GITNUXREPORT 2025

Consent Statistics

Most Americans support ongoing, explicit consent for healthy sexual relationships.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

53% of young adults feel they didn’t receive enough education about consent in school

Statistic 2

78% of people believe consent should be ongoing and can be withdrawn at any time

Statistic 3

70% of teens agree that consent is necessary before sexual activity

Statistic 4

1 in 4 women experience some form of sexual violence

Statistic 5

Only 40% of people who experience sexual assault report it to authorities

Statistic 6

84% of college women agree that they have been pressured into sex

Statistic 7

80% of people who experience consent violations did not report it

Statistic 8

66% of college students have experienced some form of pressured or coerced sexual activity

Statistic 9

90% of sexual assault cases involve some form of non-physical coercion

Statistic 10

69% of teens believe that a partner should always seek explicit consent before sex

Statistic 11

35% of college students said they had been pressured into sexual activity they did not want

Statistic 12

61% of women who experience sexual harassment say a lack of clear consent communication contributed to their experience

Statistic 13

89% of adolescents believe that refusal should be clearly communicated, yet only 50% feel confident doing so

Statistic 14

54% of college students feel they have experienced ambiguous consent situations

Statistic 15

81% of teens say they would feel uncomfortable if their partner didn’t ask for consent before sex

Statistic 16

52% of women and 44% of men have experienced some form of sexual misconduct

Statistic 17

46% of college students report that they have experienced pressure to engage in sexual activity without clear consent

Statistic 18

65% of surveyed adults say that consent should be a continuous process, not a one-time event

Statistic 19

55% of sexual assault victims felt that they were pressured or coerced into unwanted acts

Statistic 20

83% of adolescents support the idea that they should feel comfortable saying “no” at any point during intimacy

Statistic 21

44% of young adults report feeling that consent is often misunderstood or neglected in sexual interactions

Statistic 22

81% of teens believe that they should be able to refuse sex at any time

Statistic 23

53% of survey respondents say they would feel more comfortable if consent was explicitly discussed beforehand

Statistic 24

Only 48% of college students know the correct definition of sexual consent

Statistic 25

60% of sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator

Statistic 26

55% of teens are unsure if a partner’s “yes” can be assumed if they are visibly drunk

Statistic 27

65% of people believe that adults should be responsible for teaching children about consent

Statistic 28

48% of adults say they don’t understand the nuances of sexual consent very well

Statistic 29

88% of people agree that understanding consent is essential for healthy relationships

Statistic 30

45% of young adults think that consent education should be part of the curriculum from middle school onwards

Statistic 31

77% of college students support a clear verbal “yes” standard for consent

Statistic 32

49% of adolescents feel they don’t have enough information about how to communicate boundaries

Statistic 33

70% of parents believe that teaching children about consent is critical for preventing future abuse

Statistic 34

61% of teens report feeling unsure about how to effectively communicate consent

Statistic 35

79% of college students agree that teaching consent early can shape healthier attitudes

Statistic 36

68% of surveyed adults think that consent should be explicitly verbal, not implied

Statistic 37

50% of people surveyed believe that understanding consent can lower the risk of sexual assault

Statistic 38

72% of college students believe that well-informed consent is fundamental to respectful sexual relationships

Statistic 39

75% of individuals believe that consent education should start in middle school

Statistic 40

58% of teachers believe that comprehensive consent education reduces bullying and harassment

Statistic 41

72% of Americans think that technology can help in establishing clear consent, especially via new communication tools

Statistic 42

67% of respondents said that understanding and respecting consent is essential for a healthy sex life

Statistic 43

75% of college students support age-appropriate consent education

Statistic 44

58% of adults support mandatory consent classes in high schools

Statistic 45

70% of parents support discussing consent early in children’s education

Statistic 46

73% of sexual health experts agree that consent education reduces sexual violence

Statistic 47

83% of people believe that institutions should do more to promote understanding of consent

Statistic 48

62% of young adults support consent workshops in high schools

Statistic 49

54% of parents support lessons about consent in elementary school

Statistic 50

65% of college students support mandatory consent workshops as part of orientation programs

Statistic 51

92% of Americans believe that clearly saying "no" is enough to communicate refusal

Statistic 52

49% of women report feeling unsure about whether their partner understood or accepted their consent

Statistic 53

67% of surveyed individuals believe that emphasizing enthusiastic consent can prevent sexual assault

Statistic 54

59% of adults think that digital consent (via texting or social media) can be as significant as face-to-face consent

Statistic 55

59% of young women and 52% of young men believe that societal norms need to better emphasize the importance of consent

Slide 1 of 55

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Key Highlights

78% of people believe consent should be ongoing and can be withdrawn at any time
Only 48% of college students know the correct definition of sexual consent
60% of sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator
70% of teens agree that consent is necessary before sexual activity
1 in 4 women experience some form of sexual violence
Only 40% of people who experience sexual assault report it to authorities
84% of college women agree that they have been pressured into sex
92% of Americans believe that clearly saying "no" is enough to communicate refusal
55% of teens are unsure if a partner’s “yes” can be assumed if they are visibly drunk
75% of college students support age-appropriate consent education
65% of people believe that adults should be responsible for teaching children about consent
53% of young adults feel they didn’t receive enough education about consent in school
80% of people who experience consent violations did not report it

Did you know that while over 70% of teens and college students agree that consent is crucial before sex, less than half actually understand its full meaning or feel equipped to communicate their boundaries effectively?

Education and Consent Programs

53% of young adults feel they didn’t receive enough education about consent in school

Education and Consent Programs Interpretation

With over half of young adults feeling undereducated on consent, it’s clear that our schools are missing a crucial lesson—one that’s essential for fostering respectful relationships and preventing harm.

Experiences and Attitudes Toward Consent

78% of people believe consent should be ongoing and can be withdrawn at any time
70% of teens agree that consent is necessary before sexual activity
1 in 4 women experience some form of sexual violence
Only 40% of people who experience sexual assault report it to authorities
84% of college women agree that they have been pressured into sex
80% of people who experience consent violations did not report it
66% of college students have experienced some form of pressured or coerced sexual activity
90% of sexual assault cases involve some form of non-physical coercion
69% of teens believe that a partner should always seek explicit consent before sex
35% of college students said they had been pressured into sexual activity they did not want
61% of women who experience sexual harassment say a lack of clear consent communication contributed to their experience
89% of adolescents believe that refusal should be clearly communicated, yet only 50% feel confident doing so
54% of college students feel they have experienced ambiguous consent situations
81% of teens say they would feel uncomfortable if their partner didn’t ask for consent before sex
52% of women and 44% of men have experienced some form of sexual misconduct
46% of college students report that they have experienced pressure to engage in sexual activity without clear consent
65% of surveyed adults say that consent should be a continuous process, not a one-time event
55% of sexual assault victims felt that they were pressured or coerced into unwanted acts
83% of adolescents support the idea that they should feel comfortable saying “no” at any point during intimacy
44% of young adults report feeling that consent is often misunderstood or neglected in sexual interactions
81% of teens believe that they should be able to refuse sex at any time
53% of survey respondents say they would feel more comfortable if consent was explicitly discussed beforehand

Experiences and Attitudes Toward Consent Interpretation

Despite overwhelming support for ongoing, explicit consent, a staggering disconnect remains, as cultural norms, coercive pressures, and ambiguous communication often turn these principles into well-intentioned ideals rather than everyday realities.

Knowledge and Awareness of Consent

Only 48% of college students know the correct definition of sexual consent
60% of sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator
55% of teens are unsure if a partner’s “yes” can be assumed if they are visibly drunk
65% of people believe that adults should be responsible for teaching children about consent
48% of adults say they don’t understand the nuances of sexual consent very well
88% of people agree that understanding consent is essential for healthy relationships
45% of young adults think that consent education should be part of the curriculum from middle school onwards
77% of college students support a clear verbal “yes” standard for consent
49% of adolescents feel they don’t have enough information about how to communicate boundaries
70% of parents believe that teaching children about consent is critical for preventing future abuse
61% of teens report feeling unsure about how to effectively communicate consent
79% of college students agree that teaching consent early can shape healthier attitudes
68% of surveyed adults think that consent should be explicitly verbal, not implied
50% of people surveyed believe that understanding consent can lower the risk of sexual assault
72% of college students believe that well-informed consent is fundamental to respectful sexual relationships
75% of individuals believe that consent education should start in middle school
58% of teachers believe that comprehensive consent education reduces bullying and harassment
72% of Americans think that technology can help in establishing clear consent, especially via new communication tools
67% of respondents said that understanding and respecting consent is essential for a healthy sex life

Knowledge and Awareness of Consent Interpretation

Despite widespread consensus that understanding and teaching consent are vital for healthy relationships, startling gaps persist—from only 48% of college students knowing its true meaning to over half of teens feeling ill-equipped to communicate boundaries, revealing that perhaps it’s time we prioritize clarity over clichés in both education and culture.

Support for Policies and Mandates on Consent

75% of college students support age-appropriate consent education
58% of adults support mandatory consent classes in high schools
70% of parents support discussing consent early in children’s education
73% of sexual health experts agree that consent education reduces sexual violence
83% of people believe that institutions should do more to promote understanding of consent
62% of young adults support consent workshops in high schools
54% of parents support lessons about consent in elementary school
65% of college students support mandatory consent workshops as part of orientation programs

Support for Policies and Mandates on Consent Interpretation

The overwhelming majority across age groups and sectors advocating for consent education highlights a growing recognition that understanding and discussing boundaries is essential not just for individual respect, but for fostering safer, more respectful communities from elementary school halls to college orientation sessions.

Understanding and Perception of Consent in Society

92% of Americans believe that clearly saying "no" is enough to communicate refusal
49% of women report feeling unsure about whether their partner understood or accepted their consent
67% of surveyed individuals believe that emphasizing enthusiastic consent can prevent sexual assault
59% of adults think that digital consent (via texting or social media) can be as significant as face-to-face consent
59% of young women and 52% of young men believe that societal norms need to better emphasize the importance of consent

Understanding and Perception of Consent in Society Interpretation

While a striking 92% recognize that a simple “no” should suffice, the lingering doubts and calls for clearer, enthusiastic, and digital consent highlight that understanding consent remains a work in progress, not just a matter of semantics but a societal imperative.