Statistics
Statistics help us understand the scope of sexual violence and which populations may face greater risks. However, statistics do not capture every experience. Sexual violence is often underreported, and different studies use different definitions, age groups, and methods.
Adults
An estimated 443,634
rapes and sexual assaults occur each year in the United States among people age 12 and older, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Sexual violence affects people across different ages, backgrounds, and communities.
Nearly 1 in 3 women
experience physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence during their lifetime, according to World Health Organization estimates.
sources: u.s. department of justice, bureau of justice statistics; who
Children & Teens
56,575 children
identified as victims of sexual abuse through U.S. child protective services records in the most recent national data.
1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys
experience sexual abuse or assault before age 18, according to research estimates.
Sexual abuse may begin during childhood and can continue or be repeated over time.
Many children do not immediately tell someone about abuse, so official reports do not represent every experience.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau; RAINN
College Students
Sexual violence is a significant concern among college students.
26.4%
Research found that 26.4% of undergraduate women surveyed reported experiencing rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
6.8%
6.8% of undergraduate men surveyed reported experiencing rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
80%
In the same research, the perpetrator was someone the student knew in approximately 80% of cases.
College statistics can vary depending on the study, participating schools, definitions, and time period measured.
Sources: Association of American Universities; RAINN
In the LGBTQ+ Community
Sexual violence also affects LGBTQ+ people, and some groups experience elevated risks.
Sexual violence can affect people of every sexual orientation and gender identity.
Research has found particularly high rates of sexual violence among some transgender and gender-diverse populations.
LGBTQ+ survivors may face additional barriers to seeking help, including discrimination, stigma, fear of being misunderstood, or concerns about how others will respond.
Statistics for LGBTQ+ populations can vary considerably depending on the specific group studied, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or other gender-diverse people.
Source: CDC
People with Disabilities
People with disabilities experience increased risk of sexual violence.
39%
of female rape victims in the CDC data had a disability at the time of the rape.
24%
of male victims of sexual violence other than rape had a disability at the time of the victimization.
- CDC research found that women and men with disabilities are at increased risk of experiencing sexual violence.
- Disability can sometimes increase vulnerability because of dependence on caregivers, communication barriers, isolation, or other circumstances.
These statistics should never be interpreted as meaning that disability causes sexual violence. Responsibility always belongs to the person who causes harm.
Source: CDC
Men &
Boys
Men and boys can be survivors of sexual violence, even though they are sometimes left out of conversations about it.
11%
Percent of victims
who were male
- In FBI data on reported rape, approximately 11% of victims were male.
- Men and boys can experience rape, sexual assault, sexual coercion, unwanted sexual contact, and other forms of sexual violence.
- Social expectations about masculinity can sometimes make it more difficult for male survivors to disclose what happened or seek support.
Sexual violence against men and boys is real, and their experiences deserve to be taken seriously.
Sources: FBI Crime Data; CDC; RAINN
Women & Girls
Women and girls experience high rates of sexual violence both in the United States and worldwide.
1 in 3
Globally, WHO estimates that nearly 1 in 3 women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence during their lifetime.
263M
WHO estimates that approximately 263 million women have experienced non-partner sexual violence since age 15.
Sexual violence can affect women and girls at every stage of life, including childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and older age.
These statistics describe population-level patterns. They do not mean that every woman or girl will experience sexual violence.
Source: WHO
What These Numbers Don't Show
Statistics cannot tell the whole story. Many experiences of sexual violence are never reported to police, child protective services, schools, or other organizations. People may not report because of fear, shame, uncertainty, threats, family relationships, stigma, or concerns about how others will respond. Different studies also measure different forms of sexual violence and use different definitions. A statistic represents a person. Behind every number is someone whose experience matters.