names must remain on the registry. Illinois, Minnesota, and Montana’s public registries contain sex offenders and others convicted of violent and/or drug-related crimes. For Kansas and Montana, our figures only include sex offenders. In Minnesota, the count includes individuals who are considered predatory offenders.

It’s also important to note that each state decides which offenders are listed on its public registries based on the severity of their crimes and their risks for re-offending. Due to the sensitive nature of these crimes, many go unreported, and the actual figures could be much higher.

Each state has unique requirements for sex offender registration and different policies regarding which types of offenders are listed on their public registries. Similarly, states have various requirements for the length of time offenders must be listed publicly.

Data appendix