GITNUXREPORT 2025

Sexual Harrassment Statistics

Most women avoid reporting sexual harassment due to fear, shame, and retaliation.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Workplace sexual harassment can result in loss of income and employment for victims

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The financial cost of workplace sexual harassment to companies is estimated at $22 billion annually in the U.S. alone

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3 out of 4 women who experience sexual harassment suffer from depression or anxiety afterward

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Research indicates that victims of sexual harassment are 2.5 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts

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72% of victims state that the harassment negatively impacted their mental health

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Sexual harassment costs organizations an average of $130,000 per incident in legal fees and productivity loss

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Approximately 81% of women who experience sexual harassment do not report it to authorities

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In a 2020 survey, 60% of women reported experiencing sexual harassment at work

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Nearly 90% of women in the United States have reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime

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In a global study, 21% of women reported experiencing sexual harassment in public spaces

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Approximately 35% of sexual harassment cases involve perpetrators who are colleagues or supervisors

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About 25% of women aged 16–24 have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace

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Schools report that approximately 15% of students encounter sexual harassment during their school years

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75% of sexual harassment reports involve harassment via digital platforms or social media

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Women in male-dominated industries report higher rates of harassment, with up to 60% experiencing it at some point

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Sexual harassment claims increase by 15% during holiday seasons, according to HR reports

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65% of sexual harassment victims experience harassment from their direct supervisor

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88% of Americans believe that sexual harassment is widespread in their community

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54% of women who experience harassment report that it occurs in online dating contexts

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About 52% of college women report some form of sexual harassment during their university years

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In Europe, an estimated 62% of women have experienced sexual harassment since age 15

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Between 2010 and 2020, sexual harassment complaints increased by 35% in higher education institutions

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Digital harassment, including threats and non-consensual sharing of images, accounts for over 50% of online sexual harassment cases

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Countries with stronger workplace protections see 30% fewer incidents of reported sexual harassment

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Approximately 12% of sexual harassment complaints contain allegations of physical assault

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Harassment in sports environments affects about 37% of female athletes

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55% of women report that their harassment experiences occurred in the past 5 years

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In rural areas, the prevalence of sexual harassment is reported to be 20% higher than urban centers

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Up to 70% of sexual harassment incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation

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Only 20% of women who face workplace sexual harassment file formal complaints

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The average length of time before a victim reports sexual harassment is approximately 8 months

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Nearly 70% of sexual harassment victims delay reporting for fear of disbelief or judgment

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80% of sexual harassment allegations in the military remain unsubstantiated due to lack of evidence

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Only 4% of sexual harassment incidents are reported to law enforcement

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58% of victims do not believe that telling their employer will help or lead to adequate action

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Only 15% of sexual harassment cases reach court or result in legal proceedings

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18% of sexual harassment complaints are dismissed due to insufficient evidence

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Surveys indicate that most victims believe their case was mishandled or ignored by authorities

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Men are also victims, with about 15% of sexual harassment victims being male

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Female victims of sexual harassment at work are more likely to experience emotional distress and burnout

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50% of sexual harassment victims report feeling ashamed or embarrassed

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In the workplace, women with disabilities are twice as likely to experience sexual harassment

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About 26% of women who reported incidents of sexual harassment say they faced retaliation afterward

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Approximately 20% of women report that their first experience of sexual harassment happened before age 18

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The median age of victims reporting workplace sexual harassment is 29 years old

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40% of men who experience sexual harassment report feelings of shame or self-blame

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Girls under 16 are twice as likely to experience sexual harassment than boys of the same age

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Women are 3 times more likely to experience workplace sexual harassment than men

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92% of adult women and 87% of teenage girls report that they have been exposed to sexual content or harassment online

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The prevalence of sexual harassment is higher among minority women, with 65% experiencing it at some point

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65% of sexual harassment victims face secondary trauma after reporting incidents, such as social rejection or professional repercussions

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About 44% of college women who experience sexual harassment do not report it due to fear of impact on their academic standing

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Workplace sexual harassment leads to an estimated 9 million lost workdays per year in the U.S.

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Key Highlights

Approximately 81% of women who experience sexual harassment do not report it to authorities
In a 2020 survey, 60% of women reported experiencing sexual harassment at work
Up to 70% of sexual harassment incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation
Nearly 90% of women in the United States have reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime
Men are also victims, with about 15% of sexual harassment victims being male
Female victims of sexual harassment at work are more likely to experience emotional distress and burnout
In a global study, 21% of women reported experiencing sexual harassment in public spaces
Approximately 35% of sexual harassment cases involve perpetrators who are colleagues or supervisors
About 25% of women aged 16–24 have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace
Only 20% of women who face workplace sexual harassment file formal complaints
Schools report that approximately 15% of students encounter sexual harassment during their school years
50% of sexual harassment victims report feeling ashamed or embarrassed
75% of sexual harassment reports involve harassment via digital platforms or social media

Despite overwhelming evidence revealing that nearly 9 out of 10 women will experience sexual harassment in their lifetime, the silence kept by victims—due to fear, shame, and lack of faith in justice—continues to fuel an epidemic that destroys lives, careers, and communities worldwide.

Consequences, Costs, and Broader Societal Effects

Workplace sexual harassment can result in loss of income and employment for victims
The financial cost of workplace sexual harassment to companies is estimated at $22 billion annually in the U.S. alone
3 out of 4 women who experience sexual harassment suffer from depression or anxiety afterward
Research indicates that victims of sexual harassment are 2.5 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts
72% of victims state that the harassment negatively impacted their mental health
Sexual harassment costs organizations an average of $130,000 per incident in legal fees and productivity loss

Consequences, Costs, and Broader Societal Effects Interpretation

Clearly, workplace sexual harassment isn't just a moral failure but a costly epidemic—with victims bearing mental and financial scars, and companies paying the hefty price—highlighting that preventing harassment is both an ethical imperative and an economic necessity.

Prevalence and Incidence of Sexual Harassment

Approximately 81% of women who experience sexual harassment do not report it to authorities
In a 2020 survey, 60% of women reported experiencing sexual harassment at work
Nearly 90% of women in the United States have reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime
In a global study, 21% of women reported experiencing sexual harassment in public spaces
Approximately 35% of sexual harassment cases involve perpetrators who are colleagues or supervisors
About 25% of women aged 16–24 have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace
Schools report that approximately 15% of students encounter sexual harassment during their school years
75% of sexual harassment reports involve harassment via digital platforms or social media
Women in male-dominated industries report higher rates of harassment, with up to 60% experiencing it at some point
Sexual harassment claims increase by 15% during holiday seasons, according to HR reports
65% of sexual harassment victims experience harassment from their direct supervisor
88% of Americans believe that sexual harassment is widespread in their community
54% of women who experience harassment report that it occurs in online dating contexts
About 52% of college women report some form of sexual harassment during their university years
In Europe, an estimated 62% of women have experienced sexual harassment since age 15
Between 2010 and 2020, sexual harassment complaints increased by 35% in higher education institutions
Digital harassment, including threats and non-consensual sharing of images, accounts for over 50% of online sexual harassment cases
Countries with stronger workplace protections see 30% fewer incidents of reported sexual harassment
Approximately 12% of sexual harassment complaints contain allegations of physical assault
Harassment in sports environments affects about 37% of female athletes
55% of women report that their harassment experiences occurred in the past 5 years
In rural areas, the prevalence of sexual harassment is reported to be 20% higher than urban centers

Prevalence and Incidence of Sexual Harassment Interpretation

Despite over 80% of women choosing silence, these staggering statistics reveal that sexual harassment is an unquestionably pervasive issue across workplaces, schools, and online spaces—warranting urgent action and stronger protections to break the silence and foster safer environments for all.

Reporting, Legal, and Organizational Responses

Up to 70% of sexual harassment incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation
Only 20% of women who face workplace sexual harassment file formal complaints
The average length of time before a victim reports sexual harassment is approximately 8 months
Nearly 70% of sexual harassment victims delay reporting for fear of disbelief or judgment
80% of sexual harassment allegations in the military remain unsubstantiated due to lack of evidence
Only 4% of sexual harassment incidents are reported to law enforcement
58% of victims do not believe that telling their employer will help or lead to adequate action
Only 15% of sexual harassment cases reach court or result in legal proceedings
18% of sexual harassment complaints are dismissed due to insufficient evidence
Surveys indicate that most victims believe their case was mishandled or ignored by authorities

Reporting, Legal, and Organizational Responses Interpretation

Despite overwhelming silence and systemic obstacles, the staggering silence surrounding sexual harassment—where only a fraction of incidents are reported, prosecuted, or substantiated—reveals that fear and disbelief remain the dominant barriers to justice.

Victim Demographics and Vulnerable Groups

Men are also victims, with about 15% of sexual harassment victims being male
Female victims of sexual harassment at work are more likely to experience emotional distress and burnout
50% of sexual harassment victims report feeling ashamed or embarrassed
In the workplace, women with disabilities are twice as likely to experience sexual harassment
About 26% of women who reported incidents of sexual harassment say they faced retaliation afterward
Approximately 20% of women report that their first experience of sexual harassment happened before age 18
The median age of victims reporting workplace sexual harassment is 29 years old
40% of men who experience sexual harassment report feelings of shame or self-blame
Girls under 16 are twice as likely to experience sexual harassment than boys of the same age
Women are 3 times more likely to experience workplace sexual harassment than men
92% of adult women and 87% of teenage girls report that they have been exposed to sexual content or harassment online
The prevalence of sexual harassment is higher among minority women, with 65% experiencing it at some point

Victim Demographics and Vulnerable Groups Interpretation

While the statistics reveal that sexual harassment spans across gender, age, and background—highlighting that men and women alike suffer profound emotional scars, with women and minority groups bearing the heavier burden—it's imperative that we recognize these disturbing truths as a call to action to foster truly safe and equitable environments for all.

Workplace and Educational Environment Impact

65% of sexual harassment victims face secondary trauma after reporting incidents, such as social rejection or professional repercussions
About 44% of college women who experience sexual harassment do not report it due to fear of impact on their academic standing
Workplace sexual harassment leads to an estimated 9 million lost workdays per year in the U.S.

Workplace and Educational Environment Impact Interpretation

These sobering statistics reveal that while survivors often face secondary trauma and fear retaliation, the true cost extends beyond individual pain, crippling workplaces and educational institutions with millions of lost days and unspoken battles.