Key Highlights
- An estimated 1 in 6 American women experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime
- About 1 in 33 American men has experienced an attempt or completed rape in his lifetime
- On average, 317 women are raped in the United States every day
- Nearly 80% of women who are raped are raped by an acquaintance
- Rape is most often committed by someone the victim knows, with approximately 60% of rapes involving a known attacker
- About 60% of women who are raped know their attacker
- Less than half of sexual assault incidents are reported to the police
- The majority of sexual assault survivors (approximately 85%) do not report to law enforcement
- The CDC estimates that up to 44% of rapes are reported to police
- Among college students, approximately 23% of women and 5% of men report experiencing rape or sexual assault during college years
- Sexual assault is most prevalent among women aged 18-24
- The majority of sexual assaults occur in the victim’s home or a familiar place, not in public
- Approximately 94% of adult survivors of sexual assault have experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Despite overwhelming statistics revealing that approximately 1 in 6 American women and 1 in 33 men will experience sexual assault in their lifetime—with most assaults happening at the hands of someone they know—underreporting and societal stigma continue to hide the true extent and devastating impact of this pervasive crime.
Impacts on Survivors’ Health and Well-being
- Approximately 94% of adult survivors of sexual assault have experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Over 80% of sexual assault survivors experience some form of physical injury
- Sexual violence can have long-term impacts including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation
- About 38% of female victims and 34% of male victims experience depression after assault
- Only about 27% of sexual assault survivors receive any post-assault medical attention
- According to NISVS, 86% of women and 93% of men who experienced sexual violence reported adverse psychological or emotional effects
- In the U.S., only about 13% of sexual assault victims seek counseling or therapy, indicating low disclosure rates
- Over 80% of college students who have experienced sexual violence report negative academic impacts, including withdrawal and declining grades
- About 80% of sexual assault survivors suffer from feelings of shame and self-blame, which can hinder reporting and recovery
- Survivors of sexual violence are more likely to experience chronic health problems, including gynecological issues, chronic pain, and headaches
- People with mental health conditions are at a higher risk of experiencing sexual violence, according to recent studies
- The economic impact of sexual assault on victims includes healthcare costs, lost wages, and legal expenses, totaling billions annually
- Many sexual assault survivors experience revictimization, either within the criminal justice process or through repeated assaults, which complicates healing
- The mental health consequences of sexual assault can include trauma, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, affecting long-term well-being
- Many sexual assault survivors face barriers like trauma, stigma, and lack of support that hinder their ability to disclose or seek help
Impacts on Survivors’ Health and Well-being Interpretation
Despite overwhelming evidence of its devastating physical and mental toll—from PTSD and depression to chronic health issues—only a fraction of survivors seek medical or psychological help, highlighting a silence fueled by shame, stigma, and systemic barriers that perpetuate the cycle of suffering and hinder healing.
Perpetrator Characteristics and Victim-Perp Relationships
- Nearly 80% of women who are raped are raped by an acquaintance
- Rape is most often committed by someone the victim knows, with approximately 60% of rapes involving a known attacker
- About 60% of women who are raped know their attacker
- For every 1,000 rapes, approximately 230 perpetrators are convicted
- Sexual assault victims aged 12-17 are more likely to know their attacker than other age groups
- About 55% of male victims and nearly 90% of female victims of sexual assault knew their attacker
- The majority of perpetrators are males, accounting for more than 98% of offenders in reported cases
- Approximately 27% of sexual assault victims are assaulted by an intimate partner
- Only 1 in 10 rapes involve a stranger, highlighting the importance of knowing the attacker
- The majority of sexual assault cases involve domestic violence or abuse within relationships, emphasizing the need for targeted intervention programs
- Around 90% of rapes are committed by men, indicating a gendered pattern of sexual violence
Perpetrator Characteristics and Victim-Perp Relationships Interpretation
With nearly 80% of women assaulted by acquaintances—often someone they knew—these statistics underscore that in the vast majority of cases, the threat often lurks not outside our circles, but within our most trusted environments, calling for a shift from stranger danger to addressing the pervasive menace of known perpetrators.
Prevalence and Demographics of Sexual Assault
- An estimated 1 in 6 American women experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime
- About 1 in 33 American men has experienced an attempt or completed rape in his lifetime
- On average, 317 women are raped in the United States every day
- Among college students, approximately 23% of women and 5% of men report experiencing rape or sexual assault during college years
- Sexual assault is most prevalent among women aged 18-24
- The majority of sexual assaults occur in the victim’s home or a familiar place, not in public
- About 1 in 2 women with disabilities will experience sexual assault during their lifetime
- Rape accounted for 7% of all violent crimes in 2020, according to FBI data
- Nearly 70% of sexual assaults happen to individuals under age 25
- The median age of sexual assault victims is 16 years old
- Approximately 9 out of 10 victims of serial rapists are women
- Men victims of sexual assault often face even more underreporting compared to women
- The risk of sexual violence is higher when alcohol or drugs are involved, with more than 50% of forcible rapes involving alcohol
- Approximately 70% of sexual assaults occur at night, mainly in private or secluded places
- Women with disabilities are more than twice as likely to experience sexual assault than women without disabilities
- Worldwide, an estimated 15 million girls under 18 have experienced forced sexual acts
- The average age of first victimization for sexual assault is approximately 16 years old
- The majority of sexual assault cases involve assaults without weapons, but use of force and physical violence are common
- Data suggests that children as young as 3 years old have been victims of sexual abuse, though rare, showing the need for early intervention
- The estimated prevalence of childhood sexual abuse is approximately 10-20% among males and females globally
- LGBTQ+ individuals face higher risks of sexual violence, with some studies suggesting they are up to three times more likely to experience sexual assault than heterosexual individuals
- Historically marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples, experience disproportionately higher rates of sexual violence compared to the general population
- Approximately 1 in 4 women in the military have experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault during their military service
- The prevalence of sexual assault among transgender individuals is higher than in the cisgender population, with some studies suggesting up to 50% experience some form of sexual violence
Prevalence and Demographics of Sexual Assault Interpretation
With staggering statistics revealing that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men in the U.S. face sexual violence—often in familiar spaces and under the cover of darkness—it's clear that societal awareness, prevention, and support systems must become as mainstream as the alarming realities they aim to combat.
Reporting, Legal, and Criminal Justice Aspects
- Less than half of sexual assault incidents are reported to the police
- The majority of sexual assault survivors (approximately 85%) do not report to law enforcement
- The CDC estimates that up to 44% of rapes are reported to police
- Only about 11% of rapes are reported to law enforcement, according to the CDC
- Among college women who experience sexual assault, less than 20% report the assault
- The likelihood of reporting sexual assault increases with the severity of the assault, but many victims still choose not to report
- In cases where the perpetrator is a peer at school, about 60% of victims do not report the assault
- Victims of sexual assault who are under 18 are less likely to report the incident than adult victims, highlighting age-related reporting disparities
- The criminal justice response to sexual assault cases often results in low prosecution rates, with about 23% leading to convictions
- The majority of sexual assault cases go unnoticed due to societal stigma and fear of retaliation, which significantly impedes justice
Reporting, Legal, and Criminal Justice Aspects Interpretation
Despite the alarming prevalence of sexual assault, a staggering silence persists—less than one in five victims reports their ordeal, revealing that societal stigmas, fear, and age-related barriers continue to silence the majority, leaving justice often out of reach.
Sources & References
- Reference 1RAINNResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 2CDCResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 3FBIResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 4UNICEFResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 5WHOResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 6NATIVEPARTNERSHIPResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 7VETERANSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source