Child sexual abuse happens across many settings, with most victims knowing the person who harms them. A large share occurs at home and involves relatives or close family friends. This page also highlights how underreporting and stigma restrict police and court involvement, alongside long-term mental health outcomes such as depression, PTSD, lifelong anxiety, and suicidality.
Key Takeaways
- Survivors of child sexual abuse are 2-3 times more likely to suffer depression
- 30% of abused children develop PTSD as adults
- Child sexual abuse victims are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide
- 65% of perpetrators are male aged 18-44
- 50% of child molesters are relatives or close family friends
- 30% of perpetrators are other children or adolescents
- Approximately 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys under age 18 experience sexual abuse or assault by an adult in the US
- Globally, around 120 million girls under 20 have experienced forced sexual contact
- In the US, 93% of child sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator
- Only 30% of child sexual abuse cases are reported to authorities
- 90% of victims never report to police
- Conviction rate for child sexual abuse is under 10%
- Girls aged 16-19 are 4 times more likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault than general population
- 82% of child sexual abuse survivors are female
- Children under 6 years old represent 7% of sexual abuse victims in US
Child sexual abuse harms survivors deeply, yet most cases are never reported and often involve someone they know.
Related reading
01 · Category
Long Term Effects29 stats
01
Survivors of child sexual abuse are 2-3 times more likely to suffer depression
02
30% of abused children develop PTSD as adults
03
Child sexual abuse victims are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide
04
40% of survivors experience lifelong anxiety disorders
05
Abused females have 2.5x higher risk of substance abuse
06
Male survivors are 3x more likely to be revictimized as adults
07
33% of women in drug treatment programs report CSA history
08
Survivors have 50% higher obesity rates
09
CSA linked to 25% increased risk of cardiovascular disease
10
20-40% of survivors develop dissociative disorders
11
Abused children are 2x more likely to become prostitutes
12
70% of survivors report sexual dysfunction in adulthood
13
CSA increases risk of teen pregnancy by 2x
14
Survivors have 3x higher rates of self-harm
15
Long-term economic cost per victim: $210,000-$592,000
16
42% of female prisoners report CSA
17
Male survivors 4x more likely to perpetrate violence
18
CSA linked to 37% higher chronic pain incidence
19
25% of survivors develop eating disorders
20
Brain changes: 10-20% smaller hippocampus in survivors
21
50% increased risk of HIV/STIs due to risky behaviors
22
Survivors 2.7x more likely to be homeless as adults
23
80% of 21-year-olds who report CSA were abused at 8 or younger
24
Interpersonal difficulties persist in 60% of survivors
25
35% higher unemployment rates among survivors
26
Autoimmune diseases 50% more common
27
28% of survivors experience hypersexuality
28
Reduced life expectancy by 20 years for severe cases
29
55% of survivors have trust issues in relationships
Interpretation
Long Term Effects Interpretation
Under the long term effects of child sexual abuse, the most striking trend is that many survivors face serious mental health outcomes years later, such as 30% developing PTSD and 40% living with lifelong anxiety disorders.
02 · Category
Perpetrator Profiles30 stats
01
65% of perpetrators are male aged 18-44
02
50% of child molesters are relatives or close family friends
03
30% of perpetrators are other children or adolescents
04
91% of child sexual abusers are known to the victim
05
Most perpetrators are male (96%)
06
40% of perpetrators have 10+ victims over career
07
60% of child sex offenders are white males
08
Average child molester has 117 victims if not caught
09
50% of perpetrators were victims of child sexual abuse themselves
10
Clergy abusers average 20-150 victims per offender
11
25% of perpetrators are female, mostly against boys
12
Family members commit 34% of offenses
13
Online groomers are 80% male aged 26-39
14
Repeat offenders recidivate at 13-37% within 5 years
15
76% of serial abusers are not caught until 3+ victims
16
Teachers represent 5% of perpetrators but high victim count
17
42% of perpetrators have prior convictions
18
Sports coaches abuse 7% of child athletes
19
70% of perpetrators deny offenses when confronted
20
Familial perpetrators abuse for average 6 years before detection
21
88% of offenders against boys are male
22
Extrafamilial abusers average 150 victims
23
20% of female perpetrators are mothers/stepmothers
24
Institutional perpetrators often escalate over time
25
35% of child porn offenders also contact abuse
26
Perpetrators aged 50+ commit 20% of offenses
27
55% of perpetrators have personality disorders
28
Group offenders represent 10% but higher violence
29
67% of perpetrators use alcohol/drugs during offense
30
Online predators 85% use social media to groom
Interpretation
Perpetrator Profiles Interpretation
In perpetrator profiles, the data shows that most offenders are male and commonly known to the victim, with 96% male and 91% known, and that 65% are men aged 18 to 44, highlighting how abuse is often carried out by familiar adults rather than strangers.
03 · Category
Prevalence Rates30 stats
01
Approximately 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys under age 18 experience sexual abuse or assault by an adult in the US
02
Globally, around 120 million girls under 20 have experienced forced sexual contact
03
In the US, 93% of child sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator
04
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the US experience child sexual abuse
05
Worldwide, up to 1 billion children aged 2–17 years have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year
06
In Australia, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 8 men experienced child sexual abuse before age 15
07
UK estimates suggest 5-10% of children experience sexual abuse
08
In South Africa, 35% of women reported child sexual abuse before age 15
09
US data shows 67,000 children were victims of sexual abuse in 2021
10
In India, 53% of children reported one or more forms of sexual abuse
11
European studies indicate 9-13% of girls and 5% of boys experience sexual abuse
12
In Canada, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 8 boys are sexually abused before 18
13
Brazil reports 60,000 cases of child sexual violence annually
14
In the US, child sexual abuse reports increased 10% from 2019-2021
15
Globally, 15-20% of women and 5-10% of men were sexually abused as children
16
In the UK, 1 in 20 children experience sexual abuse
17
US foster care children are 10 times more likely to be sexually abused
18
In Germany, 3-10% of children experience sexual abuse annually
19
Nigeria reports 70% of children experience some form of sexual abuse
20
In the US, 12.7% of girls and 5.3% of boys experience sexual abuse
21
Sweden estimates 11% of women and 3% of men were abused as children
22
In the Philippines, 15% of children aged 10-18 report sexual abuse
23
US military families report higher rates: 34% of girls abused
24
In Kenya, 32% of girls and 18% of boys experience sexual violence before 18
25
Ireland reports 22% of women and 10% of men experienced child sexual abuse
26
In the US, 91% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone known
27
Global meta-analysis: 12.7% prevalence for girls, 7.6% for boys
28
In China, 24% of girls and 11% of boys report sexual abuse
29
France: 8% of children under 18 experience sexual violence
30
34% of US child abuse victims are sexual abuse cases
Interpretation
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
Prevalence rates show that child sexual abuse is widespread, with about 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the US affected and roughly 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys reporting sexual abuse or assault by an adult, underscoring how common these experiences are for children.
More related reading
04 · Category
Reporting And Legal Outcomes23 stats
01
Only 30% of child sexual abuse cases are reported to authorities
02
90% of victims never report to police
03
Conviction rate for child sexual abuse is under 10%
04
Only 5-10% of cases result in prosecution
05
63% of assaults on children under 12 are not reported
06
Disclosure rates increase with age: 20% for under 12s
07
False allegations in CSA cases are 2-10%
08
40 states have statutes of limitations barring prosecution
09
Hotline calls to Childhelp: 7 million since 1982
10
Only 12% of familial abuse leads to arrest
11
60% of reports are substantiated in investigations
12
Recidivism drops 40% with sex offender registration
13
93% of juvenile victims know perpetrator, affecting reporting
14
UK: 85,000 CSA crimes recorded yearly, 10% prosecuted
15
Online abuse reports: 1.5 million to NCMEC in 2022
16
75% of child victims in court cases recant initially
17
Average sentence for CSA: 12 years, but 50% serve less
18
Prevention programs reduce abuse by 40-50%
19
Mandatory reporting laws increase reports by 30%
20
20% of reports come from professionals
21
Sex offender registries reduce reoffending by 12%
22
Victim advocacy increases reporting by 25%
23
International: 80% of CSA goes unreported
Interpretation
Reporting And Legal Outcomes Interpretation
For reporting and legal outcomes, only about 30% of child sexual abuse cases are reported and most victims never reach police, while the legal system responds to fewer than 10% with convictions and only 5 to 10% lead to prosecution.
05 · Category
Victim Demographics29 stats
01
Girls aged 16-19 are 4 times more likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault than general population
02
82% of child sexual abuse survivors are female
03
Children under 6 years old represent 7% of sexual abuse victims in US
04
50% of child sexual abuse occurs in the victim's home
05
Indigenous children in Australia are 7 times more likely to be hospitalized for sexual assault
06
LGBTQ+ youth are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual violence
07
90% of child sexual abuse victims are white, per US NCANDS data
08
Children with disabilities are 3-4 times more likely to be abused
09
In UK, 31% of abuse victims are boys under 11
10
African American children are reported at higher rates for sexual abuse
11
60% of victims are girls aged 12-17
12
Runaway youth are at 28 times higher risk of sexual exploitation
13
In foster care, 20% of girls and 10% of boys experience sexual abuse
14
Hispanic children comprise 25% of sexual abuse victims in US
15
Children from low-income families are 3 times more likely to be victims
16
In Canada, 25% of female victims were under 12 at first assault
17
Boys represent 20-25% of child sexual abuse victims globally
18
Children in single-parent homes are at higher risk, 80% of perpetrators are family
19
Urban children face 15% higher rates than rural
20
40% of victims are abused by family members
21
Girls in religious institutions report higher abuse rates
22
Children aged 7-13 are most common victims (51%)
23
Asian American children underreported at 1% of victims
24
Homeless children are 2-4 times more vulnerable
25
In India, 70% of victims are girls under 16
26
96% of abusing parents are biological
27
Teen mothers' children are at 2x risk
28
35% of victims are boys in institutional settings
29
90% of US girl victims know abuser
Interpretation
Victim Demographics Interpretation
From a victim-demographics perspective, sexual violence disproportionately affects certain groups, including 82% female survivors and girls aged 16 to 19 who are 4 times more likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault than the general population.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Child Sex Abuse Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/child-sex-abuse-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Child Sex Abuse Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/child-sex-abuse-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Child Sex Abuse Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/child-sex-abuse-statistics.
Sources & references
55 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level