New Statewide Survey Finds 3.1 Million Californians Experienced Hate in Past Year
A new statewide survey from the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research reveals that an estimated 3.1 million Californians — or about 1 in 11 — experienced at least one act of hate between 2023 and 2024. That’s roughly 500,000 more people than the previous year.
“An estimated 1 in 11 Californians directly experienced hate in 2024,” said CRD Director Kevin Kish. “But official hate crime reports only capture a fraction of the picture. This survey makes it absolutely clear that programs like California vs Hate are vital to help fill the gap. Whether it’s bullying in schools or verbal harassment on the street, we’re stronger when we come together in the face of hate.”
The data collected through the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) represents the most comprehensive look yet at the scope of hate in California, capturing experiences that go beyond hate crimes reported to law enforcement.
“This comprehensive survey is key to the Commission on the State of Hate’s mandate to forge partnerships with state government and established scholars to better assess trends, responses, and the extent of increasing bias motivated aggression, which we’ve shown impacts millions of Californians annually,” said California Commission on the State of Hate Chair Brian Levin. “Moreover, these surveys indicate a tremendous gap between official reporting and the actual number of victimizations occurring each year in our state. Severe underreporting remains a widespread issue, particularly among various communities that have historically been fearful to engage with government, making our enhanced outreach efforts all the more crucial.”
“The California Health Interview Survey is data for the people of California,” said Ninez A. Ponce, PhD, MPP, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the principal investigator of the California Health Interview Survey. “Working with the California Civil Rights Department to examine an urgent public health issue, such as hate incidents, helps us leverage our data and research expertise for the public good.”
State Sponsors Questions on Prevalence of Hate
Each year, the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the largest state health survey in the nation, interviews more than 20,000 households on topics related to health and wellbeing. In 2024, CRD and the Commission on the State of Hate added questions asking Californians about their experiences with hate over the past year.
These questions covered all acts of hate, not just hate crimes. The data offers an in-depth, self-reported look at hate in California beyond what is captured in official law enforcement statistics. To learn more about the survey and the methodology, click here.
Key Takeaways on Statewide Impact of Hate
Key findings from the survey conducted throughout 2024 of Californians who were 12 and older include:
Overall Estimated Prevalence:
3.1 million Californians (9%) directly experienced at least one act of hate, an increase of 500,000 compared to the data from 2023.
Adolescents (17%) were nearly twice as likely as adults (9%) to experience hate.
4.8 million Californians (15%) witnessed an act of hate.
Motivation and Location:
Some of the top bias motivations identified by respondents were race or skin color (55%); ancestry, national origin, or language (21%); and gender or sex, including gender identity (17%).
40% of Californians who experienced hate were targeted based on multiple identities or characteristics.
Some of the most common locations where adults experienced hate were the street or sidewalk (43%), at businesses (35%), and at work (24%).
For youth between 12 and 17 years old, some of the most common locations were at school (83%) and online (29%).
Incident Types:
Roughly 1 in 13 Californians (8%) experienced verbal abuse or insults, which was the most common type of hate experienced.
An estimated 649,000 Californians (2%) experienced hate that was potentially criminal in nature, including either physical assault or property damage.
An estimated 679,000 Californians (2%) experienced cyberbullying, which was the next most common type of incident after verbal abuse or insults.
For more info, check out the factsheet about the 2024 hate acts data and this infographic with five key takeaways.
