This Stalking Awareness Month, we’re taking time to raise awareness about the realities of stalking and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. This year, the latest Stalking Data Brief from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) gives us updated insights into how common stalking is across the country, as well as here in Nebraska.
What Is NISVS and Why Does It Matter?
The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) is a major, ongoing survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to measure the prevalence of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and stalking among adults nationwide. It uses behaviorally specific questions about experiences such as unwanted contact, threats, and safety concerns, so respondents don’t have to label their experiences themselves. This approach helps capture experiences that might otherwise go unreported.
NISVS collects:
- Lifetime and past-year prevalence data
- State-level estimates
- Information on demographic characteristics, impacts, and patterns of violence
These data are essential for understanding how many people experience harm, who is affected, and how communities can plan prevention, services, and policy responses.
For more in-depth information, see the 2023/2024 Methodology Report.
What the 2023/2024 Stalking Data Brief Shows
The CDC’s latest Stalking Data Brief presents new national and state-level estimates from adults surveyed between September 2023 and September 2024. The brief defines stalking as a pattern of unwanted behavior that causes fear, threat, or safety concerns, such as repeated following, unwanted contact, showing up uninvited, or repeated messages that raise safety concerns.
National findings include:
- More than 1 in 5 women (22.5%) in the U.S. have experienced stalking in their lifetime.
- Nearly all female stalking survivors reported feeling afraid, threatened, or concerned for their safety.
- About 1 in 10 men (9.7%) have experienced stalking during their lifetime.
The data also indicates that survivors face a variety of stalking tactics from perpetrators, and technological advances may increase the invasiveness of these tactics. For most survivors, stalking causes significant fear and mental and emotional harm, which can disrupt the survivor’s daily life, work, health, and safety.
Key Takeaways for Nebraska
The CDC data also include state-level stalking prevalence estimates, and Nebraska’s numbers tell an important story:
- About 1 in 5 women in Nebraska (20%) has experienced stalking in their lifetime. This translates to roughly 144,000 women statewide.
- While Nebraska’s stalking rate is slightly below the national average, it still means that thousands of people in our state have lived through repeated, unwanted, and fear-inducing behavior.
These estimates remind us that stalking is not rare. Even when a rate appears lower than a national average, the real-life impact on individuals and families is very significant.
How To Use This Data
Data from the CDC’s NISVS can help Nebraska communities move from awareness to action. Because these estimates reflect experiences reported by adults across the state, they provide a strong foundation for prevention planning and community response.
Use the data to frame stalking as a common issue.
By sharing this data with partners and community members, we can begin to shift the conversation away from stalking as a rare or isolated experience. This framing can help reduce stigma, increase understanding, and encourage people to seek support and act to prevent stalking in their communities.
Inform prevention efforts.
The findings reinforce that stalking often involves repeated behaviors and misuse of technology. Communities can use this information to strengthen education around healthy boundaries, digital safety, and respectful relationships in schools, workplaces, and community settings.
Support early identification and response.
Because stalking can escalate over time, the data highlight the importance of recognizing concerning behaviors early. Service providers, educators, healthcare professionals, and employers can use this information as motivation for improving screening, referral pathways, and safety planning.
Strengthen survivor-centered services.
Knowing how many Nebraskans are affected can help organizations plan services that reflect real need, including trauma-informed advocacy, mental health support, and safety planning that considers technology, work, and shared spaces.
Guide collaboration and advocacy.
State-level data provides a shared starting point for collaboration across systems and regions. It can also support funding requests, policy discussions, and long-term strategies aimed at preventing stalking and supporting survivors.
Conclusion
The NISVS data reminds us that stalking is a major public health issue having profound effects on millions of women and men across the country. In Nebraska, where thousands of people have experienced stalking, this data can guide smarter prevention strategies, stronger survivor support, and more effective partnerships. By using data not just to describe the problem but to shape solutions, we can move closer to a future where all Nebraskans are safe and thriving.
Donate Today 
