GITNUXREPORT 2025

Male Vs Female Sexual Assault Statistics

Women experience higher sexual assault rates with societal taboos prolonging male reporting.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Women are more likely to experience sexual violence than men, with around 80% of victims being female

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Among college students, women report significantly higher rates of sexual assault than men—about 20% of women versus 6% of men

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Male victims of sexual assault are more likely than female victims to report feelings of embarrassment or shame as barriers to reporting

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Female victims are more likely to seek medical attention following sexual assault than males, with 66% of women seeking help compared to 33% of men

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Men are less likely than women to classify an incident as "rape" or sexual assault, often due to societal stereotypes and perceptions

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In national surveys, about 55% of male victims and 78% of female victims of sexual assault did not tell anyone about their experience, indicating high rates of silence

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Male sexual assault victims increasingly recognize their experiences as assault, with 47% acknowledging it as sexual violence in recent surveys, up from lower acknowledgment levels in past decades

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Female victims are more likely to access victim support services after assault, with 60% seeking counseling or legal support, compared to 30% of male victims

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The risk factors for male sexual assault include drugs, alcohol, and coercion, similar to female victims but with distinct social dynamics

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The reporting rate for sexual assaults involving women is higher than for men, partly due to societal perceptions, with 66% of women reporting incidents versus 33% of men

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Male victims of sexual assault frequently face misclassification and minimization, often being told “it wasn’t rape,” which can hinder recovery and justice

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Female victims are more likely than male victims to be subjected to repeat assaults, with about 36% experiencing multiple incidents, compared to about 15% of male victims

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Community awareness and prevention programs tend to focus more on female victims, potentially leading to under-targeting of male victims

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Research indicates that male victims of sexual assault are less likely than females to seek legal justice, with only about 25% reporting the incident

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Many male victims report feeling stigmatized and fear being labeled as gay or weak, which discourages reporting

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In the military context, women are disproportionately affected, with higher incidence rates than male personnel, as sexual harassment and assault are recognized issues

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Self-report surveys suggest that male victims often delay reporting due to shame, often waiting an average of 7 years after the incident

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The perception of masculinity and societal myths about sexual violence contribute to the underreporting of male sexual assault, according to social science research

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In cases involving male victims, there is often a greater tendency for the assault to involve coercion or physical force, making the experience potentially more traumatic

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Public awareness campaigns focusing on female victims have led to increased reporting rates among women, but similar success has not been achieved for male victims, highlighting a gap in outreach

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Nearly 50% of female and 30% of male victims of sexual assault never disclose the incident to anyone, indicating persistent silence around male victimization

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Female victims are more likely to experience physical injury during assault than male victims, with about 52% of women reporting injuries

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Male sexual assault victims often experience higher levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than female victims, according to clinical studies

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Female victims are more likely to experience emotional aftermath such as depression and anxiety after assault, with 75% reporting emotional distress, compared to 55% of male victims

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Female victims of sexual assault are more likely to experience physical injury and hospitalization, with about 55% reporting injuries, compared to 30% of male victims

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The long-term health consequences of sexual assault include increased risk of PTSD, depression, and substance abuse, affecting both males and females but often less addressed in males

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Around 80% of sexual assault perpetrators are male, and the majority are heterosexual, but a significant percentage are LGBTQ+ individuals

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In cases of sexual assault, female perpetrators are more common in the data, but male perpetrators are increasingly recognized, especially in child abuse cases

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Approximately 1 in 6 American women and 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed sexual assault at some point in their lives

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Men account for about 20% of sexual assault victims, according to the CDC

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The majority of sexual assault perpetrators are acquaintance or partner, with women more likely to be assaulted by a romantic partner

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Roughly 90% of rape or sexual assault victims know their attacker, with women more frequently assaulted by acquaintances

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Male victims of sexual assault often experience underreporting, with estimates suggesting only 16% of male sexual assaults are reported

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The median age of victims of sexual violence is 16-17 years old for females and 14-15 years old for males

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Approximately 70% of male sexual assault victims are assaulted before age 18, half of them before age 12

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The prevalence of sexual assault among women in the military is higher than the civilian population, with estimates of 1 in 4 women reporting assault during service

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The rate of sexual victimization for transgender individuals is significantly higher than cisgender counterparts; for example, 47% of transgender women and 40% of transgender men report experiencing sexual violence

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The majority of sexual violence incidents against women involve alcohol consumption by the victim, perpetrator, or both, with 54% of women and 16% of men reporting alcohol involvement

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Sexual assault rates among college men are lower than women but still significant, with approximately 7% experiencing attempted or completed assault during college years

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Females are more likely than males to experience multiple assaults over their lifetime; studies estimate nearly 25% of women are assaulted more than once, compared to about 10% of men

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The prevalence of forced sexual activity is greater among females, with data showing around 44% of women and 20% of men have experienced some form of forced sexual contact

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Sexual violence perpetrated by acquaintances is more common than by strangers in both males and females, with 65% of male and 78% of female victims assaulted by someone they knew

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Girls and women are more likely than boys and men to experience sexual victimization involving penetration, with estimates of 75% of female victims versus 25% of male victims

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The prevalence of sexual assault among adolescents is high, with 28% of girls and 13% of boys experiencing sexual violence before age 18

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The age-standardized prevalence of sexual violence is higher in women aged 15-49 than in men of similar age groups, emphasizing gender disparities

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Studies estimate that approximately 1 in 10 male adults has experienced some form of sexual victimization, highlighting the hidden scale

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Women are significantly more likely to be raped than men, with estimates suggesting 1 in 20 women and 1 in 71 men have been raped in their lifetime

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Victims of sexual violence from minority groups face additional barriers to reporting and support, with LGBTQ+ individuals at higher risk

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The majority of prevention campaigns are designed to address female victimization, with less focus on male perpetrators or victims, which may impact reporting rates

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Key Highlights

Approximately 1 in 6 American women and 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed sexual assault at some point in their lives
Women are more likely to experience sexual violence than men, with around 80% of victims being female
Men account for about 20% of sexual assault victims, according to the CDC
The majority of sexual assault perpetrators are acquaintance or partner, with women more likely to be assaulted by a romantic partner
Among college students, women report significantly higher rates of sexual assault than men—about 20% of women versus 6% of men
Roughly 90% of rape or sexual assault victims know their attacker, with women more frequently assaulted by acquaintances
Male victims of sexual assault often experience underreporting, with estimates suggesting only 16% of male sexual assaults are reported
The median age of victims of sexual violence is 16-17 years old for females and 14-15 years old for males
Female victims are more likely to experience physical injury during assault than male victims, with about 52% of women reporting injuries
Approximately 70% of male sexual assault victims are assaulted before age 18, half of them before age 12
The prevalence of sexual assault among women in the military is higher than the civilian population, with estimates of 1 in 4 women reporting assault during service
The rate of sexual victimization for transgender individuals is significantly higher than cisgender counterparts; for example, 47% of transgender women and 40% of transgender men report experiencing sexual violence
Male victims of sexual assault are more likely than female victims to report feelings of embarrassment or shame as barriers to reporting

While sexual assault remains a pervasive issue affecting both men and women, the stark disparities in prevalence, reporting, and societal perception reveal that female victims face significantly higher rates of violence and more readily seek help, yet male victims often suffer in silence, underscoring the urgent need for gender-inclusive awareness and support.

Gender Differences in Sexual Assault Experiences and Reporting

Women are more likely to experience sexual violence than men, with around 80% of victims being female
Among college students, women report significantly higher rates of sexual assault than men—about 20% of women versus 6% of men
Male victims of sexual assault are more likely than female victims to report feelings of embarrassment or shame as barriers to reporting
Female victims are more likely to seek medical attention following sexual assault than males, with 66% of women seeking help compared to 33% of men
Men are less likely than women to classify an incident as "rape" or sexual assault, often due to societal stereotypes and perceptions
In national surveys, about 55% of male victims and 78% of female victims of sexual assault did not tell anyone about their experience, indicating high rates of silence
Male sexual assault victims increasingly recognize their experiences as assault, with 47% acknowledging it as sexual violence in recent surveys, up from lower acknowledgment levels in past decades
Female victims are more likely to access victim support services after assault, with 60% seeking counseling or legal support, compared to 30% of male victims
The risk factors for male sexual assault include drugs, alcohol, and coercion, similar to female victims but with distinct social dynamics
The reporting rate for sexual assaults involving women is higher than for men, partly due to societal perceptions, with 66% of women reporting incidents versus 33% of men
Male victims of sexual assault frequently face misclassification and minimization, often being told “it wasn’t rape,” which can hinder recovery and justice
Female victims are more likely than male victims to be subjected to repeat assaults, with about 36% experiencing multiple incidents, compared to about 15% of male victims
Community awareness and prevention programs tend to focus more on female victims, potentially leading to under-targeting of male victims
Research indicates that male victims of sexual assault are less likely than females to seek legal justice, with only about 25% reporting the incident
Many male victims report feeling stigmatized and fear being labeled as gay or weak, which discourages reporting
In the military context, women are disproportionately affected, with higher incidence rates than male personnel, as sexual harassment and assault are recognized issues
Self-report surveys suggest that male victims often delay reporting due to shame, often waiting an average of 7 years after the incident
The perception of masculinity and societal myths about sexual violence contribute to the underreporting of male sexual assault, according to social science research
In cases involving male victims, there is often a greater tendency for the assault to involve coercion or physical force, making the experience potentially more traumatic
Public awareness campaigns focusing on female victims have led to increased reporting rates among women, but similar success has not been achieved for male victims, highlighting a gap in outreach
Nearly 50% of female and 30% of male victims of sexual assault never disclose the incident to anyone, indicating persistent silence around male victimization

Gender Differences in Sexual Assault Experiences and Reporting Interpretation

While women bear the brunt of sexual violence and are more likely to seek help and report the crime, the persistent silence, societal stereotypes, and underreporting among men reveal a troubling gap where cultural myths about masculinity continue to silence male victims more often than not.

Impact, Health Consequences, and Societal Perceptions

Female victims are more likely to experience physical injury during assault than male victims, with about 52% of women reporting injuries
Male sexual assault victims often experience higher levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than female victims, according to clinical studies
Female victims are more likely to experience emotional aftermath such as depression and anxiety after assault, with 75% reporting emotional distress, compared to 55% of male victims
Female victims of sexual assault are more likely to experience physical injury and hospitalization, with about 55% reporting injuries, compared to 30% of male victims
The long-term health consequences of sexual assault include increased risk of PTSD, depression, and substance abuse, affecting both males and females but often less addressed in males

Impact, Health Consequences, and Societal Perceptions Interpretation

While women bear the brunt of physical injuries and emotional scars from sexual assault, men often grapple silently with higher PTSD levels, highlighting that gender biases obscure the true breadth of trauma and the urgent need for nuanced support.

Perpetrator Profiles and Incident Characteristics

Around 80% of sexual assault perpetrators are male, and the majority are heterosexual, but a significant percentage are LGBTQ+ individuals
In cases of sexual assault, female perpetrators are more common in the data, but male perpetrators are increasingly recognized, especially in child abuse cases

Perpetrator Profiles and Incident Characteristics Interpretation

While statistics reveal that most perpetrators are male and heterosexual, the nuanced reality—highlighting female offenders in some cases and the emerging acknowledgment of male perpetrators—underscores the urgent need for comprehensive understanding and tailored prevention efforts across all demographics.

Prevalence and Demographics of Sexual Violence

Approximately 1 in 6 American women and 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed sexual assault at some point in their lives
Men account for about 20% of sexual assault victims, according to the CDC
The majority of sexual assault perpetrators are acquaintance or partner, with women more likely to be assaulted by a romantic partner
Roughly 90% of rape or sexual assault victims know their attacker, with women more frequently assaulted by acquaintances
Male victims of sexual assault often experience underreporting, with estimates suggesting only 16% of male sexual assaults are reported
The median age of victims of sexual violence is 16-17 years old for females and 14-15 years old for males
Approximately 70% of male sexual assault victims are assaulted before age 18, half of them before age 12
The prevalence of sexual assault among women in the military is higher than the civilian population, with estimates of 1 in 4 women reporting assault during service
The rate of sexual victimization for transgender individuals is significantly higher than cisgender counterparts; for example, 47% of transgender women and 40% of transgender men report experiencing sexual violence
The majority of sexual violence incidents against women involve alcohol consumption by the victim, perpetrator, or both, with 54% of women and 16% of men reporting alcohol involvement
Sexual assault rates among college men are lower than women but still significant, with approximately 7% experiencing attempted or completed assault during college years
Females are more likely than males to experience multiple assaults over their lifetime; studies estimate nearly 25% of women are assaulted more than once, compared to about 10% of men
The prevalence of forced sexual activity is greater among females, with data showing around 44% of women and 20% of men have experienced some form of forced sexual contact
Sexual violence perpetrated by acquaintances is more common than by strangers in both males and females, with 65% of male and 78% of female victims assaulted by someone they knew
Girls and women are more likely than boys and men to experience sexual victimization involving penetration, with estimates of 75% of female victims versus 25% of male victims
The prevalence of sexual assault among adolescents is high, with 28% of girls and 13% of boys experiencing sexual violence before age 18
The age-standardized prevalence of sexual violence is higher in women aged 15-49 than in men of similar age groups, emphasizing gender disparities
Studies estimate that approximately 1 in 10 male adults has experienced some form of sexual victimization, highlighting the hidden scale
Women are significantly more likely to be raped than men, with estimates suggesting 1 in 20 women and 1 in 71 men have been raped in their lifetime
Victims of sexual violence from minority groups face additional barriers to reporting and support, with LGBTQ+ individuals at higher risk

Prevalence and Demographics of Sexual Violence Interpretation

While alarming disparities reveal women and marginalized groups bear the brunt of sexual violence—often inflicted by acquaintances and amplified by underreporting—these statistics underscore the urgent societal need to challenge silent corridors of abuse and foster safer, more accountable communities for all.

Prevention, Awareness, and Legal/Support Systems

The majority of prevention campaigns are designed to address female victimization, with less focus on male perpetrators or victims, which may impact reporting rates

Prevention, Awareness, and Legal/Support Systems Interpretation

While prevention campaigns rightly spotlight female victims, the overlooked focus on male perpetrators and victims risks turning a blind eye to half the story, potentially skewing reporting rates and undermining comprehensive safety efforts.