Every year, perpetrators sexually abuse tens of thousands of U.S. children and teens. These experiences can leave lasting emotional, psychological, and physical scars.
Key statistics about child and teen sexual abuse show us:
- Who is most at risk
- What the long-term impacts look like
- How often the perpetrator is someone the child knows and trusts
Understanding these facts is an essential step toward prevention, intervention, and lasting support for survivors.
Child Sexual Abuse Is a Widespread Problem
Every 74 seconds,
someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Every nine minutes, that someone is a child.1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019–2022.
See More Facts & Statistics63,000 children a year were victims of sexual abuse.
From 2009-2013, Child Protective Services agencies substantiated or found strong evidence to indicate that 63,000 children a year were victims of sexual abuse. 1United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. Child Maltreatment Survey, 2016 (2018).
See More Facts & StatisticsLearn to Recognize Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is a serious crime with lasting impacts. Learn to recognize the warning signs of abuse and where to get help.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español.
Teens Face the Highest Risk of Experiencing Child Sexual Abuse
66% of victims under 18
are age 12-17. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sex Offenses and Offenders (1997).
See More Facts & Statistics34% of victims under 18 are younger than age 12.
are younger than age 12. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sex Offenses and Offenders (1997).
See More Facts & StatisticsGirls & Boys Both Experience Child Sexual Abuse
1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys
under 18 experience sexual abuse or assault. 1David Finkelhor, Anne Shattuck, Heather A. Turner, & Sherry L. Hamby, The Lifetime Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Assessed in Late Adolescence, 55 Journal of Adolescent Health 329, 329-333 (2014).
See More Facts & Statistics82% of all victims under 18 are female.
1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement (2000). See More Facts & StatisticsFemales ages 16-19 are 4X more likely
than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sex Offenses and Offenders (1997).
See More Facts & StatisticsThe Long-Term Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse
The effects of child sexual abuse can be long-lasting and affect the victim’s mental health. Victims are more likely than non-victims to experience the following mental health challenges:
4X
Victims of sexual violence are 4 times more likely than non-victims to develop symptoms of drug abuse. 1H.M Zinzow, H.S. Resnick, J.L. McCauley, A.B. Amstadter, K.J. Ruggiero, & D.G. Kilpatrick, Prevalence and risk of psychiatric disorders as a function of variant rape histories: results from a national survey of women. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 47(6), 893-902 (2012).
3X
Victims of sexual violence are 3x more likely to experience a major depressive episode as adults. 2H.M Zinzow, H.S. Resnick, J.L. McCauley, A.B. Amstadter, K.J. Ruggiero, & D.G. Kilpatrick, Prevalence and risk of psychiatric disorders as a function of variant rape histories: results from a national survey of women. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 47(6), 893-902 (2012).
4X
Victims of sexual violence are 4 times more likely to experience PTSD as adults. 3H.M Zinzow, H.S. Resnick, J.L. McCauley, A.B. Amstadter, K.J. Ruggiero, & D.G. Kilpatrick, Prevalence and risk of psychiatric disorders as a function of variant rape histories: results from a national survey of women. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 47(6), 893-902 (2012).
Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse Are Often Related to the Victim
Scope of the Problem
93% of victims under 18 know their abuser.
Of sexual abuse cases reported to law enforcement, 93% of juvenile victims knew the perpetrator: 59% were acquaintances, 34% were family members, and only 7% were strangers to the victim. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement (2000).
See More Facts & Statistics47,000 Men & 5,000 Women
Out of the sexual abuse cases reported to CPS in 2013, 47,000 men and 5,000 women were the alleged perpetrators. 1United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. Child Maltreatment Survey. Exhibit 5-2 Selected Maltreatment Types by Perpetrator’s Sex. Page 65. (2013).
See More Facts & StatisticsWhen CPS investigates a claim and substantiates or finds supporting evidence of child sexual abuse:
88% of CSA perpetrators were male.
When CPS investigates a claim and substantiates or finds supporting evidence of child sexual abuse, 88% of CSA perpetrators were male. 1United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. Child Maltreatment Survey. Exhibit 5-2 Selected Maltreatment Types by Perpetrator’s Sex. Page 65. (2013).
See More Facts & Statistics9% of CSA perpetrators were female.
When CPS investigates a claim and substantiates or finds supporting evidence of child sexual abuse, 9% of CSA perpetrators were female. 1United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. Child Maltreatment Survey. Exhibit 5-2 Selected Maltreatment Types by Perpetrator’s Sex. Page 65. (2013).
See More Facts & StatisticsOnly 3% of CSA perpetrators were unknown.
When CPS investigates a claim and substantiates or finds supporting evidence of child sexual abuse, only 3% of CSA perpetrators were unknown. 1United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. Child Maltreatment Survey. Exhibit 5-2 Selected Maltreatment Types by Perpetrator’s Sex. Page 65. (2013).
See More Facts & StatisticsSee more statistics:
RAINN presents this data for educational purposes only and strongly recommends using the citations to review sources for more information and detail.