$4.99Mglobal average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high
$4.99M global average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high (Breaches Mar 2025 to Feb 2026, IBM (research by Ponemon Institute), Cost of a Data Breach Report)
+12.4% since the previous figure: $4.44M (29 Jul 2026)
Vendor dataChecked at source, 23 Oct 2026All sizesGlobalCyber security · Breach cost
Source: IBM (research by Ponemon Institute), Cost of a Data Breach ReportIBM country and region table, 2026 report.digitaltreed.com/statistics
In plain words
What this number really says
$4.99M global average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high (Breaches Mar 2025 to Feb 2026).
$4.99M
the latest figure (Breaches Mar 2025 to Feb 2026)
Vendor data
type of source
Why you can trust it. IBM (research by Ponemon Institute), Cost of a Data Breach Report: vendor data, a company measuring its own customers or panel. 602 breached organizations in 16 countries and regions, breaches March 2025 to February 2026; 3,558 interviews by Ponemon Institute.
IBM (research by Ponemon Institute), Cost of a Data Breach Report
Source type
Vendor data: A company measuring its own customers or panel
What it measures
$4.99M global average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high
Data period
Breaches Mar 2025 to Feb 2026 (ends 28 Feb 2026)
Published by the source
29 Jul 2026
Who is counted
602 breached organizations in 16 countries and regions, breaches March 2025 to February 2026; 3,558 interviews by Ponemon Institute.
In the source's words
The global average breach cost climbed 12% over last year, reaching a record USD 4.99 million.
Checked at source
23 Oct 2026: Read in the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2026 PDF (IBM asset server). CORRECTED from data.js $4.44M (2025 report). New 2026 value.
Reuse
Copyright IBM. Cite with attribution.. Interview-based study of about 600 breached organizations in 16 countries and regions; redraw only from plain numbers with attribution.
Next expected update
31 Jul 2027 (IBM (research by Ponemon Institute), yearly, late July)
29 Jul 2026New data$4.44M 2025 report global average.
Cite this number
APA
IBM (research by Ponemon Institute). (2026). $4.99M global average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high. Via digitaltreed, https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/cybersecurity/data-breach-cost-global-average
MLA
"$4.99M global average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high." IBM (research by Ponemon Institute), Cost of a Data Breach Report, Breaches Mar 2025 to Feb 2026. digitaltreed, https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/cybersecurity/data-breach-cost-global-average.
HTML link
<a href="https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/cybersecurity/data-breach-cost-global-average">$4.99M global average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high</a> (IBM (research by Ponemon Institute), Breaches Mar 2025 to Feb 2026)
Embed the chart
<iframe src="https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/embed/cybersecurity-ibm-breach-cost-by-country" width="640" height="420" loading="lazy" title="Average cost of a data breach, 2026"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/cybersecurity/data-breach-cost-global-average">$4.99M global average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high, digitaltreed</a></p>
Keep the source link under the chart. The chart updates when the number does.
FAQ
Questions about this number
What is the latest figure for breach cost (Global)?
$4.99M global average cost of a data breach in 2026, up 12% and a record high, for Breaches Mar 2025 to Feb 2026, according to IBM (research by Ponemon Institute), Cost of a Data Breach Report. We checked it at the source on 23 Oct 2026.
Related
More Cyber security statistics
Vendor dataAll sizesUSA
$11.5M
average cost of a data breach in the US in 2026, the highest of any country and more than twice the global $4.99 million
Sample: 602 breached organizations in 16 countries and regions, breaches March 2025 to February 2026; 3,558 interviews by Ponemon Institute.
