GITNUXREPORT 2026

Childhood Sexual Abuse Statistics

Child sexual abuse is alarmingly common and occurs globally across all demographics.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

91% of child sexual abuse victims are female in U.S. reports

Statistic 2

Girls are 3 times more likely than boys to experience CSA globally

Statistic 3

In the U.S., 82% of child sexual abuse survivors are female

Statistic 4

Black children in U.S. 1.7 times more likely to be substantiated victims of sexual abuse

Statistic 5

Native American children face 2x higher CSA rates in U.S.

Statistic 6

Low-income families: children 3x more at risk for CSA

Statistic 7

Children with disabilities 3-4 times more likely to be sexually abused

Statistic 8

LGBTQ+ youth 2.5 times more likely to experience CSA

Statistic 9

In U.S., Hispanic children 1.4x higher sexual abuse victimization rates

Statistic 10

Foster care children 10x more likely to be sexually abused

Statistic 11

Rural children 20% higher CSA prevalence than urban

Statistic 12

Age 7-13 peak for child sexual abuse onset in 50% cases

Statistic 13

Siblings involved in 14% of intra-familial CSA cases

Statistic 14

Children from single-parent homes 2x risk

Statistic 15

In U.S., white children 70% of substantiated sexual abuse victims

Statistic 16

Boys represent 25% of CSA victims under age 18

Statistic 17

Children aged 12-17: 50% of all sexual assaults reported

Statistic 18

In UK, Asian children higher rates of CSA disclosure

Statistic 19

Homeless youth 28% lifetime CSA prevalence vs 7% general

Statistic 20

Children with mental health issues 4x higher victimization

Statistic 21

In U.S., 40% of CSA victims are under age 12

Statistic 22

Females in foster care: 80% experienced sexual abuse

Statistic 23

Indigenous Australian children 7x higher CSA rates

Statistic 24

Children of color 1.5x less likely to receive services post-CSA

Statistic 25

In Canada, Indigenous girls 2.8x higher sexual victimization

Statistic 26

U.S. children with parents substance abuse 4x risk

Statistic 27

Girls aged 16-17 highest risk group for rape

Statistic 28

CSA survivors 4x more likely to attempt suicide

Statistic 29

30% of CSA victims develop PTSD

Statistic 30

Adult survivors 2-3x higher depression rates

Statistic 31

70% of CSA victims experience revictimization in adulthood

Statistic 32

Substance abuse 3x higher among survivors

Statistic 33

40% of survivors have sexual dysfunction

Statistic 34

Obesity rates 1.36x higher in female survivors

Statistic 35

Suicide attempts 2.5x increased

Statistic 36

33% develop dissociative disorders

Statistic 37

Chronic pain 50% more prevalent

Statistic 38

Relationship issues: 60% divorce rate higher

Statistic 39

Eating disorders 3x risk

Statistic 40

25% of male survivors become perpetrators

Statistic 41

Anxiety disorders 2x lifetime prevalence

Statistic 42

Somatization disorders in 35% of survivors

Statistic 43

80% report trust issues in adulthood

Statistic 44

Criminal behavior 2x higher

Statistic 45

Sleep disorders 70% prevalence

Statistic 46

50% higher healthcare utilization

Statistic 47

Borderline personality disorder 40% association

Statistic 48

Reduced cognitive functioning in 30%

Statistic 49

65% experience shame/guilt lifelong

Statistic 50

Homelessness 2x risk

Statistic 51

Only 3% of attempted rapes lead to pregnancy, but CSA leads to higher STI rates

Statistic 52

55% report hypersexuality or promiscuity

Statistic 53

Intergenerational transmission: 30% of survivors abuse own children

Statistic 54

45% have self-harm history

Statistic 55

96% of child sexual abusers are male

Statistic 56

34% of perpetrators are family members

Statistic 57

59% of abusers are acquaintances

Statistic 58

Average child molester has 117 victims, mostly children

Statistic 59

50% of child molesters are juveniles themselves

Statistic 60

93% of juvenile victims know their abuser

Statistic 61

Fathers/boyfriends of family 30% of intra-familial abusers

Statistic 62

Online grooming perpetrators 80% known to victim offline

Statistic 63

Clergy abusers: 4% of priests accused

Statistic 64

42% of perpetrators have 10+ victims

Statistic 65

Family friends 23% of abusers

Statistic 66

Coaches/teachers 7% of reported abusers

Statistic 67

80% of repeat abusers were not criminally prosecuted first time

Statistic 68

Male relatives 40% in sibling abuse cases

Statistic 69

Internet offenders 85% male, average age 35

Statistic 70

70% of perpetrators deny abuse even when confronted

Statistic 71

Stepfathers 2x more likely to abuse than biological fathers

Statistic 72

25% of perpetrators are under 18

Statistic 73

Institutions: 10% of child sexual abuse by authority figures

Statistic 74

60% of familial abusers are fathers/stepfathers

Statistic 75

Abusers with prior convictions 35% reoffend sexually

Statistic 76

Online child sex offenders 50% also contact offenders

Statistic 77

90% of child porn producers are men

Statistic 78

Relatives account for 30% of all child sexual assaults

Statistic 79

Juvenile perpetrators often victims themselves (70%)

Statistic 80

75% of perpetrators exhibit no deviant sexual arousal initially

Statistic 81

Approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse

Statistic 82

Globally, up to 1 billion children aged 2–17 years have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year

Statistic 83

In the U.S., 91% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the child or child's family knows

Statistic 84

Child sexual abuse affects an estimated 1 in 6 men and 1 in 4 women in the U.S.

Statistic 85

In the UK, NSPCC helpline received over 500,000 contacts about child welfare concerns in 2022, with sexual abuse prominent

Statistic 86

Worldwide, 120 million girls under 20 (about 10%) have experienced forced intercourse or other forced sexual acts

Statistic 87

In Australia, 28.5% of women and 11.1% of men reported childhood sexual abuse before age 15

Statistic 88

U.S. child protective services substantiated 8.4 victims of sexual abuse per 1,000 children in 2021

Statistic 89

In South Africa, 35% of girls and 14% of boys experience sexual violence before age 18

Statistic 90

European studies show 9-13% of children experience sexual abuse

Statistic 91

In India, 53% of children report sexual abuse per Ministry of Women and Child Development study

Statistic 92

Canada reports 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men experienced childhood sexual abuse

Statistic 93

In the U.S., 93% of abuse victims under 12 knew the perpetrator

Statistic 94

Global estimate: 18% of girls and 8% of boys experience sexual abuse

Statistic 95

In Brazil, 66% of women report childhood sexual violence

Statistic 96

U.S. National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 25% women, 16% men lifetime CSA

Statistic 97

In Sweden, 22.5% girls and 11.1% boys report contact sexual abuse before 18

Statistic 98

Philippines: 16% of children aged 10-17 experienced sexual violence

Statistic 99

In the U.S., 67% of CSA cases involve fondling

Statistic 100

New Zealand: 34% women, 16% men report CSA

Statistic 101

In Kenya, 32% of girls experience sexual violence before 18

Statistic 102

U.S.: 1 in 10 children sexually abused before 18

Statistic 103

Ireland: 42% women, 23% men report CSA

Statistic 104

In Mexico, 22.8% of children experienced sexual violence

Statistic 105

U.S. military families: higher CSA rates at 34%

Statistic 106

In China, 24.1% of children report sexual abuse

Statistic 107

Netherlands: 11.5% girls, 4.3% boys CSA

Statistic 108

In the U.S., 60% of CSA occurs in the home

Statistic 109

Russia: 18% children experience sexual violence

Statistic 110

Globally, 73 million boys and 150 million girls under 18 sexually abused

Statistic 111

Only 30% of CSA cases reported to authorities

Statistic 112

90% of children never tell anyone about abuse during childhood

Statistic 113

U.S. mandatory reporting laws cover 48 states for CSA

Statistic 114

Prevention programs reduce abuse by 40-50%

Statistic 115

67% of reports come from professionals

Statistic 116

Darkness to Light training reaches 2 million adults, reduces barriers

Statistic 117

Hotline calls: RAINN 350,000/year for sexual violence

Statistic 118

93% of abuse preventable with caregiver education

Statistic 119

Screening tools detect 70% more cases in schools

Statistic 120

Conviction rates only 10% of reported CSA cases

Statistic 121

Bystander intervention programs cut abuse 50%

Statistic 122

75% of victims delay reporting until adulthood

Statistic 123

Policy: 18 U.S. states have Erin’s Law for school prevention

Statistic 124

Online reporting increased detections 20%

Statistic 125

Therapy disclosure rates 50% higher with support

Statistic 126

40% drop in abuse with community awareness campaigns

Statistic 127

False allegations <2-10% of reports

Statistic 128

School-based programs: 11% reduction in victimization

Statistic 129

85% of non-reporting due to fear of consequences

Statistic 130

Registry of offenders reduces recidivism 12%

Statistic 131

Parent education: 60% children disclose sooner

Statistic 132

25% increase in reports post-#MeToo for CSA

Statistic 133

Universal screening in healthcare detects 25% more

Statistic 134

Legal: Statute of limitations removed in 20 U.S. states

Statistic 135

Anonymous reporting apps increase child disclosures 30%

Statistic 136

Training for mandated reporters: 80% accuracy improvement

1/136

Sources

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Behind the shocking statistic that one in four girls and one in thirteen boys in the United States will experience sexual abuse before they turn eighteen lies a global crisis of hidden trauma, where the vast majority of perpetrators are not strangers in the shadows but trusted individuals in a child's own home, family, or community.

Key Takeaways

Approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse
Globally, up to 1 billion children aged 2–17 years have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year
In the U.S., 91% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the child or child's family knows
91% of child sexual abuse victims are female in U.S. reports
Girls are 3 times more likely than boys to experience CSA globally
In the U.S., 82% of child sexual abuse survivors are female
96% of child sexual abusers are male
34% of perpetrators are family members
59% of abusers are acquaintances
CSA survivors 4x more likely to attempt suicide
30% of CSA victims develop PTSD
Adult survivors 2-3x higher depression rates
Only 30% of CSA cases reported to authorities
90% of children never tell anyone about abuse during childhood
U.S. mandatory reporting laws cover 48 states for CSA

Child sexual abuse is alarmingly common and occurs globally across all demographics.

Demographics

91% of child sexual abuse victims are female in U.S. reports
Girls are 3 times more likely than boys to experience CSA globally
In the U.S., 82% of child sexual abuse survivors are female
Black children in U.S. 1.7 times more likely to be substantiated victims of sexual abuse
Native American children face 2x higher CSA rates in U.S.
Low-income families: children 3x more at risk for CSA
Children with disabilities 3-4 times more likely to be sexually abused
LGBTQ+ youth 2.5 times more likely to experience CSA
In U.S., Hispanic children 1.4x higher sexual abuse victimization rates
Foster care children 10x more likely to be sexually abused
Rural children 20% higher CSA prevalence than urban
Age 7-13 peak for child sexual abuse onset in 50% cases
Siblings involved in 14% of intra-familial CSA cases
Children from single-parent homes 2x risk
In U.S., white children 70% of substantiated sexual abuse victims
Boys represent 25% of CSA victims under age 18
Children aged 12-17: 50% of all sexual assaults reported
In UK, Asian children higher rates of CSA disclosure
Homeless youth 28% lifetime CSA prevalence vs 7% general
Children with mental health issues 4x higher victimization
In U.S., 40% of CSA victims are under age 12
Females in foster care: 80% experienced sexual abuse
Indigenous Australian children 7x higher CSA rates
Children of color 1.5x less likely to receive services post-CSA
In Canada, Indigenous girls 2.8x higher sexual victimization
U.S. children with parents substance abuse 4x risk
Girls aged 16-17 highest risk group for rape

Demographics Interpretation

These statistics paint a grim, targeted portrait of vulnerability, revealing that predators are not random actors but strategic opportunists who disproportionately prey upon girls, the marginalized, the isolated, and the systems meant to protect them.

Impacts

CSA survivors 4x more likely to attempt suicide
30% of CSA victims develop PTSD
Adult survivors 2-3x higher depression rates
70% of CSA victims experience revictimization in adulthood
Substance abuse 3x higher among survivors
40% of survivors have sexual dysfunction
Obesity rates 1.36x higher in female survivors
Suicide attempts 2.5x increased
33% develop dissociative disorders
Chronic pain 50% more prevalent
Relationship issues: 60% divorce rate higher
Eating disorders 3x risk
25% of male survivors become perpetrators
Anxiety disorders 2x lifetime prevalence
Somatization disorders in 35% of survivors
80% report trust issues in adulthood
Criminal behavior 2x higher
Sleep disorders 70% prevalence
50% higher healthcare utilization
Borderline personality disorder 40% association
Reduced cognitive functioning in 30%
65% experience shame/guilt lifelong
Homelessness 2x risk
Only 3% of attempted rapes lead to pregnancy, but CSA leads to higher STI rates
55% report hypersexuality or promiscuity
Intergenerational transmission: 30% of survivors abuse own children
45% have self-harm history

Impacts Interpretation

The statistics of childhood sexual abuse read not as a list of disorders but as a grim, lifelong echo of a single, shattering crime, proving that the body and mind keep a meticulous, devastating score.

Perpetrators

96% of child sexual abusers are male
34% of perpetrators are family members
59% of abusers are acquaintances
Average child molester has 117 victims, mostly children
50% of child molesters are juveniles themselves
93% of juvenile victims know their abuser
Fathers/boyfriends of family 30% of intra-familial abusers
Online grooming perpetrators 80% known to victim offline
Clergy abusers: 4% of priests accused
42% of perpetrators have 10+ victims
Family friends 23% of abusers
Coaches/teachers 7% of reported abusers
80% of repeat abusers were not criminally prosecuted first time
Male relatives 40% in sibling abuse cases
Internet offenders 85% male, average age 35
70% of perpetrators deny abuse even when confronted
Stepfathers 2x more likely to abuse than biological fathers
25% of perpetrators are under 18
Institutions: 10% of child sexual abuse by authority figures
60% of familial abusers are fathers/stepfathers
Abusers with prior convictions 35% reoffend sexually
Online child sex offenders 50% also contact offenders
90% of child porn producers are men
Relatives account for 30% of all child sexual assaults
Juvenile perpetrators often victims themselves (70%)
75% of perpetrators exhibit no deviant sexual arousal initially

Perpetrators Interpretation

This grim arithmetic reveals a predator's playbook where trust is the weapon, access is the opportunity, and our own homes and communities are the most dangerous hunting grounds.

Prevalence

Approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse
Globally, up to 1 billion children aged 2–17 years have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year
In the U.S., 91% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the child or child's family knows
Child sexual abuse affects an estimated 1 in 6 men and 1 in 4 women in the U.S.
In the UK, NSPCC helpline received over 500,000 contacts about child welfare concerns in 2022, with sexual abuse prominent
Worldwide, 120 million girls under 20 (about 10%) have experienced forced intercourse or other forced sexual acts
In Australia, 28.5% of women and 11.1% of men reported childhood sexual abuse before age 15
U.S. child protective services substantiated 8.4 victims of sexual abuse per 1,000 children in 2021
In South Africa, 35% of girls and 14% of boys experience sexual violence before age 18
European studies show 9-13% of children experience sexual abuse
In India, 53% of children report sexual abuse per Ministry of Women and Child Development study
Canada reports 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men experienced childhood sexual abuse
In the U.S., 93% of abuse victims under 12 knew the perpetrator
Global estimate: 18% of girls and 8% of boys experience sexual abuse
In Brazil, 66% of women report childhood sexual violence
U.S. National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 25% women, 16% men lifetime CSA
In Sweden, 22.5% girls and 11.1% boys report contact sexual abuse before 18
Philippines: 16% of children aged 10-17 experienced sexual violence
In the U.S., 67% of CSA cases involve fondling
New Zealand: 34% women, 16% men report CSA
In Kenya, 32% of girls experience sexual violence before 18
U.S.: 1 in 10 children sexually abused before 18
Ireland: 42% women, 23% men report CSA
In Mexico, 22.8% of children experienced sexual violence
U.S. military families: higher CSA rates at 34%
In China, 24.1% of children report sexual abuse
Netherlands: 11.5% girls, 4.3% boys CSA
In the U.S., 60% of CSA occurs in the home
Russia: 18% children experience sexual violence
Globally, 73 million boys and 150 million girls under 18 sexually abused

Prevalence Interpretation

These statistics aren't just abstract numbers; they are a deafening global chorus of violated trust, revealing that the greatest threat to a child's innocence is overwhelmingly found in the places and people meant to protect them.

Prevention/Reporting

Only 30% of CSA cases reported to authorities
90% of children never tell anyone about abuse during childhood
U.S. mandatory reporting laws cover 48 states for CSA
Prevention programs reduce abuse by 40-50%
67% of reports come from professionals
Darkness to Light training reaches 2 million adults, reduces barriers
Hotline calls: RAINN 350,000/year for sexual violence
93% of abuse preventable with caregiver education
Screening tools detect 70% more cases in schools
Conviction rates only 10% of reported CSA cases
Bystander intervention programs cut abuse 50%
75% of victims delay reporting until adulthood
Policy: 18 U.S. states have Erin’s Law for school prevention
Online reporting increased detections 20%
Therapy disclosure rates 50% higher with support
40% drop in abuse with community awareness campaigns
False allegations <2-10% of reports
School-based programs: 11% reduction in victimization
85% of non-reporting due to fear of consequences
Registry of offenders reduces recidivism 12%
Parent education: 60% children disclose sooner
25% increase in reports post-#MeToo for CSA
Universal screening in healthcare detects 25% more
Legal: Statute of limitations removed in 20 U.S. states
Anonymous reporting apps increase child disclosures 30%
Training for mandated reporters: 80% accuracy improvement

Prevention/Reporting Interpretation

The staggering silence surrounding childhood sexual abuse, where ninety percent of victims never tell, is a societal failure we are slowly, methodically, and imperfectly dismantling through education, better detection, and unwavering support, proving that light, however clumsily introduced, is the most potent disinfectant.

Sources & References

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