Linking the Malawian Diaspora to the Development of Malawi”
Malawi
Malawi (/məˈlɔːwi,məˈlɑːwi/; Chichewa pronunciation:[maláβi]; Tumbuka: Malaŵi), officially the Republic of Malawi and formerly known as Nyasaland, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south and southwest. Malawi spans over 118,484 km2 (45,747 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 19,431,566 (as of January 2021). Malawi’s capital and largest city is Lilongwe. Its second-largest is Blantyre, its third-largest is Mzuzu and its fourth-largest is its former capital, Zomba.
The UN Women Leaders Network was launched this week on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly. It is the first permanent network of its kind, composed of intergenerational and intersectional women leaders, and its members represent the change needed in the traditional image of leadership today.
The network includes both emerging and more established leaders across ages, regions, and professions. The network will work together to promote the increase and advancement of women in leadership and decision-making spaces worldwide, and functions as a platform to a diverse group of women leaders to discuss and exchange ideas, solutions and experiences as leaders, community-builders and decision-makers.
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Members of the newly launched UN Women Leaders Network unites a global intergenerational and intersectional group of women leaders advocating for women’s leadership and participation in decision-making. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Chaired by the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Sami Bahous, and created in partnership with the Government of Iceland, the UN Foundation, and the Council of Women World Leaders, the network will operate in support of UN Women’s work on women’s leadership. As the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approaches in 2025, and world leaders are being called on to recommit to gender equality and women’s rights and empowerment, the network will serve as champions for diversity in leadership.
The network includes leaders such as Amanda Nguyen, CEO and Founder, Rise; Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius (2015 – 2018); Aya Chebbi, Former African Union Special Envoy on Youth and Founder of Nala Feminist Collective; Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank; Hibaaq Osman, Founder and Chairperson, ThinkTank for Arab Women, the Dignity Fund, Karama and the Centre for the Strategic Initiatives of Women; Janet Mbugua, Author, Advocate and Founder, Inua Dada Foundation; Joyce Banda, President of Malawi (2012 – 2014); Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia (2010 – 2013); Julieta Martinez, Climate Justice and Gender Equality Youth Activist; Kathleen Hanna, Musician, Author and Feminist Activist; Kimberlé Crenshaw, Civil Rights Advocate, Scholar and Co-Founder and Executive Director, African American Policy Forum; Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2011; Melanne Verveer, Executive Director, Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace and Security, Georgetown University; Roxane Gay, Author, Professor and Advocate; and Tarja Halonen, President of Finland (2000 – 2012). A full list of the current leaders can be found here.
Once fully mobilized, the network will consist of a group of 100 women leaders.
White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences Last Updated: September 18, 2024
The topic for the day is white-collar crime statistics for 2024.
Before we dive into the facts, figures, and statistics surrounding white-collar crimes, we’ll define it to help our readers have a solid understanding of what white-collar crime involves.
Historically, the term “white-collar crime” was created in 1939 by a man named Edwin Sutherland.
The phrase was coined because most of the people committing these crimes wore white shirts, like government officials (local, state, etc.) and business executives.
You will also hear them called “suits’, though not all men or women in suits are criminals.
The Investopedia definition of white-collar crime describes this category of crime as “a nonviolent crime committed for financial gain.”
These crimes relate to the financial realm of criminal activities.
That includes money laundering, racketeering, embezzlement, insider trading, corporate fraud, insurance fraud, securities fraud, etc.
The FBI says, “These crimes are characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust.”
The motivation for such criminal activity is to either prevent losing or to gain money, services, property, or to otherwise secure a business or personal advantage.
We can tell you that there is no shortage of statistics to discuss.
However, we have researched and gathered some of the most interesting and pertinent in the United States from 2019 to 2024.
Key White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024
On average, white-collar criminals are middle-aged men.
63.33% of white-collar crimes involve fraud.
Roughly 15 million Americans have been impacted by identity theft.
91.4% of Income tax offenses are committed by men, and 89.1% are white.
Statistics reveal that 35.3% of white collar felons have assets of over $10,000.
Only 9% of fraudulent crimes occur within nonprofits.
Roughly 6.1% of corporate criminals are from an unhealthy family structure.
28% of corporate crimes are committed by women.
Asset misappropriation accounted for 86% of the cases studied.
As of 2021, prosecutions for white-collar offenses are down by 24.4% from just five years ago.
Detailed White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024
Let’s start with a few general statistics about white-collar crimes in this first section of the article.
You will get an idea of just how widespread these crimes are in America.
1. According to the FBI, White-Collar Crime Was Defined in 1939, when The Phrase Itself Was Created.
In the introduction, we explained how Edwin Sutherland coined the phrase, “white-collar crime.”
This term has stood the test of time, defining a wide range of financial crimes primarily committed by government and business professionals.
White-collar crimes can financially destroy and have destroyed companies, families, and individuals for hundreds or even thousands of years.
After all, before the phrase “white-collar crime” was a thing, these crimes were happening.
(FBI 2)
2. On Average, White-Collar Criminals Are Middle-Aged Men.
If you consider men in their mid-40s to be middle-aged, this is the average age of white-collar criminals.
This data comes from 2019 but is still the average in the United States.
Going by appearances, these men are the last kinds of people to be suspected of criminal activities, especially financial crimes.
Also, these middle-aged men are also white, middle-class, married men with at least a bachelor’s degree or higher.
They also have solid ties to their communities, religion, and their families.
The motivation for these criminals is more about convenience, willingness, greed, and opportunity rather than need. These criminals are at least consistent.
(Forbes)
3. 63.33% of White-Collar Crimes Involve Fraud.
Out of all white-collar crimes, fraud made the top of the offenses at 63.33%.
Under the umbrella of fraud, there are types such as corporate, insurance, securities, mortgage, health care, and other forms of fraud.
After fraud, embezzlement is the next most common type of white-collar crime at 8.59%, followed closely by theft/larceny at 7.80%.
Money laundering (5.71%), tax evasion (4.79%), forgery (4.36%), racketeering/extortion (2.92%, bribery (1.85%), and gambling and lottery (0.66%) fraud types are included in the distribution of white-collar crimes.
(Zippia)
4. Roughly 15 Million Americans Have Been Impacted by Identity Theft.
Identity theft falls under white-collar crimes, whether it happens online or offline.
Around 15 million Americans have their identities taken and fraudulently used each year. The losses account for roughly $50 billion.
According to statistics, identity thieves have several methods they use to steal identities.
This includes email phishing and vishing, database hacks, devices placed on ATMs, and even less sophisticated methods that still work.
(Identity Theft Info)
5. The FBI’s Primary Focus in Fraud Investigations Involve False Accounting and Illicit Transactions.
In the corporate fraud white-collar crime realm, the FBI’s main focus is on accounting and the misrepresentation of financial conditions.
Also, they focus on fraudulent trades that hide monetary losses or inflate gains. Illicit transactions that aid in escaping regulatory oversight play a major role in FBI investigations.
Even corporate fraud features multiple infractions in the statistical arena. Moreover, self-dealing aspects of corporate insiders fall under FBI scrutiny.
The FBI puts its energy into cases that involve self-dealing and accounting by executives in the corporate world.
Furthermore, obstruction of justice is also investigated because it’s used to conceal these kinds of crimes.
(FBI 3)
6. 91.4% of Income Tax Offenses Are Committed by Men, and 89.1% Are White.
Remember that we discussed most white-collar criminals as white males in their mid-40s? The mean age of those who have committed tax fraud or offenses is 49, 91.4% of them are male, and 89.1% are white.
In contrast, street crimes are a bit different. For instance, the statistics for robberies show that street crime robbers on average are 28-year-old white (46.3%) males (93.4%).
(ResearchGate)
7. 35.3% of White Collar Felons Have Assets of Over $10,000.
A study from the University of Cincinnati called “Life Course Theory and White-Collar Crime”, 35.3% of white-collar felons own over $10,000 in assets.
This same paper cites that these criminals are also well-established in their communities. Another 63.5% enjoy residential stability, and of that figure, 50.3% own their homes.
They are commonly high-ranking executives in their careers and usually have managerial positions. Unlike what you would expect from a “criminal”, 65.8% of them are steadily employed.
(ResearchGate 2)
8. Only 9% of Fraudulent Crimes Occur Within Nonprofits.
Nonprofit organizations don’t often experience high rates of fraud, but at least 9% of the investigated cases from a 2020 report shows nonprofits were affected.
Damages in fraud cases amount to $75,000 per incident, which is a hefty number for small nonprofits, or any small organization.
PwC’s Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey from 2020 revealed that private institutions made up 44% of corporate fraud cases.
Another 26% occurred in public organizations, and 16% within government agencies. The other 5-6% of fraud cases occurred in other types of businesses.
(PWC)
9. In 2020, 755 Instances of Money Laundering Occurred in The United States, According to Statistics.
The highest number of money laundering crimes occured in the Southern District of Florida (42) in the 2020 fiscal year.
After Florida, the Southern District of New York showed 33 offenses, and the Southern District of Texas tied New York’s figures.
The Northern District of Ohio had 31 money laundering cases, and the Western District of Missouri accounted for 26.
Those are the top five spots in the United States for money laundering offenses. According to further statistics, 79.9% of money laundering perpetrators were male.
Of these figures, 34.8% were White/Caucasian, 34.7% were Hispanic/Latino, 20.8% were African American/Black, and other races accounted for 9.7%. How many of these offenders had a previous criminal history?
A whopping 69.8% of the 2020 money laundering offenders had no priors.
(United States Sentencing Committee)
10. In 2015, 3,923 White-Collar Crimes Were Reported by Whistleblowers Alone.
Whistleblowers were responsible for tipping off the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2015 with 3.923 tips related to bribes, corruption, and overall white-collar crimes in the workplace.
Since then, whistleblowing has steadily grown and brought more white-collar crimes into view.
Without these whistleblowers, most sophisticated white-collar offenses would either go unnoticed, or at least unprosecuted due to lack of evidence.
These criminals know how to conceal their illicit dealings through a series of complicated transactions.
(Cornell Law School)
White-Collar Crime Demographics 2024
You now have some general, fundamental statistics to peruse, but what about some demographic statistics related to these nonviolent, but not victim-free statistics?
11. Roughly 6.1% of Corporate Criminals Are from An Unhealthy Family Structure.
We already know that most white-collar perpetrators are pretty average people with happy lifestyles that no one would suspect of any form of criminal activity.
However, we also learned that motivation isn’t always about need, but it is more about greed and convenience.
According to studies, white-collar criminals come from stable, happy households.
However, there are those few who are raised by families with criminal records, reports of abuse/neglect in their childhoods, and other very dysfunctional settings.
Most criminals who are raised in less healthy and poverty-stricken homes commit blue-collar or street crimes.
(ResearchGate 3)
12. According to Results from White-Collar Crime Data, 28% of Corporate Crimes Are Committed by Women.
We have the data on the predominantly male white-collar crime statistics, but women account for a smaller, but significant percentage of these crimes at 28%.
Women in the corporate world are even less likely to be suspected of white-collar crimes than men because they are also astute at covering their tracks, and they are often seen as upstanding members of their community.
To be fair, women are rarely the offenders in white-collar crimes in the corporate arena. Out of the whole 28% who are involved in these corporate crimes, 27% involve fraud.
Losses among women are significantly lower at $85,000 on average than men who committed frauds at $150,000 on average.
(2020 Report to the Nations Fraud and Abuse Study)
13. Tenured, Highly Educated, Older Fraud Offenders Cause the Highest Losses Within an Organization.
From the same 2020 report, tenured fraudsters (habitual, occupational) account for double the losses of those with less tenure in a company.
To break it down, fraud offenders that have been with a company at least six years will cost a median amount of $200,000 per incident.
In contrast, fraud offenders with five years or less invested in a firm cost a median amount of $100,000 per incident.
Likewise. Fraudsters over 55 years old cost companies $425,000 on average, compared to those between 40 and 54 ($150,000) and under 40 ($75,000).
Moreover, 64% occupational fraudsters have high university degrees and cost companies $195,000 on average.
For those without a university degree, the median number is $100,000 in losses.
(2020 Report to the Nations Fraud and Abuse Study)
14. Most White-Collar Criminals Live Beyond Their Means.
If you’re seeking a solid motivational factor for committing white-collar crimes, the data shows that these upstanding corporate executives are already living beyond their means, so they want more “streams of income”.
Heads of households are the ones bringing home the bacon, so when more is needed, some of them will do just about anything to make more money, even if it’s a crime.
This is pretty obvious based on the demographic data on men between 40 and 61, without a criminal record, and who lead what appears to be upstanding lives who are the main focus of statistics.
(Sivin, Miller & Roche LLP)
The Price of White-Collar Crimes in 2024
We have come to the portion of the article that will address the price of white-collar crime. In other words, the monetary costs of these nonviolent crimes.
Remember, nonviolent doesn’t equal victimless because many families, businesses, and people have lost money from these crimes.
15. The Average White-Collar Crime Can Incur Losses of More than $500,000.
In contrast to statistics on related crime costing losses of more than $500,000, armed robbery street crimes average a little more than $3,000.
Research shows that if check fraud and forgeries were included with white-collar crimes, these figures would be much higher.
Another interesting fact about white-collar crimes is that until the losses become astronomical, they go virtually unnoticed.
It’s less noticeable for coworkers to be noticed or suspected of crimes simply by paying for personal items.
The problem is, they are commonly repeat offenders, which eventually gets them caught.
(Bajoka Law)
16. Asset Misappropriation Accounted for 86% of The Cases Studied.
Between January 2020 and September 2021, research studies looked into fraud trends and white-collar crimes.
Asset misappropriation made of 86% of the cases researched. However, even with this massive percentage of ill doings, they were the least costly to companies.
The average loss for asset misappropriation within organizations was $100,000 per incident within the time frame they were studied.
Corruption cases were second at 50%, and cost and average of $150,000 per occurrence.
Only 9% of the studied cases involved financial statement fraud but were discovered to be the costliest at $593,000 per occurrence.
(Withum)
17. $300 Billion Is the Estimated Cost in The United States for White-Collar Crimes, According to The FBI.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States reported that an estimated annual cost of $300 billion is incurred from white-collar crimes.
The takeaway isn’t just this exorbitant amount of money. It’s also about the fact that statistics are showing a rise in these crimes.
Besides the penalties and fines, the costs also account for paying for prosecutors, loss or forfeiture of homes and properties, community confinement, family disruptions and divorces, supervised releases, and the potential for imprisonment.
Imagine the emotional costs in stress, anxiety, and societal stigma.
(Cornell Law School)
Prosecution and Sentencing White-Collar Crimes in 2024
We’ve already covered a lot of ground for white-collar crimes, but there is one more section to discuss. This involves the prosecution and sentencing of white-collar offenders.
18. As Of 2021, Prosecutions for White-Collar Offenses Are Down by 24.4% from Just Five Years Ago.
Five years ago, white-collar crime prosecutions accounted for 6,253 cases. The 2021 number for white-collar crimes was 4,727.
The change from 20 years ago is -50%, and the change from 2020 is 11%.
One reason for the downturn in prosecutions between 2020 and 2021 was the pandemic. During the COVID-19 ordeal, prosecutions were temporarily depressed.
However, when looking at long-term trends, it appears that white-collar crime prosecutions are still declining.
(TRAC)
19. The Most Famous and Biggest White-Collar Crime Created Losses of $65 Billion.
Do you remember the Bernie Madoff arrest from 2011? Well, you need to know that this scam was the most successful white-collar infraction ever committed.
It was designed as a Ponzi scheme and was run through Madoff’s “business”, Madoff Investment Securities, LLC. He was convicted of multiple white-collar crimes.
Madoff’s prosecution and sentencing cost him 150 years in prison where he died in 2021.
If you need to understand what a Ponzi scheme is, it’s defined as an investment fraud that pays investors with money from new investors.
Essentially, it can be kept going by getting new investors and paying the existing investors.
(Investopedia 2)
20. The Eastern District of North Carolina Was the Most Active State for Prosecutions in 2020.
North Carolina takes white-collar crime very seriously, as should all states. In 2020, 18 prosecutions for these types of crimes occurred in Raleigh (the Eastern District).
Second to Raleigh New Orleans, the Eastern District of Louisiana with 13 prosecutions.
More white-collar facts show that in August 2020, the Justice Department of the United States recorded 95.5 white-collar crime prosecutions for every 10 million individuals in the country.
(TRAC 2)
FAQs
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have learned something new and interesting from these white-collar crime statistics we researched and shared with you.
You should have a better understanding of what this category of crime is and what kinds of crimes are involved.
The numbers may show there is a decline in reporting and prosecuting white-collar offenses, but does that really mean the actual crimes are declining?
Do you think the pandemic made it easier for these criminals to slip past the system?
We may never know the real numbers for white-collar crimes, but what we do have is enough to tell us that it’s a big problem in corporate America.
It’s doubtful that any corporation is completely immune to white-collar crimes.
While we have discussed some of the most major statistics about white-collar crimes, there are those sneaky transactions like a corporate executive trying to use a personal restaurant check as a business expense.
So, we cannot possibly account for every instance of white-collar crime.
Do you know anyone who has ever been caught and punished for a white-collar crime?
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article about white collar crime statistics in 2024. Hopefully, you have never seen such infractions committed in your workplace.
Sources
Thank you for reading this article titled: White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences
Data is from 2023 and 2024 and forecast data is for 2025 and 2026. We also expand the forecast data to 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia (Oceania), Middle East, South America.
Post Title: White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences Last Updated: September 18, 2024
White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences Last Updated: September 18, 2024
The topic for the day is white-collar crime statistics for 2024.
Before we dive into the facts, figures, and statistics surrounding white-collar crimes, we’ll define it to help our readers have a solid understanding of what white-collar crime involves.
Historically, the term “white-collar crime” was created in 1939 by a man named Edwin Sutherland.
The phrase was coined because most of the people committing these crimes wore white shirts, like government officials (local, state, etc.) and business executives.
You will also hear them called “suits’, though not all men or women in suits are criminals.
The Investopedia definition of white-collar crime describes this category of crime as “a nonviolent crime committed for financial gain.”
These crimes relate to the financial realm of criminal activities.
That includes money laundering, racketeering, embezzlement, insider trading, corporate fraud, insurance fraud, securities fraud, etc.
The FBI says, “These crimes are characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust.”
The motivation for such criminal activity is to either prevent losing or to gain money, services, property, or to otherwise secure a business or personal advantage.
We can tell you that there is no shortage of statistics to discuss.
However, we have researched and gathered some of the most interesting and pertinent in the United States from 2019 to 2024.
Key White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024
On average, white-collar criminals are middle-aged men.
63.33% of white-collar crimes involve fraud.
Roughly 15 million Americans have been impacted by identity theft.
91.4% of Income tax offenses are committed by men, and 89.1% are white.
Statistics reveal that 35.3% of white collar felons have assets of over $10,000.
Only 9% of fraudulent crimes occur within nonprofits.
Roughly 6.1% of corporate criminals are from an unhealthy family structure.
28% of corporate crimes are committed by women.
Asset misappropriation accounted for 86% of the cases studied.
As of 2021, prosecutions for white-collar offenses are down by 24.4% from just five years ago.
Detailed White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024
Let’s start with a few general statistics about white-collar crimes in this first section of the article.
You will get an idea of just how widespread these crimes are in America.
1. According to the FBI, White-Collar Crime Was Defined in 1939, when The Phrase Itself Was Created.
In the introduction, we explained how Edwin Sutherland coined the phrase, “white-collar crime.”
This term has stood the test of time, defining a wide range of financial crimes primarily committed by government and business professionals.
White-collar crimes can financially destroy and have destroyed companies, families, and individuals for hundreds or even thousands of years.
After all, before the phrase “white-collar crime” was a thing, these crimes were happening.
(FBI 2)
2. On Average, White-Collar Criminals Are Middle-Aged Men.
If you consider men in their mid-40s to be middle-aged, this is the average age of white-collar criminals.
This data comes from 2019 but is still the average in the United States.
Going by appearances, these men are the last kinds of people to be suspected of criminal activities, especially financial crimes.
Also, these middle-aged men are also white, middle-class, married men with at least a bachelor’s degree or higher.
They also have solid ties to their communities, religion, and their families.
The motivation for these criminals is more about convenience, willingness, greed, and opportunity rather than need. These criminals are at least consistent.
(Forbes)
3. 63.33% of White-Collar Crimes Involve Fraud.
Out of all white-collar crimes, fraud made the top of the offenses at 63.33%.
Under the umbrella of fraud, there are types such as corporate, insurance, securities, mortgage, health care, and other forms of fraud.
After fraud, embezzlement is the next most common type of white-collar crime at 8.59%, followed closely by theft/larceny at 7.80%.
Money laundering (5.71%), tax evasion (4.79%), forgery (4.36%), racketeering/extortion (2.92%, bribery (1.85%), and gambling and lottery (0.66%) fraud types are included in the distribution of white-collar crimes.
(Zippia)
4. Roughly 15 Million Americans Have Been Impacted by Identity Theft.
Identity theft falls under white-collar crimes, whether it happens online or offline.
Around 15 million Americans have their identities taken and fraudulently used each year. The losses account for roughly $50 billion.
According to statistics, identity thieves have several methods they use to steal identities.
This includes email phishing and vishing, database hacks, devices placed on ATMs, and even less sophisticated methods that still work.
(Identity Theft Info)
5. The FBI’s Primary Focus in Fraud Investigations Involve False Accounting and Illicit Transactions.
In the corporate fraud white-collar crime realm, the FBI’s main focus is on accounting and the misrepresentation of financial conditions.
Also, they focus on fraudulent trades that hide monetary losses or inflate gains. Illicit transactions that aid in escaping regulatory oversight play a major role in FBI investigations.
Even corporate fraud features multiple infractions in the statistical arena. Moreover, self-dealing aspects of corporate insiders fall under FBI scrutiny.
The FBI puts its energy into cases that involve self-dealing and accounting by executives in the corporate world.
Furthermore, obstruction of justice is also investigated because it’s used to conceal these kinds of crimes.
(FBI 3)
6. 91.4% of Income Tax Offenses Are Committed by Men, and 89.1% Are White.
Remember that we discussed most white-collar criminals as white males in their mid-40s? The mean age of those who have committed tax fraud or offenses is 49, 91.4% of them are male, and 89.1% are white.
In contrast, street crimes are a bit different. For instance, the statistics for robberies show that street crime robbers on average are 28-year-old white (46.3%) males (93.4%).
(ResearchGate)
7. 35.3% of White Collar Felons Have Assets of Over $10,000.
A study from the University of Cincinnati called “Life Course Theory and White-Collar Crime”, 35.3% of white-collar felons own over $10,000 in assets.
This same paper cites that these criminals are also well-established in their communities. Another 63.5% enjoy residential stability, and of that figure, 50.3% own their homes.
They are commonly high-ranking executives in their careers and usually have managerial positions. Unlike what you would expect from a “criminal”, 65.8% of them are steadily employed.
(ResearchGate 2)
8. Only 9% of Fraudulent Crimes Occur Within Nonprofits.
Nonprofit organizations don’t often experience high rates of fraud, but at least 9% of the investigated cases from a 2020 report shows nonprofits were affected.
Damages in fraud cases amount to $75,000 per incident, which is a hefty number for small nonprofits, or any small organization.
PwC’s Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey from 2020 revealed that private institutions made up 44% of corporate fraud cases.
Another 26% occurred in public organizations, and 16% within government agencies. The other 5-6% of fraud cases occurred in other types of businesses.
(PWC)
9. In 2020, 755 Instances of Money Laundering Occurred in The United States, According to Statistics.
The highest number of money laundering crimes occured in the Southern District of Florida (42) in the 2020 fiscal year.
After Florida, the Southern District of New York showed 33 offenses, and the Southern District of Texas tied New York’s figures.
The Northern District of Ohio had 31 money laundering cases, and the Western District of Missouri accounted for 26.
Those are the top five spots in the United States for money laundering offenses. According to further statistics, 79.9% of money laundering perpetrators were male.
Of these figures, 34.8% were White/Caucasian, 34.7% were Hispanic/Latino, 20.8% were African American/Black, and other races accounted for 9.7%. How many of these offenders had a previous criminal history?
A whopping 69.8% of the 2020 money laundering offenders had no priors.
(United States Sentencing Committee)
10. In 2015, 3,923 White-Collar Crimes Were Reported by Whistleblowers Alone.
Whistleblowers were responsible for tipping off the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2015 with 3.923 tips related to bribes, corruption, and overall white-collar crimes in the workplace.
Since then, whistleblowing has steadily grown and brought more white-collar crimes into view.
Without these whistleblowers, most sophisticated white-collar offenses would either go unnoticed, or at least unprosecuted due to lack of evidence.
These criminals know how to conceal their illicit dealings through a series of complicated transactions.
(Cornell Law School)
White-Collar Crime Demographics 2024
You now have some general, fundamental statistics to peruse, but what about some demographic statistics related to these nonviolent, but not victim-free statistics?
11. Roughly 6.1% of Corporate Criminals Are from An Unhealthy Family Structure.
We already know that most white-collar perpetrators are pretty average people with happy lifestyles that no one would suspect of any form of criminal activity.
However, we also learned that motivation isn’t always about need, but it is more about greed and convenience.
According to studies, white-collar criminals come from stable, happy households.
However, there are those few who are raised by families with criminal records, reports of abuse/neglect in their childhoods, and other very dysfunctional settings.
Most criminals who are raised in less healthy and poverty-stricken homes commit blue-collar or street crimes.
(ResearchGate 3)
12. According to Results from White-Collar Crime Data, 28% of Corporate Crimes Are Committed by Women.
We have the data on the predominantly male white-collar crime statistics, but women account for a smaller, but significant percentage of these crimes at 28%.
Women in the corporate world are even less likely to be suspected of white-collar crimes than men because they are also astute at covering their tracks, and they are often seen as upstanding members of their community.
To be fair, women are rarely the offenders in white-collar crimes in the corporate arena. Out of the whole 28% who are involved in these corporate crimes, 27% involve fraud.
Losses among women are significantly lower at $85,000 on average than men who committed frauds at $150,000 on average.
(2020 Report to the Nations Fraud and Abuse Study)
13. Tenured, Highly Educated, Older Fraud Offenders Cause the Highest Losses Within an Organization.
From the same 2020 report, tenured fraudsters (habitual, occupational) account for double the losses of those with less tenure in a company.
To break it down, fraud offenders that have been with a company at least six years will cost a median amount of $200,000 per incident.
In contrast, fraud offenders with five years or less invested in a firm cost a median amount of $100,000 per incident.
Likewise. Fraudsters over 55 years old cost companies $425,000 on average, compared to those between 40 and 54 ($150,000) and under 40 ($75,000).
Moreover, 64% occupational fraudsters have high university degrees and cost companies $195,000 on average.
For those without a university degree, the median number is $100,000 in losses.
(2020 Report to the Nations Fraud and Abuse Study)
14. Most White-Collar Criminals Live Beyond Their Means.
If you’re seeking a solid motivational factor for committing white-collar crimes, the data shows that these upstanding corporate executives are already living beyond their means, so they want more “streams of income”.
Heads of households are the ones bringing home the bacon, so when more is needed, some of them will do just about anything to make more money, even if it’s a crime.
This is pretty obvious based on the demographic data on men between 40 and 61, without a criminal record, and who lead what appears to be upstanding lives who are the main focus of statistics.
(Sivin, Miller & Roche LLP)
The Price of White-Collar Crimes in 2024
We have come to the portion of the article that will address the price of white-collar crime. In other words, the monetary costs of these nonviolent crimes.
Remember, nonviolent doesn’t equal victimless because many families, businesses, and people have lost money from these crimes.
15. The Average White-Collar Crime Can Incur Losses of More than $500,000.
In contrast to statistics on related crime costing losses of more than $500,000, armed robbery street crimes average a little more than $3,000.
Research shows that if check fraud and forgeries were included with white-collar crimes, these figures would be much higher.
Another interesting fact about white-collar crimes is that until the losses become astronomical, they go virtually unnoticed.
It’s less noticeable for coworkers to be noticed or suspected of crimes simply by paying for personal items.
The problem is, they are commonly repeat offenders, which eventually gets them caught.
(Bajoka Law)
16. Asset Misappropriation Accounted for 86% of The Cases Studied.
Between January 2020 and September 2021, research studies looked into fraud trends and white-collar crimes.
Asset misappropriation made of 86% of the cases researched. However, even with this massive percentage of ill doings, they were the least costly to companies.
The average loss for asset misappropriation within organizations was $100,000 per incident within the time frame they were studied.
Corruption cases were second at 50%, and cost and average of $150,000 per occurrence.
Only 9% of the studied cases involved financial statement fraud but were discovered to be the costliest at $593,000 per occurrence.
(Withum)
17. $300 Billion Is the Estimated Cost in The United States for White-Collar Crimes, According to The FBI.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States reported that an estimated annual cost of $300 billion is incurred from white-collar crimes.
The takeaway isn’t just this exorbitant amount of money. It’s also about the fact that statistics are showing a rise in these crimes.
Besides the penalties and fines, the costs also account for paying for prosecutors, loss or forfeiture of homes and properties, community confinement, family disruptions and divorces, supervised releases, and the potential for imprisonment.
Imagine the emotional costs in stress, anxiety, and societal stigma.
(Cornell Law School)
Prosecution and Sentencing White-Collar Crimes in 2024
We’ve already covered a lot of ground for white-collar crimes, but there is one more section to discuss. This involves the prosecution and sentencing of white-collar offenders.
18. As Of 2021, Prosecutions for White-Collar Offenses Are Down by 24.4% from Just Five Years Ago.
Five years ago, white-collar crime prosecutions accounted for 6,253 cases. The 2021 number for white-collar crimes was 4,727.
The change from 20 years ago is -50%, and the change from 2020 is 11%.
One reason for the downturn in prosecutions between 2020 and 2021 was the pandemic. During the COVID-19 ordeal, prosecutions were temporarily depressed.
However, when looking at long-term trends, it appears that white-collar crime prosecutions are still declining.
(TRAC)
19. The Most Famous and Biggest White-Collar Crime Created Losses of $65 Billion.
Do you remember the Bernie Madoff arrest from 2011? Well, you need to know that this scam was the most successful white-collar infraction ever committed.
It was designed as a Ponzi scheme and was run through Madoff’s “business”, Madoff Investment Securities, LLC. He was convicted of multiple white-collar crimes.
Madoff’s prosecution and sentencing cost him 150 years in prison where he died in 2021.
If you need to understand what a Ponzi scheme is, it’s defined as an investment fraud that pays investors with money from new investors.
Essentially, it can be kept going by getting new investors and paying the existing investors.
(Investopedia 2)
20. The Eastern District of North Carolina Was the Most Active State for Prosecutions in 2020.
North Carolina takes white-collar crime very seriously, as should all states. In 2020, 18 prosecutions for these types of crimes occurred in Raleigh (the Eastern District).
Second to Raleigh New Orleans, the Eastern District of Louisiana with 13 prosecutions.
More white-collar facts show that in August 2020, the Justice Department of the United States recorded 95.5 white-collar crime prosecutions for every 10 million individuals in the country.
(TRAC 2)
FAQs
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have learned something new and interesting from these white-collar crime statistics we researched and shared with you.
You should have a better understanding of what this category of crime is and what kinds of crimes are involved.
The numbers may show there is a decline in reporting and prosecuting white-collar offenses, but does that really mean the actual crimes are declining?
Do you think the pandemic made it easier for these criminals to slip past the system?
We may never know the real numbers for white-collar crimes, but what we do have is enough to tell us that it’s a big problem in corporate America.
It’s doubtful that any corporation is completely immune to white-collar crimes.
While we have discussed some of the most major statistics about white-collar crimes, there are those sneaky transactions like a corporate executive trying to use a personal restaurant check as a business expense.
So, we cannot possibly account for every instance of white-collar crime.
Do you know anyone who has ever been caught and punished for a white-collar crime?
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article about white collar crime statistics in 2024. Hopefully, you have never seen such infractions committed in your workplace.
Sources
Thank you for reading this article titled: White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences
Data is from 2023 and 2024 and forecast data is for 2025 and 2026. We also expand the forecast data to 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia (Oceania), Middle East, South America.
Post Title: White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences Last Updated: September 18, 2024
White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences Last Updated: September 18, 2024
The topic for the day is white-collar crime statistics for 2024.
Before we dive into the facts, figures, and statistics surrounding white-collar crimes, we’ll define it to help our readers have a solid understanding of what white-collar crime involves.
Historically, the term “white-collar crime” was created in 1939 by a man named Edwin Sutherland.
The phrase was coined because most of the people committing these crimes wore white shirts, like government officials (local, state, etc.) and business executives.
You will also hear them called “suits’, though not all men or women in suits are criminals.
The Investopedia definition of white-collar crime describes this category of crime as “a nonviolent crime committed for financial gain.”
These crimes relate to the financial realm of criminal activities.
That includes money laundering, racketeering, embezzlement, insider trading, corporate fraud, insurance fraud, securities fraud, etc.
The FBI says, “These crimes are characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust.”
The motivation for such criminal activity is to either prevent losing or to gain money, services, property, or to otherwise secure a business or personal advantage.
We can tell you that there is no shortage of statistics to discuss.
However, we have researched and gathered some of the most interesting and pertinent in the United States from 2019 to 2024.
Key White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024
On average, white-collar criminals are middle-aged men.
63.33% of white-collar crimes involve fraud.
Roughly 15 million Americans have been impacted by identity theft.
91.4% of Income tax offenses are committed by men, and 89.1% are white.
Statistics reveal that 35.3% of white collar felons have assets of over $10,000.
Only 9% of fraudulent crimes occur within nonprofits.
Roughly 6.1% of corporate criminals are from an unhealthy family structure.
28% of corporate crimes are committed by women.
Asset misappropriation accounted for 86% of the cases studied.
As of 2021, prosecutions for white-collar offenses are down by 24.4% from just five years ago.
Detailed White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024
Let’s start with a few general statistics about white-collar crimes in this first section of the article.
You will get an idea of just how widespread these crimes are in America.
1. According to the FBI, White-Collar Crime Was Defined in 1939, when The Phrase Itself Was Created.
In the introduction, we explained how Edwin Sutherland coined the phrase, “white-collar crime.”
This term has stood the test of time, defining a wide range of financial crimes primarily committed by government and business professionals.
White-collar crimes can financially destroy and have destroyed companies, families, and individuals for hundreds or even thousands of years.
After all, before the phrase “white-collar crime” was a thing, these crimes were happening.
(FBI 2)
2. On Average, White-Collar Criminals Are Middle-Aged Men.
If you consider men in their mid-40s to be middle-aged, this is the average age of white-collar criminals.
This data comes from 2019 but is still the average in the United States.
Going by appearances, these men are the last kinds of people to be suspected of criminal activities, especially financial crimes.
Also, these middle-aged men are also white, middle-class, married men with at least a bachelor’s degree or higher.
They also have solid ties to their communities, religion, and their families.
The motivation for these criminals is more about convenience, willingness, greed, and opportunity rather than need. These criminals are at least consistent.
(Forbes)
3. 63.33% of White-Collar Crimes Involve Fraud.
Out of all white-collar crimes, fraud made the top of the offenses at 63.33%.
Under the umbrella of fraud, there are types such as corporate, insurance, securities, mortgage, health care, and other forms of fraud.
After fraud, embezzlement is the next most common type of white-collar crime at 8.59%, followed closely by theft/larceny at 7.80%.
Money laundering (5.71%), tax evasion (4.79%), forgery (4.36%), racketeering/extortion (2.92%, bribery (1.85%), and gambling and lottery (0.66%) fraud types are included in the distribution of white-collar crimes.
(Zippia)
4. Roughly 15 Million Americans Have Been Impacted by Identity Theft.
Identity theft falls under white-collar crimes, whether it happens online or offline.
Around 15 million Americans have their identities taken and fraudulently used each year. The losses account for roughly $50 billion.
According to statistics, identity thieves have several methods they use to steal identities.
This includes email phishing and vishing, database hacks, devices placed on ATMs, and even less sophisticated methods that still work.
(Identity Theft Info)
5. The FBI’s Primary Focus in Fraud Investigations Involve False Accounting and Illicit Transactions.
In the corporate fraud white-collar crime realm, the FBI’s main focus is on accounting and the misrepresentation of financial conditions.
Also, they focus on fraudulent trades that hide monetary losses or inflate gains. Illicit transactions that aid in escaping regulatory oversight play a major role in FBI investigations.
Even corporate fraud features multiple infractions in the statistical arena. Moreover, self-dealing aspects of corporate insiders fall under FBI scrutiny.
The FBI puts its energy into cases that involve self-dealing and accounting by executives in the corporate world.
Furthermore, obstruction of justice is also investigated because it’s used to conceal these kinds of crimes.
(FBI 3)
6. 91.4% of Income Tax Offenses Are Committed by Men, and 89.1% Are White.
Remember that we discussed most white-collar criminals as white males in their mid-40s? The mean age of those who have committed tax fraud or offenses is 49, 91.4% of them are male, and 89.1% are white.
In contrast, street crimes are a bit different. For instance, the statistics for robberies show that street crime robbers on average are 28-year-old white (46.3%) males (93.4%).
(ResearchGate)
7. 35.3% of White Collar Felons Have Assets of Over $10,000.
A study from the University of Cincinnati called “Life Course Theory and White-Collar Crime”, 35.3% of white-collar felons own over $10,000 in assets.
This same paper cites that these criminals are also well-established in their communities. Another 63.5% enjoy residential stability, and of that figure, 50.3% own their homes.
They are commonly high-ranking executives in their careers and usually have managerial positions. Unlike what you would expect from a “criminal”, 65.8% of them are steadily employed.
(ResearchGate 2)
8. Only 9% of Fraudulent Crimes Occur Within Nonprofits.
Nonprofit organizations don’t often experience high rates of fraud, but at least 9% of the investigated cases from a 2020 report shows nonprofits were affected.
Damages in fraud cases amount to $75,000 per incident, which is a hefty number for small nonprofits, or any small organization.
PwC’s Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey from 2020 revealed that private institutions made up 44% of corporate fraud cases.
Another 26% occurred in public organizations, and 16% within government agencies. The other 5-6% of fraud cases occurred in other types of businesses.
(PWC)
9. In 2020, 755 Instances of Money Laundering Occurred in The United States, According to Statistics.
The highest number of money laundering crimes occured in the Southern District of Florida (42) in the 2020 fiscal year.
After Florida, the Southern District of New York showed 33 offenses, and the Southern District of Texas tied New York’s figures.
The Northern District of Ohio had 31 money laundering cases, and the Western District of Missouri accounted for 26.
Those are the top five spots in the United States for money laundering offenses. According to further statistics, 79.9% of money laundering perpetrators were male.
Of these figures, 34.8% were White/Caucasian, 34.7% were Hispanic/Latino, 20.8% were African American/Black, and other races accounted for 9.7%. How many of these offenders had a previous criminal history?
A whopping 69.8% of the 2020 money laundering offenders had no priors.
(United States Sentencing Committee)
10. In 2015, 3,923 White-Collar Crimes Were Reported by Whistleblowers Alone.
Whistleblowers were responsible for tipping off the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2015 with 3.923 tips related to bribes, corruption, and overall white-collar crimes in the workplace.
Since then, whistleblowing has steadily grown and brought more white-collar crimes into view.
Without these whistleblowers, most sophisticated white-collar offenses would either go unnoticed, or at least unprosecuted due to lack of evidence.
These criminals know how to conceal their illicit dealings through a series of complicated transactions.
(Cornell Law School)
White-Collar Crime Demographics 2024
You now have some general, fundamental statistics to peruse, but what about some demographic statistics related to these nonviolent, but not victim-free statistics?
11. Roughly 6.1% of Corporate Criminals Are from An Unhealthy Family Structure.
We already know that most white-collar perpetrators are pretty average people with happy lifestyles that no one would suspect of any form of criminal activity.
However, we also learned that motivation isn’t always about need, but it is more about greed and convenience.
According to studies, white-collar criminals come from stable, happy households.
However, there are those few who are raised by families with criminal records, reports of abuse/neglect in their childhoods, and other very dysfunctional settings.
Most criminals who are raised in less healthy and poverty-stricken homes commit blue-collar or street crimes.
(ResearchGate 3)
12. According to Results from White-Collar Crime Data, 28% of Corporate Crimes Are Committed by Women.
We have the data on the predominantly male white-collar crime statistics, but women account for a smaller, but significant percentage of these crimes at 28%.
Women in the corporate world are even less likely to be suspected of white-collar crimes than men because they are also astute at covering their tracks, and they are often seen as upstanding members of their community.
To be fair, women are rarely the offenders in white-collar crimes in the corporate arena. Out of the whole 28% who are involved in these corporate crimes, 27% involve fraud.
Losses among women are significantly lower at $85,000 on average than men who committed frauds at $150,000 on average.
(2020 Report to the Nations Fraud and Abuse Study)
13. Tenured, Highly Educated, Older Fraud Offenders Cause the Highest Losses Within an Organization.
From the same 2020 report, tenured fraudsters (habitual, occupational) account for double the losses of those with less tenure in a company.
To break it down, fraud offenders that have been with a company at least six years will cost a median amount of $200,000 per incident.
In contrast, fraud offenders with five years or less invested in a firm cost a median amount of $100,000 per incident.
Likewise. Fraudsters over 55 years old cost companies $425,000 on average, compared to those between 40 and 54 ($150,000) and under 40 ($75,000).
Moreover, 64% occupational fraudsters have high university degrees and cost companies $195,000 on average.
For those without a university degree, the median number is $100,000 in losses.
(2020 Report to the Nations Fraud and Abuse Study)
14. Most White-Collar Criminals Live Beyond Their Means.
If you’re seeking a solid motivational factor for committing white-collar crimes, the data shows that these upstanding corporate executives are already living beyond their means, so they want more “streams of income”.
Heads of households are the ones bringing home the bacon, so when more is needed, some of them will do just about anything to make more money, even if it’s a crime.
This is pretty obvious based on the demographic data on men between 40 and 61, without a criminal record, and who lead what appears to be upstanding lives who are the main focus of statistics.
(Sivin, Miller & Roche LLP)
The Price of White-Collar Crimes in 2024
We have come to the portion of the article that will address the price of white-collar crime. In other words, the monetary costs of these nonviolent crimes.
Remember, nonviolent doesn’t equal victimless because many families, businesses, and people have lost money from these crimes.
15. The Average White-Collar Crime Can Incur Losses of More than $500,000.
In contrast to statistics on related crime costing losses of more than $500,000, armed robbery street crimes average a little more than $3,000.
Research shows that if check fraud and forgeries were included with white-collar crimes, these figures would be much higher.
Another interesting fact about white-collar crimes is that until the losses become astronomical, they go virtually unnoticed.
It’s less noticeable for coworkers to be noticed or suspected of crimes simply by paying for personal items.
The problem is, they are commonly repeat offenders, which eventually gets them caught.
(Bajoka Law)
16. Asset Misappropriation Accounted for 86% of The Cases Studied.
Between January 2020 and September 2021, research studies looked into fraud trends and white-collar crimes.
Asset misappropriation made of 86% of the cases researched. However, even with this massive percentage of ill doings, they were the least costly to companies.
The average loss for asset misappropriation within organizations was $100,000 per incident within the time frame they were studied.
Corruption cases were second at 50%, and cost and average of $150,000 per occurrence.
Only 9% of the studied cases involved financial statement fraud but were discovered to be the costliest at $593,000 per occurrence.
(Withum)
17. $300 Billion Is the Estimated Cost in The United States for White-Collar Crimes, According to The FBI.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States reported that an estimated annual cost of $300 billion is incurred from white-collar crimes.
The takeaway isn’t just this exorbitant amount of money. It’s also about the fact that statistics are showing a rise in these crimes.
Besides the penalties and fines, the costs also account for paying for prosecutors, loss or forfeiture of homes and properties, community confinement, family disruptions and divorces, supervised releases, and the potential for imprisonment.
Imagine the emotional costs in stress, anxiety, and societal stigma.
(Cornell Law School)
Prosecution and Sentencing White-Collar Crimes in 2024
We’ve already covered a lot of ground for white-collar crimes, but there is one more section to discuss. This involves the prosecution and sentencing of white-collar offenders.
18. As Of 2021, Prosecutions for White-Collar Offenses Are Down by 24.4% from Just Five Years Ago.
Five years ago, white-collar crime prosecutions accounted for 6,253 cases. The 2021 number for white-collar crimes was 4,727.
The change from 20 years ago is -50%, and the change from 2020 is 11%.
One reason for the downturn in prosecutions between 2020 and 2021 was the pandemic. During the COVID-19 ordeal, prosecutions were temporarily depressed.
However, when looking at long-term trends, it appears that white-collar crime prosecutions are still declining.
(TRAC)
19. The Most Famous and Biggest White-Collar Crime Created Losses of $65 Billion.
Do you remember the Bernie Madoff arrest from 2011? Well, you need to know that this scam was the most successful white-collar infraction ever committed.
It was designed as a Ponzi scheme and was run through Madoff’s “business”, Madoff Investment Securities, LLC. He was convicted of multiple white-collar crimes.
Madoff’s prosecution and sentencing cost him 150 years in prison where he died in 2021.
If you need to understand what a Ponzi scheme is, it’s defined as an investment fraud that pays investors with money from new investors.
Essentially, it can be kept going by getting new investors and paying the existing investors.
(Investopedia 2)
20. The Eastern District of North Carolina Was the Most Active State for Prosecutions in 2020.
North Carolina takes white-collar crime very seriously, as should all states. In 2020, 18 prosecutions for these types of crimes occurred in Raleigh (the Eastern District).
Second to Raleigh New Orleans, the Eastern District of Louisiana with 13 prosecutions.
More white-collar facts show that in August 2020, the Justice Department of the United States recorded 95.5 white-collar crime prosecutions for every 10 million individuals in the country.
(TRAC 2)
FAQs
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have learned something new and interesting from these white-collar crime statistics we researched and shared with you.
You should have a better understanding of what this category of crime is and what kinds of crimes are involved.
The numbers may show there is a decline in reporting and prosecuting white-collar offenses, but does that really mean the actual crimes are declining?
Do you think the pandemic made it easier for these criminals to slip past the system?
We may never know the real numbers for white-collar crimes, but what we do have is enough to tell us that it’s a big problem in corporate America.
It’s doubtful that any corporation is completely immune to white-collar crimes.
While we have discussed some of the most major statistics about white-collar crimes, there are those sneaky transactions like a corporate executive trying to use a personal restaurant check as a business expense.
So, we cannot possibly account for every instance of white-collar crime.
Do you know anyone who has ever been caught and punished for a white-collar crime?
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article about white collar crime statistics in 2024. Hopefully, you have never seen such infractions committed in your workplace.
Sources
Thank you for reading this article titled: White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences
Data is from 2023 and 2024 and forecast data is for 2025 and 2026. We also expand the forecast data to 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia (Oceania), Middle East, South America.
Post Title: White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences Last Updated: September 18, 2024
White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences Last Updated: September 18, 2024
The topic for the day is white-collar crime statistics for 2024.
Before we dive into the facts, figures, and statistics surrounding white-collar crimes, we’ll define it to help our readers have a solid understanding of what white-collar crime involves.
Historically, the term “white-collar crime” was created in 1939 by a man named Edwin Sutherland.
The phrase was coined because most of the people committing these crimes wore white shirts, like government officials (local, state, etc.) and business executives.
You will also hear them called “suits’, though not all men or women in suits are criminals.
The Investopedia definition of white-collar crime describes this category of crime as “a nonviolent crime committed for financial gain.”
These crimes relate to the financial realm of criminal activities.
That includes money laundering, racketeering, embezzlement, insider trading, corporate fraud, insurance fraud, securities fraud, etc.
The FBI says, “These crimes are characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust.”
The motivation for such criminal activity is to either prevent losing or to gain money, services, property, or to otherwise secure a business or personal advantage.
We can tell you that there is no shortage of statistics to discuss.
However, we have researched and gathered some of the most interesting and pertinent in the United States from 2019 to 2024.
Key White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024
On average, white-collar criminals are middle-aged men.
63.33% of white-collar crimes involve fraud.
Roughly 15 million Americans have been impacted by identity theft.
91.4% of Income tax offenses are committed by men, and 89.1% are white.
Statistics reveal that 35.3% of white collar felons have assets of over $10,000.
Only 9% of fraudulent crimes occur within nonprofits.
Roughly 6.1% of corporate criminals are from an unhealthy family structure.
28% of corporate crimes are committed by women.
Asset misappropriation accounted for 86% of the cases studied.
As of 2021, prosecutions for white-collar offenses are down by 24.4% from just five years ago.
Detailed White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024
Let’s start with a few general statistics about white-collar crimes in this first section of the article.
You will get an idea of just how widespread these crimes are in America.
1. According to the FBI, White-Collar Crime Was Defined in 1939, when The Phrase Itself Was Created.
In the introduction, we explained how Edwin Sutherland coined the phrase, “white-collar crime.”
This term has stood the test of time, defining a wide range of financial crimes primarily committed by government and business professionals.
White-collar crimes can financially destroy and have destroyed companies, families, and individuals for hundreds or even thousands of years.
After all, before the phrase “white-collar crime” was a thing, these crimes were happening.
(FBI 2)
2. On Average, White-Collar Criminals Are Middle-Aged Men.
If you consider men in their mid-40s to be middle-aged, this is the average age of white-collar criminals.
This data comes from 2019 but is still the average in the United States.
Going by appearances, these men are the last kinds of people to be suspected of criminal activities, especially financial crimes.
Also, these middle-aged men are also white, middle-class, married men with at least a bachelor’s degree or higher.
They also have solid ties to their communities, religion, and their families.
The motivation for these criminals is more about convenience, willingness, greed, and opportunity rather than need. These criminals are at least consistent.
(Forbes)
3. 63.33% of White-Collar Crimes Involve Fraud.
Out of all white-collar crimes, fraud made the top of the offenses at 63.33%.
Under the umbrella of fraud, there are types such as corporate, insurance, securities, mortgage, health care, and other forms of fraud.
After fraud, embezzlement is the next most common type of white-collar crime at 8.59%, followed closely by theft/larceny at 7.80%.
Money laundering (5.71%), tax evasion (4.79%), forgery (4.36%), racketeering/extortion (2.92%, bribery (1.85%), and gambling and lottery (0.66%) fraud types are included in the distribution of white-collar crimes.
(Zippia)
4. Roughly 15 Million Americans Have Been Impacted by Identity Theft.
Identity theft falls under white-collar crimes, whether it happens online or offline.
Around 15 million Americans have their identities taken and fraudulently used each year. The losses account for roughly $50 billion.
According to statistics, identity thieves have several methods they use to steal identities.
This includes email phishing and vishing, database hacks, devices placed on ATMs, and even less sophisticated methods that still work.
(Identity Theft Info)
5. The FBI’s Primary Focus in Fraud Investigations Involve False Accounting and Illicit Transactions.
In the corporate fraud white-collar crime realm, the FBI’s main focus is on accounting and the misrepresentation of financial conditions.
Also, they focus on fraudulent trades that hide monetary losses or inflate gains. Illicit transactions that aid in escaping regulatory oversight play a major role in FBI investigations.
Even corporate fraud features multiple infractions in the statistical arena. Moreover, self-dealing aspects of corporate insiders fall under FBI scrutiny.
The FBI puts its energy into cases that involve self-dealing and accounting by executives in the corporate world.
Furthermore, obstruction of justice is also investigated because it’s used to conceal these kinds of crimes.
(FBI 3)
6. 91.4% of Income Tax Offenses Are Committed by Men, and 89.1% Are White.
Remember that we discussed most white-collar criminals as white males in their mid-40s? The mean age of those who have committed tax fraud or offenses is 49, 91.4% of them are male, and 89.1% are white.
In contrast, street crimes are a bit different. For instance, the statistics for robberies show that street crime robbers on average are 28-year-old white (46.3%) males (93.4%).
(ResearchGate)
7. 35.3% of White Collar Felons Have Assets of Over $10,000.
A study from the University of Cincinnati called “Life Course Theory and White-Collar Crime”, 35.3% of white-collar felons own over $10,000 in assets.
This same paper cites that these criminals are also well-established in their communities. Another 63.5% enjoy residential stability, and of that figure, 50.3% own their homes.
They are commonly high-ranking executives in their careers and usually have managerial positions. Unlike what you would expect from a “criminal”, 65.8% of them are steadily employed.
(ResearchGate 2)
8. Only 9% of Fraudulent Crimes Occur Within Nonprofits.
Nonprofit organizations don’t often experience high rates of fraud, but at least 9% of the investigated cases from a 2020 report shows nonprofits were affected.
Damages in fraud cases amount to $75,000 per incident, which is a hefty number for small nonprofits, or any small organization.
PwC’s Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey from 2020 revealed that private institutions made up 44% of corporate fraud cases.
Another 26% occurred in public organizations, and 16% within government agencies. The other 5-6% of fraud cases occurred in other types of businesses.
(PWC)
9. In 2020, 755 Instances of Money Laundering Occurred in The United States, According to Statistics.
The highest number of money laundering crimes occured in the Southern District of Florida (42) in the 2020 fiscal year.
After Florida, the Southern District of New York showed 33 offenses, and the Southern District of Texas tied New York’s figures.
The Northern District of Ohio had 31 money laundering cases, and the Western District of Missouri accounted for 26.
Those are the top five spots in the United States for money laundering offenses. According to further statistics, 79.9% of money laundering perpetrators were male.
Of these figures, 34.8% were White/Caucasian, 34.7% were Hispanic/Latino, 20.8% were African American/Black, and other races accounted for 9.7%. How many of these offenders had a previous criminal history?
A whopping 69.8% of the 2020 money laundering offenders had no priors.
(United States Sentencing Committee)
10. In 2015, 3,923 White-Collar Crimes Were Reported by Whistleblowers Alone.
Whistleblowers were responsible for tipping off the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2015 with 3.923 tips related to bribes, corruption, and overall white-collar crimes in the workplace.
Since then, whistleblowing has steadily grown and brought more white-collar crimes into view.
Without these whistleblowers, most sophisticated white-collar offenses would either go unnoticed, or at least unprosecuted due to lack of evidence.
These criminals know how to conceal their illicit dealings through a series of complicated transactions.
(Cornell Law School)
White-Collar Crime Demographics 2024
You now have some general, fundamental statistics to peruse, but what about some demographic statistics related to these nonviolent, but not victim-free statistics?
11. Roughly 6.1% of Corporate Criminals Are from An Unhealthy Family Structure.
We already know that most white-collar perpetrators are pretty average people with happy lifestyles that no one would suspect of any form of criminal activity.
However, we also learned that motivation isn’t always about need, but it is more about greed and convenience.
According to studies, white-collar criminals come from stable, happy households.
However, there are those few who are raised by families with criminal records, reports of abuse/neglect in their childhoods, and other very dysfunctional settings.
Most criminals who are raised in less healthy and poverty-stricken homes commit blue-collar or street crimes.
(ResearchGate 3)
12. According to Results from White-Collar Crime Data, 28% of Corporate Crimes Are Committed by Women.
We have the data on the predominantly male white-collar crime statistics, but women account for a smaller, but significant percentage of these crimes at 28%.
Women in the corporate world are even less likely to be suspected of white-collar crimes than men because they are also astute at covering their tracks, and they are often seen as upstanding members of their community.
To be fair, women are rarely the offenders in white-collar crimes in the corporate arena. Out of the whole 28% who are involved in these corporate crimes, 27% involve fraud.
Losses among women are significantly lower at $85,000 on average than men who committed frauds at $150,000 on average.
(2020 Report to the Nations Fraud and Abuse Study)
13. Tenured, Highly Educated, Older Fraud Offenders Cause the Highest Losses Within an Organization.
From the same 2020 report, tenured fraudsters (habitual, occupational) account for double the losses of those with less tenure in a company.
To break it down, fraud offenders that have been with a company at least six years will cost a median amount of $200,000 per incident.
In contrast, fraud offenders with five years or less invested in a firm cost a median amount of $100,000 per incident.
Likewise. Fraudsters over 55 years old cost companies $425,000 on average, compared to those between 40 and 54 ($150,000) and under 40 ($75,000).
Moreover, 64% occupational fraudsters have high university degrees and cost companies $195,000 on average.
For those without a university degree, the median number is $100,000 in losses.
(2020 Report to the Nations Fraud and Abuse Study)
14. Most White-Collar Criminals Live Beyond Their Means.
If you’re seeking a solid motivational factor for committing white-collar crimes, the data shows that these upstanding corporate executives are already living beyond their means, so they want more “streams of income”.
Heads of households are the ones bringing home the bacon, so when more is needed, some of them will do just about anything to make more money, even if it’s a crime.
This is pretty obvious based on the demographic data on men between 40 and 61, without a criminal record, and who lead what appears to be upstanding lives who are the main focus of statistics.
(Sivin, Miller & Roche LLP)
The Price of White-Collar Crimes in 2024
We have come to the portion of the article that will address the price of white-collar crime. In other words, the monetary costs of these nonviolent crimes.
Remember, nonviolent doesn’t equal victimless because many families, businesses, and people have lost money from these crimes.
15. The Average White-Collar Crime Can Incur Losses of More than $500,000.
In contrast to statistics on related crime costing losses of more than $500,000, armed robbery street crimes average a little more than $3,000.
Research shows that if check fraud and forgeries were included with white-collar crimes, these figures would be much higher.
Another interesting fact about white-collar crimes is that until the losses become astronomical, they go virtually unnoticed.
It’s less noticeable for coworkers to be noticed or suspected of crimes simply by paying for personal items.
The problem is, they are commonly repeat offenders, which eventually gets them caught.
(Bajoka Law)
16. Asset Misappropriation Accounted for 86% of The Cases Studied.
Between January 2020 and September 2021, research studies looked into fraud trends and white-collar crimes.
Asset misappropriation made of 86% of the cases researched. However, even with this massive percentage of ill doings, they were the least costly to companies.
The average loss for asset misappropriation within organizations was $100,000 per incident within the time frame they were studied.
Corruption cases were second at 50%, and cost and average of $150,000 per occurrence.
Only 9% of the studied cases involved financial statement fraud but were discovered to be the costliest at $593,000 per occurrence.
(Withum)
17. $300 Billion Is the Estimated Cost in The United States for White-Collar Crimes, According to The FBI.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States reported that an estimated annual cost of $300 billion is incurred from white-collar crimes.
The takeaway isn’t just this exorbitant amount of money. It’s also about the fact that statistics are showing a rise in these crimes.
Besides the penalties and fines, the costs also account for paying for prosecutors, loss or forfeiture of homes and properties, community confinement, family disruptions and divorces, supervised releases, and the potential for imprisonment.
Imagine the emotional costs in stress, anxiety, and societal stigma.
(Cornell Law School)
Prosecution and Sentencing White-Collar Crimes in 2024
We’ve already covered a lot of ground for white-collar crimes, but there is one more section to discuss. This involves the prosecution and sentencing of white-collar offenders.
18. As Of 2021, Prosecutions for White-Collar Offenses Are Down by 24.4% from Just Five Years Ago.
Five years ago, white-collar crime prosecutions accounted for 6,253 cases. The 2021 number for white-collar crimes was 4,727.
The change from 20 years ago is -50%, and the change from 2020 is 11%.
One reason for the downturn in prosecutions between 2020 and 2021 was the pandemic. During the COVID-19 ordeal, prosecutions were temporarily depressed.
However, when looking at long-term trends, it appears that white-collar crime prosecutions are still declining.
(TRAC)
19. The Most Famous and Biggest White-Collar Crime Created Losses of $65 Billion.
Do you remember the Bernie Madoff arrest from 2011? Well, you need to know that this scam was the most successful white-collar infraction ever committed.
It was designed as a Ponzi scheme and was run through Madoff’s “business”, Madoff Investment Securities, LLC. He was convicted of multiple white-collar crimes.
Madoff’s prosecution and sentencing cost him 150 years in prison where he died in 2021.
If you need to understand what a Ponzi scheme is, it’s defined as an investment fraud that pays investors with money from new investors.
Essentially, it can be kept going by getting new investors and paying the existing investors.
(Investopedia 2)
20. The Eastern District of North Carolina Was the Most Active State for Prosecutions in 2020.
North Carolina takes white-collar crime very seriously, as should all states. In 2020, 18 prosecutions for these types of crimes occurred in Raleigh (the Eastern District).
Second to Raleigh New Orleans, the Eastern District of Louisiana with 13 prosecutions.
More white-collar facts show that in August 2020, the Justice Department of the United States recorded 95.5 white-collar crime prosecutions for every 10 million individuals in the country.
(TRAC 2)
FAQs
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have learned something new and interesting from these white-collar crime statistics we researched and shared with you.
You should have a better understanding of what this category of crime is and what kinds of crimes are involved.
The numbers may show there is a decline in reporting and prosecuting white-collar offenses, but does that really mean the actual crimes are declining?
Do you think the pandemic made it easier for these criminals to slip past the system?
We may never know the real numbers for white-collar crimes, but what we do have is enough to tell us that it’s a big problem in corporate America.
It’s doubtful that any corporation is completely immune to white-collar crimes.
While we have discussed some of the most major statistics about white-collar crimes, there are those sneaky transactions like a corporate executive trying to use a personal restaurant check as a business expense.
So, we cannot possibly account for every instance of white-collar crime.
Do you know anyone who has ever been caught and punished for a white-collar crime?
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article about white collar crime statistics in 2024. Hopefully, you have never seen such infractions committed in your workplace.
Sources
Thank you for reading this article titled: White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences
Data is from 2023 and 2024 and forecast data is for 2025 and 2026. We also expand the forecast data to 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia (Oceania), Middle East, South America.
Post Title: White-Collar Crime Statistics 2024: Demographics & Sentences Last Updated: September 18, 2024
WOMEN IN TECH STATISTICS 2024: MALE TO FEMALE RATIO Last Updated: September 17, 2024
Women in tech statistics for 2024 show that the role of women in tech fields is imbalanced to say the least.
While it’s true that the STEM industry is skewed to the male side by about 75%, which makes the male to female ratio 3:1, there are still 25% of women working in the industry across sectors.
It’s an area where people want to see more women in tech, but it’s been going in the other direction since the 1980s.
In 1984, 37.1% of students in tech were women, with the other 62.9% being men.
By 2010, only 17.6% of women showed an interest in IT programs and computer science.
In 2023, only 24% of all computing roles are filled by women.
Key Statistics
Only 26.5% of executive, senior-level, and management jobs in the tech industry are held by women.
56% of all women working in tech were women of color, but this group makes up only 3% of all people working in technology.
72% of women working in technology have worked in a setting where the “bro culture” is prevalent.
Women working in tech lost their jobs during the pandemic twice as much as men.
78% of women working in technology say they have to work harder to prove their value in the workplace.
2 out of every 5 women believed that their gender was a stumbling block for being promoted.
38% of women say they are dissatisfied with their salaries, according to a Dice report.
34.8% of Apple’s workforce was female in 2021.
In 2020, tech companies with fewer than 1,000 employees hired the most women, at 30.2%.
33.7% of Google’s employees are women, according to their 2021 Diversity Annual Report.
Top Women in Tech Statistics in 2024
Wouldn’t it be nice to see more gender equality in the tech world?
This is not just about how many women “work” in technology, but it’s also about the lack of women getting trained and entering the tech world.
1. As Of 2021, only 26.5% of Executive, Senior-Level, and Management Jobs in The Tech Industry Are Held by Women.
While some progress has been made, this is only 2.7% more than 2018, when that figure was 24%.
Only about 25% of women are in lower-level roles in the technology sector.
Furthermore, a study in 2020 showed that out of 501,384 technologists across a sample of 51 companies, only 133,068 were women.
2. 56% of All Women Working in Tech Were Women of Color.
Of the 141,038 women who were working in the technology sector in 2021, 79,163 (56%) were considered women of color.
The percentage of African American women in technology is 3%.
Among Asian women, 6% have jobs in technology. Additionally, only 2% of women in technology are Hispanic.
3. 72% of Women Working in Technology Have Worked in A Setting Where the “Bro Culture” Is Prevalent.
Moreover, Trust Radius says that “bro culture” is represented in multiple ways across the technology industry.
The issues can range from discomfort in the work setting all the way to sexual harassment, including assault.
It’s worth noting that men and women have different perceptions about this topic.
4. Statistics Revealed that Women Working in Tech Lost Their Jobs During the Pandemic Twice as Much as Men.
COVID-19 had a major impact on women working in the technology realm, even more so than men.
While many people lost their jobs or were furloughed during the pandemic, this hit the female demographic much harder than their male counterparts.
5. 78% of Women Working in Technology Say They Have to Work Harder to Prove Their Value in The Workplace.
Over three-quarters of women who work in the technology industry claim that they have to work harder to show their worth in their workplaces.
In contrast, 54% of men feel the same way.
So, while there is always pressure in the workplace for employees to prove themselves, women are more impacted by the issue.
6. In 2021, 2 out Of Every 5 Women Believed that Their Gender Was a Stumbling Block for Being Promoted.
Women who work in tech believe that their gender was an obstacle to consideration for promotions in their jobs.
These women are four times more apt to see gender bias than men in this aspect of their jobs.
Also, 66% of women didn’t feel like they had a clear path to move up the ladder in their current jobs.
7. 38% of Women Say They Are Dissatisfied with Their Salaries, According to A Dice Report.
There is a small gap between women and men who feel underpaid.
38 Percent of men report being dissatisfied with their pay compared to 38% of women who feel the same.
The average salary of men in tech accounts for around $108,711, while women make an average of $93,591 in the industry performing the same tasks. That’s the pay gap.
It’s a little better than in 2018, when the percentages were 30% female and 70% male.
Additionally, Apple’s leadership experienced an 87% growth in its female employee base.
Things seem to be moving in a positive direction in gender diversity at Apple.
9. In 2020, Tech Companies with Fewer than 1,000 Employees Hired the Most Women, at 30.2%.
A report from anitab.org revealed that the smaller tech companies with fewer than 1,000 workers hired more women than the larger tech companies.
Small tech companies appear to hire more women than big tech companies, but that could also be somewhat skewed by the number of female-to-male applicants.
Things are shaping up, but it may be a while before we see significant increases for women in tech.
10. 33.7% of Google’s Employees Are Women, According to Their 2021 Diversity Annual Report.
Google’s own Diversity Annual Report for 2021 reveals that in 2020, women accounted for 32.5% of their workforce compared to 67.5% of men.
In 2021, women now represent 33.7% of Google’s workforce and men represent 66.3%. Are you wondering what their 2022 report will show? So are we.
Women in Tech & Education Statistics
How many women are in school, have degrees, or teach technology?
Let’s see if women seeking technology-related education are more than those working in the field today.
11. 40% of Graduates in Computer Science Are Women.
Even in 2022, women are less apt to enroll in any of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses available today.
Women account for 40% of graduates in computer science, and only 28% of engineering graduates are female.
This seems odd since female students test higher on average on the standardized tests in STEM than their male peers.
So, what’s stopping women from wanting tech careers?
12. Only 18% of Women Account for Computer Science Bachelor’s Degrees.
Would you believe that during World War II and well into the 1960s, that women accounted for the biggest part of the computing workforce?
Somehow, in 1970, only 13.6% of computer science graduates with bachelor’s degrees were earned by women.
There was a nice rise to 37% in the 1980s, but since then, the decline is back at 18%.
13. 20% of Women Who Work in Stem Roles Have Resigned Because of Harassment and Discrimination at Their Jobs.
According to Dr. Pragya Agarwal, TEDx Speaker, behavioral scientist, inclusivity consultant, and author of SWAY: Unraveling Unconscious Bias, at least 49% of women in the tech workplace have experienced forms of discrimination.
Also, 20% resigned because of harassment or discrimination in their workplace.
14. In 2021, the United States Ranks 8th in The Market Share of Women in The Tech Workplace.
The country of Georgia ranks number one for having the most women working in technology at 55.6%, as of 2021.
Even Mongolia, Cambodia, Serbia, and the Dominican Republic beat the US in this ranking by country.
Is this because women aren’t interested, or do they feel left out of the field?
15. Girls Who Code Reported that Around 74% of Young Girls Are Interested in Stem Careers.
So, this doesn’t seem like a lack of interest, does it?
While it’s unknown what happens, somewhere between when they show interest and deciding about what to study in college, something changes.
TechCrunch says this is more than a pipeline problem.
Women in Startups and Leadership Statistics
Now that you have some statistics about the gender gaps in employment and STEM education, we will use this part of the article to discuss where women are in leadership and tech startups.
16. Only 28% of It Professionals in Leadership Roles Are Women.
Since the data indicates that companies with female leadership fare much better, why are they not representing the IT and STEM industries more?
We have already been enlightened to the fact that women resign from lower level roles because of discrimination or harassment, but there has to be more to it than that.
More should be done to encourage women and to find out what’s discouraging them.
17. Fewer than 8.2% of Women Are CEOs at Fortune 500 Companies.
Shouldn’t these large Fortune 500 tech companies be leading the charge for more employment equality and diversity?
Let’s consider not only the fact that a measly 8.2% of Fortune 500 CEOs are females, but also that a smidgen of them are women of color at less than 1%.
Small startup and tech companies seem to be leading the way better than the “leaders” of the industry.
18. 24.8% of Tech Roles at Facebook Are Held by Women.
While women at Facebook went from 15% in tech roles in 2014 to 24.8% in 2021, there is still a big imbalance in gender representation.
Men made up 85% of Facebook’s tech employees, which decreased in 2021 to 75.2%.
While it may seem like they are trying to make progress, we may be a decade away from seeing anything significant.
19. Out Of $150 Billion Invested in Companies, only $3.4 Billion Went to Fund Women-Based Companies.
Since there is such a large divide between men and women in technology fields, shouldn’t more than $3.4 billion go to women to try to give this arena some balance?
Venture capitalists have invested $150 billion, so that $3.4 billion earmarked for women-founded businesses accounts for a mere 2.5% of total investments.
20. In 2017, only 17% of Technology Startups Had Female Founders.
By 2020, around 37% of tech startups had at least one female on its board of directors.
Also, about 53% had at least one woman in an executive position.
The numbers are slowly growing, but how long until we reach the level of the 1960s when women dominated the industry?
Tech Diversity Statistics
Women aren’t the only demographic being left behind in the STEM, IT, and computer science markets.
Women of color and people of diversity in race are also imbalanced.
21. 72% of Women Who Work in Technology Are Commonly Outnumbered by Men at Business Meetings.
The ratio of men that outnumber women in tech business meetings is at least 2:1.
However, women in tech often report that the ratio is closer to 5:1 or more. This just goes to prove how this problem needs a resolution.
22. 57% of Women 20 Years Old and Older Made up Women in The Workforce in 2021.
Between February 2020 and February 2021, a decrease of 2,328,000 women 20 years and older were part of the workforce.
This includes those who lost jobs during the pandemic, or who left for whatever reason.
Also, in 2020, 59.2% of women accounted for the labor force.
The total results from this Gallup poll show that women’s roles in the workforce were impacted by 0.2% more than men.
23. 64% of Today’s Women-Owned Businesses Are Started by Women of Color.
When it comes to diversity in the tech industry, it’s not just about women, but it’s also about women of color, and of different races.
It should encourage us all that new statistics show that 64% of women-owned businesses started today are started by women of color.
Also, 40% of all American businesses are owned by women.
24. 66% of Female Entrepreneurs Are Feeling Challenged About Getting Funds for Successful Business Ventures.
That is a significant percentage of women finding difficulties for financial support to succeed in the business realm.
However, the good news is that 79% of women entrepreneurs today feel more empowered than they did just five years ago.
25. 2.5 Million Women Left the Workforce During the Pandemic.
Feeling more burn-out than men, experiencing harassment or discrimination, and the lack of work-life balance are things that contributed to why women left or lost their jobs during the pandemic.
In most instances, women have more to handle at home and at work, which would result in more burnout than their male peers.
26. In 2020, Caucasian Females Accounted for 14.1% of The Tech Workforce.
A statistical breakdown of race includes 14.1% of white females, 9.6% of Asian females, 2.2% of African American females, and 1.7% of Hispanic females.
While progress has been made regarding women working in tech, more work needs to be done for racial diversity in the tech industry.
Bonus Statistics
27. Around 25% of Women Account for Gafam Tech Jobs
GAFAM stands for Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft and is used to describe the group of tech giants as a whole.
In 2020, statistics showed that 23% of the Google, Apple, and Facebook workforces were women (that’s 23% each, not total).
Microsoft’s female workforce was at 20% and Amazon’s was too low to record.
28. 23% of STEM Jobs in The UK Are Held by Women.
America isn’t the only country where there are disparities in the tech industry.
Only 23% of the workforce in tech in the UK is made up of women.
Also, only 5% of these women are working as entrepreneurs or in leadership positions.
Sadly, only 3% of young girls intend to pursue a tech career.
29. Only 26% of Women in India Work in The IT Industry.
The disparities in women working in tech seem to have a theme across the globe.
Though the number of women working in STEM careers is on the rise, there is still a gender gap in India between men and women.
In 2020, men were three times more apt to work in STEM fields.
That said, even with the growth of women in this industry in India, the gap seems to be widening.
30. 46% of Tech Industry Females in Europe Claim They Have Been Discriminated Against Because of Gender.
It seems that gender discrimination is another area where America isn’t the only offender.
In some cases, this kind of gender discrimination occurs across industries and is more serious in other countries.
In European countries, women who work in tech are experiencing discrimination, which puts a barrier up for any promotion opportunities, or any pay raises.
Famous Women in Tech by the Years
In this section of this article, we intend to enlighten you further about women in technology by looking somewhat beyond the statistics.
Here are some of the most famous women who played a major role in technology as we know it today.
Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace was known as the “first computer programmer”.
She was an English writer and mathematician, born in London, England, on December 10, 1815.
At first glance, Lovelace would not seem to fit into this category.
However, after she met Charles Babbage (The Father of the Computer), she wrote detailed notes regarding Bernoulii numbers, which are now considered the first computer algorithms.
The second Tuesday of October is Ada Lovelace Day, which is in her remembrance.
Hedy Lamarr
Hedy Lamarr was a beautiful and talented actress, but she was a major player in Wi-Fi technology.
Lamarr was born in Austria, but lived in America during the “Golden Age of Hollywood”, playing opposite actors like Bob Hope and Clark Gable.
Her contribution happened in 1940, during World War II when she created and patented frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum secret communication system technology alongside George Antheil, a man she met at a dinner party.
This tech is still the fundamental aspect for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS technology.
Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper is considered a “computer programming language pioneer”, but she was first and foremost a US Navy admiral and computer scientist.
She developed the first English language data processing compiler, called COBOL (common business-oriented language).
Hopper is also known for the quote, “It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission”.
She also coined the term, “computer bug”.
Hopper was positive that computers would be used by non-professionals in the programming realm, so this easier method would be necessary. She was right.
Annie Easley
Annie Easley, a woman of color (African American), was hired by NASA as their own “human computer” because of her amazing ability to perform complex calculations.
While computer technology eventually replaced the role of “human computers”, Easley took on the role of a computer scientist and adapted to the new tech.
Easley played a key role in developing code for analyzing alternative power techs, battery life, and energy conversions to help solve the former energy problems of that era.
Her most notable work was on the Centaur Project, which was part of how they launched satellites and spaceships into space.
She also made a huge impact by advocating for women and minorities in STEM careers.
Her contributions combated issues of age, gender, and race all wrapped up in one amazing woman.
She became an EEOC (equal employment opportunity) counselor with NASA.
Annie Easley was posthumously inducted into the Glenn Research Hall of Fame in 2015. That was well-deserved.
Radia Perlman
Radia Perlman, also known as the “mother of the internet”, was a network engineer and computer programmer.
In the 1980s, she invented STP (spanning-tree protocol).
This technology allows computers to share data in a reliable way. STP is a fundamental protocol in networking and Ethernet.
Perlman has been inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Today’s Modern Tech Trailblazers
Katie Moussouris
Katie Moussouris is the CEO of Luta Security, and was directly involved in the bug bounty program for the Microsoft Corporation and in the creation of the first bug bounty called “Hack the Pentagon” for the United States Department of Defense.
Dr. Fei-Fei Li
Dr. Fei-Fei Li, a professor at Stanford’s Computer Science Department and Co-Director of the Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute, created ImageNet, which trains computers to recognize and understand concepts and objects in an image through a huge visual database.
She is also the co-founder of AI4ALL, a non-profit.
Susan Wojcicki
Susan Wojcicki is the CEO of YouTube. However, her career started in her garage when Google was created after she rented it out to Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the creators of Google.
Wojcicki became Google’s first marketing manager and eventually the SVP of its Advertising & Commerce division.
She is the developer of trailblazing products and services including Google AdWords, AdSense, and Analytics.
So, women not only played a role in technology and other STEM-related careers. They were also trailblazers throughout history.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
We have covered a lot of ground related to women in technology statistics in 2024.
We now know the significance of women in technology throughout history and into modern times.
We learned about the obstacles that are holding women back from being successful in STEM roles, and how much work is left to improve the inequalities in these industries.
Since men outnumber women by close to 3 times in STEM, even with the new generation coming into these fields with coding skills, it could take a decade or more to achieve balance.
If you know some young women interested in technology, computer science, IT, engineering, or other STEM-related fields, encourage them.
Help them to find resources to prevent holding them back from getting the training and skills they need to succeed.
Sources
Thank you for reading this article titled: WOMEN IN TECH STATISTICS 2024: MALE TO FEMALE RATIO
Data is from 2023 and 2024 and forecast data is for 2025 and 2026. We also expand the forecast data to 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia (Oceania), Middle East, South America.
Post Title: WOMEN IN TECH STATISTICS 2024: MALE TO FEMALE RATIO Last Updated: September 17, 2024
