GITNUXREPORT 2026

Unreported Sexual Assault Statistics

Most sexual assaults go unreported due to fear, shame, and a belief that reporting won't help.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

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50% of victims develop PTSD.

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94% suffer emotional distress.

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33% of victims contemplate suicide.

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30% develop depression.

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Victims 4x more likely substance abuse.

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70% experience revictimization risk.

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Economic cost: $127B annually US.

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40% physical injuries.

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Child victims: lifelong health issues.

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50% STD risk increase.

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Sleep disorders in 60%.

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Relationship problems 80%.

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Work absenteeism doubled.

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Unreported leads to 2x mental health costs.

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Males: higher suicide post-assault.

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Trans victims: 2.5x depression.

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Campus: 50% dropout risk.

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Military: discharge rates high.

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Native: community health decline.

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Disabled: isolation worsens.

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Elderly: mortality increase.

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Children: academic failure 40%.

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37% victims use ED services.

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Lifetime lost productivity: $3.8T.

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Lifetime prevalence of sexual violence: 1 in 5 women, most unreported.

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1 in 6 American women raped in lifetime.

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81% of women and 43% of men report some sexual victimization.

Statistic 28

Every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted.

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21% of female undergrads experience sexual assault.

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12.8% of female students report rape.

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5.2% of men experience sexual violence other than rape.

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Global: 1 in 3 women experience sexual violence.

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US: 1 in 4 girls sexually abused before 18.

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1 in 13 males sexually abused before 18.

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91% of child sexual abuse victims female.

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35% of women worldwide experienced sexual violence.

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College women: 20-25% assaulted.

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Military women: 24% assaulted.

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Native women: 2.2x higher rate.

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Disabled women: 3x more likely.

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Transgender: 47% lifetime assault.

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Prison inmates: 4.4% sexual victimization.

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Elderly women: 3-11% prevalence.

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Rural women: higher incidence than urban.

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Online sexual exploitation: 1 in 7 children.

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Workplace: 25% women harassed.

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Dating violence: 1 in 3 teens.

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Alcohol involved in 50% college assaults.

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Repeat victimization: 50-70%.

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Annual US assaults: 433,000.

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Child sexual abuse: 1 in 10 children.

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Male college: 3% rape victims.

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73% of assaults before age 25.

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Fear of not being believed is top reason (60%).

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Fear of perpetrator (50%).

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Shame/embarrassment (45%).

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Belief it won't help (42%).

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Privacy concerns (35%).

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Relationship to perp (30%).

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Lack of evidence (28%).

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Fear of revenge (25%).

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Distrust of police (20%).

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Drug/alcohol involvement (18%).

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Cultural stigma (15% immigrants).

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Youth: fear of punishment (40%).

Statistic 66

Males: masculinity fears (55%).

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LGBTQ: discrimination fear (65%).

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Campus: academic repercussions (30%).

Statistic 69

Military: career damage (70%).

Statistic 70

Disabled: dependency (50%).

Statistic 71

Elderly: family burden (45%).

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Native: jurisdictional issues (60%).

Statistic 73

Rural: isolation (35%).

Statistic 74

Victims under 12: grooming (75%).

Statistic 75

Intimate partner: love/hope (40%).

Statistic 76

Acquaintance: friendship loss (32%).

Statistic 77

Workplace: job loss fear (48%).

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Online victims: shame (55%).

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Repeat victims: hopelessness (60%).

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40% fear retaliation.

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30% feel partially responsible.

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Only 31% of all sexual assaults are reported to police.

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Approximately 2 out of 3 sexual assaults go unreported.

Statistic 84

63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police.

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Only 23% of sexual assaults against females aged 12+ are reported.

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77% of rapes or sexual assaults are not reported to law enforcement.

Statistic 87

Just 40% of rapes are reported within 24 hours.

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70% of sexual violence goes unreported.

Statistic 89

Only 25% of child sexual abuse is reported to authorities.

Statistic 90

90% of adult rape victims were raped by someone they knew.

Statistic 91

Fewer than 1 in 3 sexual assaults are reported.

Statistic 92

65% of sexual assaults on campus go unreported.

Statistic 93

Only 20% of transgender individuals report sexual assault.

Statistic 94

82% of juvenile victims do not report sexual assault.

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60% of assaults on Native American women are unreported.

Statistic 96

75% of military sexual assaults go unreported.

Statistic 97

Only 35% of assaults by intimate partners are reported.

Statistic 98

50% of stranger assaults are reported vs. 25% acquaintance.

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68% of assaults on disabled women unreported.

Statistic 100

Underreporting rate for male victims is 90%.

Statistic 101

55% of workplace sexual assaults unreported.

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Only 12% of child sexual abuse by family reported immediately.

Statistic 103

80% of online grooming assaults unreported.

Statistic 104

45% of elderly sexual assaults unreported.

Statistic 105

Rural areas have 70% unreported rate.

Statistic 106

Urban reporting 28%, rural 19%.

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67% of assaults in prisons unreported.

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College reporting rate: 5-28%.

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85% of acquaintance rapes unreported.

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96% of school staff sexual assaults unreported by victims.

Statistic 111

International average unreported: 80-90%.

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Women 18-24: 50% cite disbelief.

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82% of juvenile victims female.

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Black women: 22% lifetime rape.

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White women: 18.8%.

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Hispanic women: 14.6%.

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Male victims: 3% lifetime rape.

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Ages 12-34: 79% of victims.

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College age women: 1 in 5.

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Native American women: 34.1%.

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Disabled females: 4x rate.

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Trans women: 50% assaulted.

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Low-income women: higher rates.

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Single mothers: 2x risk.

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LGBTQ youth: 2-3x.

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Military women: 1 in 4.

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Prison females: 3.6%.

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Elderly females: 7%.

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Rural females: 25% higher.

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Immigrant women: underreported demo.

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Teens 14-17: 50% assaults.

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Children under 12: 60% by family.

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Males 18-24: 5%.

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Bisexual women: 46%.

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Lesbian women: 13%.

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Gay men: 20%.

Sources
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Behind the chilling statistics lies a silent epidemic, as the vast majority of sexual assaults happen in the shadows, never reaching a police report.

Key Takeaways

  • Only 31% of all sexual assaults are reported to police.
  • Approximately 2 out of 3 sexual assaults go unreported.
  • 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police.
  • Lifetime prevalence of sexual violence: 1 in 5 women, most unreported.
  • 1 in 6 American women raped in lifetime.
  • 81% of women and 43% of men report some sexual victimization.
  • Fear of not being believed is top reason (60%).
  • Fear of perpetrator (50%).
  • Shame/embarrassment (45%).
  • Women 18-24: 50% cite disbelief.
  • 82% of juvenile victims female.
  • Black women: 22% lifetime rape.
  • 50% of victims develop PTSD.
  • 94% suffer emotional distress.
  • 33% of victims contemplate suicide.

Most sexual assaults go unreported due to fear, shame, and a belief that reporting won't help.

Impact Statistics

  • 50% of victims develop PTSD.
  • 94% suffer emotional distress.
  • 33% of victims contemplate suicide.
  • 30% develop depression.
  • Victims 4x more likely substance abuse.
  • 70% experience revictimization risk.
  • Economic cost: $127B annually US.
  • 40% physical injuries.
  • Child victims: lifelong health issues.
  • 50% STD risk increase.
  • Sleep disorders in 60%.
  • Relationship problems 80%.
  • Work absenteeism doubled.
  • Unreported leads to 2x mental health costs.
  • Males: higher suicide post-assault.
  • Trans victims: 2.5x depression.
  • Campus: 50% dropout risk.
  • Military: discharge rates high.
  • Native: community health decline.
  • Disabled: isolation worsens.
  • Elderly: mortality increase.
  • Children: academic failure 40%.
  • 37% victims use ED services.
  • Lifetime lost productivity: $3.8T.

Impact Statistics Interpretation

These statistics are a chilling ledger of suffering, proving that an unreported sexual assault is not a closed case but a debt that compounds in human pain and societal cost with devastating interest.

Incidence Rates

  • Lifetime prevalence of sexual violence: 1 in 5 women, most unreported.
  • 1 in 6 American women raped in lifetime.
  • 81% of women and 43% of men report some sexual victimization.
  • Every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted.
  • 21% of female undergrads experience sexual assault.
  • 12.8% of female students report rape.
  • 5.2% of men experience sexual violence other than rape.
  • Global: 1 in 3 women experience sexual violence.
  • US: 1 in 4 girls sexually abused before 18.
  • 1 in 13 males sexually abused before 18.
  • 91% of child sexual abuse victims female.
  • 35% of women worldwide experienced sexual violence.
  • College women: 20-25% assaulted.
  • Military women: 24% assaulted.
  • Native women: 2.2x higher rate.
  • Disabled women: 3x more likely.
  • Transgender: 47% lifetime assault.
  • Prison inmates: 4.4% sexual victimization.
  • Elderly women: 3-11% prevalence.
  • Rural women: higher incidence than urban.
  • Online sexual exploitation: 1 in 7 children.
  • Workplace: 25% women harassed.
  • Dating violence: 1 in 3 teens.
  • Alcohol involved in 50% college assaults.
  • Repeat victimization: 50-70%.
  • Annual US assaults: 433,000.
  • Child sexual abuse: 1 in 10 children.
  • Male college: 3% rape victims.
  • 73% of assaults before age 25.

Incidence Rates Interpretation

If the sheer, chilling volume of these statistics were a sound, it would be the deafening silence of crimes society has conditioned us to suffer through, rather than speak out about.

Reasons for Non-Reporting

  • Fear of not being believed is top reason (60%).
  • Fear of perpetrator (50%).
  • Shame/embarrassment (45%).
  • Belief it won't help (42%).
  • Privacy concerns (35%).
  • Relationship to perp (30%).
  • Lack of evidence (28%).
  • Fear of revenge (25%).
  • Distrust of police (20%).
  • Drug/alcohol involvement (18%).
  • Cultural stigma (15% immigrants).
  • Youth: fear of punishment (40%).
  • Males: masculinity fears (55%).
  • LGBTQ: discrimination fear (65%).
  • Campus: academic repercussions (30%).
  • Military: career damage (70%).
  • Disabled: dependency (50%).
  • Elderly: family burden (45%).
  • Native: jurisdictional issues (60%).
  • Rural: isolation (35%).
  • Victims under 12: grooming (75%).
  • Intimate partner: love/hope (40%).
  • Acquaintance: friendship loss (32%).
  • Workplace: job loss fear (48%).
  • Online victims: shame (55%).
  • Repeat victims: hopelessness (60%).
  • 40% fear retaliation.
  • 30% feel partially responsible.

Reasons for Non-Reporting Interpretation

The chilling truth behind these statistics is that our society has built a labyrinth of shame, fear, and institutional failure so daunting that the act of reporting a sexual assault often feels more perilous than the silence it seeks to break.

Reporting Rates

  • Only 31% of all sexual assaults are reported to police.
  • Approximately 2 out of 3 sexual assaults go unreported.
  • 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police.
  • Only 23% of sexual assaults against females aged 12+ are reported.
  • 77% of rapes or sexual assaults are not reported to law enforcement.
  • Just 40% of rapes are reported within 24 hours.
  • 70% of sexual violence goes unreported.
  • Only 25% of child sexual abuse is reported to authorities.
  • 90% of adult rape victims were raped by someone they knew.
  • Fewer than 1 in 3 sexual assaults are reported.
  • 65% of sexual assaults on campus go unreported.
  • Only 20% of transgender individuals report sexual assault.
  • 82% of juvenile victims do not report sexual assault.
  • 60% of assaults on Native American women are unreported.
  • 75% of military sexual assaults go unreported.
  • Only 35% of assaults by intimate partners are reported.
  • 50% of stranger assaults are reported vs. 25% acquaintance.
  • 68% of assaults on disabled women unreported.
  • Underreporting rate for male victims is 90%.
  • 55% of workplace sexual assaults unreported.
  • Only 12% of child sexual abuse by family reported immediately.
  • 80% of online grooming assaults unreported.
  • 45% of elderly sexual assaults unreported.
  • Rural areas have 70% unreported rate.
  • Urban reporting 28%, rural 19%.
  • 67% of assaults in prisons unreported.
  • College reporting rate: 5-28%.
  • 85% of acquaintance rapes unreported.
  • 96% of school staff sexual assaults unreported by victims.
  • International average unreported: 80-90%.

Reporting Rates Interpretation

We are surrounded by an ocean of silent suffering, where the vast majority of sexual assaults become a muted crime known only to the victim and the perpetrator.

Victim Demographics

  • Women 18-24: 50% cite disbelief.
  • 82% of juvenile victims female.
  • Black women: 22% lifetime rape.
  • White women: 18.8%.
  • Hispanic women: 14.6%.
  • Male victims: 3% lifetime rape.
  • Ages 12-34: 79% of victims.
  • College age women: 1 in 5.
  • Native American women: 34.1%.
  • Disabled females: 4x rate.
  • Trans women: 50% assaulted.
  • Low-income women: higher rates.
  • Single mothers: 2x risk.
  • LGBTQ youth: 2-3x.
  • Military women: 1 in 4.
  • Prison females: 3.6%.
  • Elderly females: 7%.
  • Rural females: 25% higher.
  • Immigrant women: underreported demo.
  • Teens 14-17: 50% assaults.
  • Children under 12: 60% by family.
  • Males 18-24: 5%.
  • Bisexual women: 46%.
  • Lesbian women: 13%.
  • Gay men: 20%.

Victim Demographics Interpretation

This grim ledger of silence and suffering reveals a brutal, intersectional truth: while sexual violence spares no one, it feasts most cruelly on those society has already taught to whisper—the young, the marginalized, and the disbelieved.