Are Most Stalkers Men? What the Data Says About Who Stalks
Important: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not legal, medical, or professional advice. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 (United States) or your local emergency number.
Quick answer
In available U.S. data, most stalkers are men. The National Violence Against Women Survey (NIJ and CDC, 1995-96) found about 87% of stalkers were men, and women are stalked more than twice as often as men (1.8% versus 0.8% in 2019, per BJS). But women also stalk, and victims of every gender have reported stalkers of both sexes.
What the Data Says
The most-cited figure on the sex of stalkers comes from the first national study of stalking, the National Violence Against Women Survey, conducted by the National Institute of Justice and the CDC. It reported that about 87 percent of stalkers were men. The data were collected in 1995-96, so treat the figure as a baseline, not a current estimate.
More recent government surveys focus on victims, and they point the same direction.
- The Bureau of Justice Statistics found women were stalked at 1.8% in 2019, compared with 0.8% for men (Stalking Victimization, 2019).
- The CDC found 22.5% of women and 9.7% of men were stalked at some point in their lives (NISVS stalking data brief).
- Because many stalking victims are women and most stalkers they describe are men, the overall picture skews male.
Why the Answer Is More Complicated
A single percentage hides several important facts.
- Women stalk too. Women make up a minority of stalkers, but they are not rare, and their behavior can be just as frightening and persistent.
- Male victims are undercounted. Men are less likely to define their experience as stalking or to report it, and they are more likely to be disbelieved when the stalker is a woman.
- Same-sex stalking happens. Stalkers and victims can be of any gender or orientation, and the law applies equally.
- Headline figures are old or partial. Recent surveys rarely publish a simple "percent male" for perpetrators, so any single number deserves a date and a source.
Relationship Matters More Than Gender
If you want to know who is most likely to stalk you, the better question is not "man or woman" but "how do I know this person?"
- Nearly 7 in 10 stalking victims knew their stalker in some way, according to BJS's earlier national survey.
- Former and current intimate partners are a leading group, and they are linked to the highest-risk cases.
- In 2019, victims who experienced both in-person and technology-based stalking were far more likely to be stalked by an intimate partner (35%) than victims of in-person stalking alone (11%).
- Strangers account for a minority of cases, though they can be just as persistent.
Our article on who stalks and how long it lasts goes deeper on offender types.
Why Stereotypes Put People at Risk
Believing that "stalkers are men" or "stalkers are strangers" can steer people away from the help they need.
- A man being stalked by a woman may be laughed off by friends or police.
- A woman being stalked by another woman may not be taken seriously.
- A victim who knows the stalker personally may delay reporting because "it's just my ex."
- A person may overlook a pattern because the stalker doesn't match the picture in their head.
The law looks at conduct and its effect on the victim. See what counts as stalking for the legal elements.
What to Do Whatever the Stalker's Gender
The steps are the same for every victim.
- Write down each incident with the date, time, and details.
- Save messages and screenshots with visible dates.
- Avoid engaging, and make one clear request to stop if it is safe to do so.
- Tell someone you trust and report to police when you are ready. See how to report stalking.
- Build a safety plan.
Women Who Stalk: What Research and Practice Suggest
Women are a minority of known stalkers, but they do stalk. Clinicians and victim advocates report that women who stalk may use many of the same tactics as men: repeated calls and messages, showing up, monitoring social media, contacting friends and family, and spreading rumors or false claims. Stalking by a woman can be dismissed by people who assume it is less serious, which can leave victims without help.
If you are being stalked by a woman, the law applies the same way. What matters is the pattern and its effect on you, not the person's gender. Document everything, and don't let anyone convince you that you are overreacting. Read when unwanted contact becomes stalking.
Same-Sex and LGBTQ+ Stalking
Stalking occurs in relationships and acquaintanceships of every kind. National surveys have historically offered limited detail on stalking within LGBTQ+ communities, so we avoid quoting numbers we can't source. What is clear is that the law applies equally, and that some victims face additional barriers, such as fear of being outed, concern about biased responses, or a lack of services that are welcoming.
If you are in this situation, you can ask any agency whether it provides respectful, non-discriminatory service, and you can ask for a different officer or advocate if you are treated poorly. You are entitled to protection and to a response that takes you seriously.
Men as Victims
Men are stalked too. The CDC found that about 1 in 10 men have been stalked in their lifetimes. Men are less likely to define their experience as stalking, to tell friends, or to report to police, in part because of expectations that men should handle problems themselves or aren't vulnerable. A male victim stalked by a woman may face disbelief or jokes.
If this is you, the same steps apply: log, report, secure your accounts, and make a safety plan. Use the Risk Assessment and read how to report stalking. Telling one person you trust is a good start.
What to Do If You Are Dismissed Because of Gender
Sometimes an officer, employer, or friend minimizes a report because of who the stalker or victim is. You still have options.
- Stay factual. Describe the pattern, the dates, and the effect on you.
- Ask for a supervisor and a report number.
- Contact the prosecutor's victim-witness unit, which can help ensure the report is handled.
- Keep documenting. A dated pattern is hard to ignore.
- Seek support from a victim services program or a counselor.
Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, regardless of anyone's gender.
Why Naming the Behavior Matters More Than Naming the Person
When you talk to police, a court, or a friend, it helps to describe what the person did instead of arguing about who the person is. Say "this person called me forty times, showed up at my work twice, and posted my address online," not "he's a stalker" or "she's obsessed." Facts are harder to dismiss, and they point to the pattern the law cares about. The same advice applies whatever the gender of the person involved. A dated log lets the pattern speak for itself. See how to keep a stalking log.
Where to Find Help
Help is available regardless of your gender or the stalker's. Start with local police to report, ask about protective orders, and use the Office for Victims of Crime directory to find victim services in your state. Our State Reporting Guide links to official contacts, and our Protection Guide covers scenarios involving partners, acquaintances, coworkers, and strangers. Whatever your situation, document what happens, tell someone you trust, and keep your safety plan up to date.
Stalking is defined by what someone does and the fear it causes, not by who they are.Generate and print your Safety Plan →Turn four answers into a discreet, printable emergency action plan.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of stalkers are men?
A national survey by the National Institute of Justice and the CDC, conducted in 1995-96, found about 87% of stalkers were men. That figure is dated, but more recent victim data is consistent with most stalkers being male.
Do women stalk?
Yes. Women are a minority of stalkers, but they do stalk, and victims of all genders have reported female stalkers. The law applies to anyone.
Are men victims of stalking?
Yes. The CDC found about 1 in 10 men are stalked in their lifetimes. Men are less likely to report and may face more disbelief.
Is the stalker usually someone the victim knows?
Usually. In BJS's earlier survey, nearly 7 in 10 victims knew their stalker, and intimate partners are a leading group.
Does the stalker's gender change how I should respond?
No. Document the behavior, avoid engagement, build a safety plan, and report. The response is the same.
Does the law treat stalking differently depending on the stalker's gender?
No. Stalking laws apply to anyone, and what matters is the pattern of conduct and its effect on the victim, not the gender of the people involved.