Sexual Violence Affects Millions of Americans
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 & Statistics423K
An estimated 423,020 people age 12+ experience sexual violence each year in the U.S.
See More Facts & StatisticsIf 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.
Younger People Face the Highest Risk of Sexual Violence
69% of sexual assault victims are between the ages of 12-34.
15% of victims are ages 12-17; 54% are 18-34. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sex Offenses and Offenders (1997).
See More Facts & StatisticsLearn to Recognize Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is a serious crime with lasting impacts. Learn how to recognize the signs, what counts as abuse, and where to get help.
3% of victims are age 65+.
Seniors are 92% less likely than ages 12-24 to experience sexual violence. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Crimes Against the Elderly, 2003-2013 (2014).
See More Facts & StatisticsWomen & Girls Experience Sexual Violence at High Rates
1 in 6 U.S. women
has experienced attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. 1National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey (1998).
Millions of Women in the U.S. Have Experienced Rape
An estimated 17.7 million American women had been victims
of attempted or completed rape as of 1998. 1National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey (1998).
See More Facts & StatisticsYoung Women are Especially at Risk
82% of all juvenile victims are female.
90% of adult rape victims 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 & Statistics18-24 Female College Students are at 3X the Risk
Women ages 18-24 who are college students are 3 times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Rape and Sexual Victimization Among College-Aged Females, 1995-2013 (2014).
See More Facts & StatisticsRead more statistics about campus sexual violence
Men & Boys Are Also Affected by Sexual Violence
1 out of every 10 rape victims are male.
1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019–2023. See More Facts & Statistics2.78 million men in the U.S. had been victims
of attempted or completed rape as of 1998. 1National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey (1998).
See More Facts & Statistics1 in 33 men has experienced attempted or completed rape.
About 3% of U.S. men have experienced attempted or completed rape. 1National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey (1998).
See More Facts & StatisticsMale college students 5X more likely to be a victim.
Males ages 18-24 who are college students are approximately 5X more likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Rape and Sexual Victimization Among College-Aged Females, 1995-2013 (2014).
See More Facts & StatisticsIndigenous Americans Are at the Greatest Risk of Sexual Violence
5,900 sexual assaults against Indigenous Americans yearly.
On average, Indigenous Americans ages 12 and older experience 5,900 sexual assaults per year 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, American Indians and Crime, 1992-2002 (2004).
See More Facts & StatisticsSexual assault is 2X more likely for Indigenous Americans.
Indigenous Americans are twice as likely to experience a rape/sexual assault compared to all races. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, American Indians and Crime, 1992-2002 (2004).
See More Facts & Statistics41% of sexual assaults against Indigenous Americans
are committed by a stranger; 34% by an acquaintance; and 25% by an intimate partner or family member. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, American Indians and Crime, 1992-2002 (2004).
See More Facts & StatisticsSexual Violence Affects Thousands of Incarcerated People Across the U.S.
The Criminal Justice System
80,600 incarcerated people are sexually assaulted annually.
An estimated 80,600 inmates each year experience sexual violence while in prison or jail. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011-2012 (2013).
See More Facts & Statistics60% of sexual violence against inmates
In jail or prison, the institution’s staff perpetrates 60% of all sexual violence against incarcerated people. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011-2012 (2013).
See More Facts & StatisticsMore than 50% of sexual contact by staff is nonconsensual.
More than 50% of the sexual contact between an incarcerated person and a staff member—all of which is illegal—is nonconsensual. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011-2012 (2013).
See More Facts & StatisticsSexual Violence in the Military Often Goes Unreported
Just 30% of sexual assault in the military is reported.
6,053 military members reported experiencing sexual assault during military service in FY 2018 of the 20,500 DoD estimated service members who experienced sexual assault that year. 1Department of Defense, Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, (2020).
See More Facts & Statistics6.2% of active duty women and 0.75 of active duty men
experienced sexual assault in FY 2018. 1Department of Defense, Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, (2020).
See More Facts & StatisticsYou Are Not Alone
DoD Safe Helpline is the sole secure, confidential, and anonymous crisis support service specially designed for members of the Department of Defense community affected by sexual assault.
- Call: 877-995-5247
- Chat online: online.safehelpline.org
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RAINN presents this data for educational purposes only and strongly recommends using the citations to review sources for more information and detail.