While the staggering statistic that one in six men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime is a crucial starting point, the often-overlooked reality of male rape encompasses far more than that single number, as revealed by a complex web of data on prevalence, perpetrators, and profound lasting impacts.
Key Takeaways
- According to the CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2010-2012 report, an estimated 1,267,000 men experienced rape through being made to penetrate someone else in the 12 months prior to the survey.
- Lifetime prevalence of rape by being made to penetrate for U.S. men is 4.8% according to NISVS 2010-2012.
- In the NISVS 2016/2017, 25.1 per 1,000 adult men experienced sexual violence other than rape in the past 12 months.
- NISVS 2010-2012 data indicates Black non-Hispanic men have a lifetime rape prevalence of 8.4% (made to penetrate).
- White non-Hispanic men have a 3.7% lifetime prevalence of being made to penetrate per NISVS.
- 23.3% of Hispanic men reported being made to penetrate in lifetime (NISVS).
- NISVS data shows perpetrators are female for 46.7% of male 'made to penetrate' cases.
- 52.4% of male rape victims report male perpetrators (NISVS).
- RAINN states 96% of male rape victims in juvenile facilities were victimized by staff or other inmates, mostly male.
- 68% of male victims report PTSD symptoms post-assault (1in6).
- Male survivors have 3-4 times higher suicide attempt rates (CDC).
- 50% of male rape victims develop clinical depression (meta-analysis).
- Only 23% of male victims ever tell anyone (1in6).
- 2.2% of male rapes are reported to police (BJS NCVS).
- RAINN: Of reported male rapes, only 5.7% lead to arrest.
Male rape is a widespread but severely underreported crime with lifelong consequences.
Health and Psychological Impacts
- 68% of male victims report PTSD symptoms post-assault (1in6).
- Male survivors have 3-4 times higher suicide attempt rates (CDC).
- 50% of male rape victims develop clinical depression (meta-analysis).
- 40% experience substance abuse issues post-assault (1in6).
- NISVS: 33.7% of male victims report injury requiring medical care.
- Male victims have 2.5x risk of chronic health problems like hypertension (BRFSS).
- 70% report sexual dysfunction lasting years (Journal of Interpersonal Violence).
- Childhood male sexual abuse linked to 4x obesity risk in adulthood (study).
- 55% of male survivors experience anxiety disorders (1in6).
- HIV/STI rates 2-3x higher among male survivors (CDC).
- 30% miss work for weeks post-assault (NCVS).
- Erectile dysfunction in 65% of male victims under 40 (urology study).
- 65% of male survivors report chronic pain (health study).
- 45% of survivors attempt suicide post-assault (meta-analysis).
Health and Psychological Impacts Interpretation
While these statistics paint a grim and clinical portrait of devastation, behind each percentage point lies a shattered human being whose trauma echoes relentlessly through his mind, body, and the very fabric of his life.
Legal and Reporting Statistics
- Only 23% of male victims ever tell anyone (1in6).
- 2.2% of male rapes are reported to police (BJS NCVS).
- RAINN: Of reported male rapes, only 5.7% lead to arrest.
- 94% of male juvenile facility rapes not reported (BJS PREA).
- UK conviction rate for male victim cases: 1.4% (CPS 2022).
- 86% of unreported male assaults due to fear of not being believed (1in6).
- Prison rape reports lead to prosecution in <2% cases (BJS).
- Male victims 3x less likely to have case forwarded for prosecution (UK MoJ).
- 70% of male survivors face victim-blaming when reporting (survey).
- Only 10% of male military assaults result in court-martial (WGRA).
- Lifetime reporting rate for male child sexual abuse: 16% (Finkelhor study).
- In 2021, U.S. male rape reports increased 10% but convictions dropped 5% (FBI UCR).
- 60% of male victims cite masculinity stigma as reporting barrier (1in6).
- Australian male reporting rate: 13% of assaults (ABS).
- Average time to disclose for male victims: 20 years (1in6).
- Only 38% of police-reported male cases lead to suspect identification (UK).
Legal and Reporting Statistics Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim portrait of male sexual assault as a crime where the system's default setting is disbelief, turning the quest for justice into a lonely, twenty-year marathon that almost no one is willing to run.
Perpetrator Characteristics
- NISVS data shows perpetrators are female for 46.7% of male 'made to penetrate' cases.
- 52.4% of male rape victims report male perpetrators (NISVS).
- RAINN states 96% of male rape victims in juvenile facilities were victimized by staff or other inmates, mostly male.
- 70% of perpetrators against boys are known to the victim, often family or acquaintances (RAINN).
- In prison, 69% of male staff perpetrators target male inmates (BJS PREA).
- 80% of adult male rape perpetrators were known to victim (NCVS).
- Female perpetrators against men are often intimate partners (79% per NISVS).
- 93% of boy victims know their perpetrator (RAINN).
- Military assaults: 81% by known service members, 58% male per WGRA.
- UK data: 90% of male child sexual abuse perpetrators are male.
- 41% of perpetrators against adult males are strangers (NCVS estimate).
- Repeat perpetrators account for 40% of male victimizations in prisons (BJS).
- 62% of female perpetrators against males used alcohol (NISVS).
- Average age of male perpetrators against boys is 28 (NSPCC).
- 28% of male victims assaulted by family members (RAINN).
- 75% of perpetrators use physical force against males (NISVS).
Perpetrator Characteristics Interpretation
While the data reveals that male victims face a significant threat from female perpetrators, particularly in intimate relationships, the overwhelming statistical narrative confirms that sexual violence against men and boys is predominantly a crime committed by other men, often those in positions of trust, authority, or proximity.
Prevalence and Incidence
- According to the CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2010-2012 report, an estimated 1,267,000 men experienced rape through being made to penetrate someone else in the 12 months prior to the survey.
- Lifetime prevalence of rape by being made to penetrate for U.S. men is 4.8% according to NISVS 2010-2012.
- In the NISVS 2016/2017, 25.1 per 1,000 adult men experienced sexual violence other than rape in the past 12 months.
- NISVS data shows that 1.1% of U.S. men reported being raped (penetrated) in their lifetime.
- A 2018 CDC report indicated that 10.5% of high school boys reported physical dating violence and 8.5% reported sexual dating violence.
- The 1in6 organization cites that 1 in 6 American men have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
- RAINN reports that 9% of all rape and sexual assault victims reported to law enforcement are male.
- According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) NCVS 2019, males accounted for 17% of rape/sexual assault victims age 12+.
- In England and Wales, year ending March 2022, there were 71,330 police-recorded sexual offences against male victims aged 16+.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey 2016 found 1.1% of men experienced sexual assault since age 15.
- WHO estimates that 7.2% of men worldwide have experienced sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
- A 2014 meta-analysis in Trauma, Violence, & Abuse found childhood sexual abuse prevalence among men at 7.6%.
- NISVS shows 50.5% of male rape victims experienced it before age 25.
- BJS reports that in state prisons, 4.3% of male inmates reported sexual victimization by staff in 2011.
- U.S. military 2018 WGRA found 6.2% of male service members experienced sexual assault in past year.
- NISVS 2010-2012, estimated 22.0 million U.S. men experienced some sexual violence.
- 2019 NCVS: 138,170 male rape/sexual assault victimizations reported.
Prevalence and Incidence Interpretation
Behind every chilling statistic like the 1 in 6 men facing contact sexual violence lies a vast, often silenced crisis, proving that male victimization is not a tragic anomaly but a pervasive and devastating reality.
Victim Demographics
- NISVS 2010-2012 data indicates Black non-Hispanic men have a lifetime rape prevalence of 8.4% (made to penetrate).
- White non-Hispanic men have a 3.7% lifetime prevalence of being made to penetrate per NISVS.
- 23.3% of Hispanic men reported being made to penetrate in lifetime (NISVS).
- Men aged 18-24 have the highest 12-month rape prevalence at 2.1% (NISVS).
- 1in6.org notes that half of male survivors experienced their first assault as a child (under 18).
- RAINN data shows 44% of male victims are under age 18 at time of assault.
- In UK ONS data, 20% of male sexual assault victims were aged 10-19.
- BJS NCVS indicates 21% of male rape victims are aged 12-17.
- Gay and bisexual men have 2-3 times higher rates of sexual violence than heterosexual men (1in6).
- 54% of transgender men reported lifetime sexual assault (2015 U.S. Transgender Survey).
- Rural men have higher sexual violence rates (14.8 per 1,000) vs urban (8.4 per 1,000) per BRFSS.
- 35% of male survivors are married or in a committed relationship (1in6 survey).
- College men: 6.6% experienced nonconsensual sexual contact since entering college (CSA study).
- 12.5% of male undergraduate students reported attempted or completed sexual assault (2019 AAU).
- Multiracial men have 11.5% lifetime made-to-penetrate rate (NISVS).
- Men in poverty have 2x sexual assault rate (NCVS).
Victim Demographics Interpretation
While these statistics unveil the harsh and often hidden contours of male sexual victimization—with stark disparities across race, age, sexuality, and geography—they collectively form a damning indictment of the singular myth that men are impervious to such violation.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 21IN61in6.orgVisit source
- Reference 3RAINNrainn.orgVisit source
- Reference 4BJSbjs.ojp.govVisit source
- Reference 5GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 6ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 7WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 8JOURNALSjournals.sagepub.comVisit source
- Reference 9SAPRsapr.milVisit source
- Reference 10ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 11TRANSEQUALITYtransequality.orgVisit source
- Reference 12SCIENCEDIRECTsciencedirect.comVisit source
- Reference 13AAUaau.eduVisit source
- Reference 14NSPCCnspcc.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 15PUBMEDpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 16CPScps.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 17ASSETSassets.publishing.service.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 18MENCANSTOPRAPEmencanstoprape.orgVisit source
- Reference 19CDEcde.ucr.cjis.govVisit source