National Statistics

Adult Statistics
Male Survivors Statistics
Teen/College Students Statistics
Child Statistics

Adult Statistics

How often does this happen?

1.3 Adult women are raped every minute. That translates to 78 per hour, or 1,871 per day. (National Victim Center and Crime Victim Research and 
Treatment Center, 1992)
In the United States, a rape is reported about once every five minutes. (FBI Uniform Crime Report, 2000)
Sexual Assault continues to represent the most rapidly growing violent crime in America. (American Medical Association 2000)
The U.S. has the highest rate of sexual assault per capita of any industrialized country. (1990 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee)
There were an average of 51,000 rapes and sexual assaults occurring in the workplace each year from 1992 through 1996 (U.S. Department of Justice, 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Workplace Violence Victimization Survey)

How often is rape reported?

It is estimated that as few as 10 percent of sexual assaults are reported to the police. (American Medical Association 2000)
Non-stranger rapists are rarely convicted of their crimes (Spohn, C, and D. Holleran, "Prosecuting Sexual Assault: A Comparison 
of Charging Decisions in Sexual Assault Cases Involving Strangers, Acquaintances, and Intimate Partners," Justice 
Quarterly 18(3)(2001):651-688).
Of every 20 rapes, only one will result in the rapist spending a day in prison (RAINN.org)

Who sexually assaults?

Almost two-thirds of all rapes were committed by someone who is known to the victim:
67% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger,
47% of perpetrators were a friend or acquaintance of the victim,
17% were an intimate partner, and
3% were another relative. (National Crime Victimization Survey, 2004)

What is the impact of rape?

Victims of rape are 13.4 times more likely to develop two or more alcohol related problems and 26 times more 
likely to have two or more serious drug abuse-related problems (Kilpatrick, Dean and Aciemo. Mental Health Needs 
of Crime Victims: Epidemiology and Outcomes." Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2003,:1612)

Which populations are the most vulnerable to sexual crimes?

81% of female inpatients diagnosed with mental illness have been victims of sexual abuse and/or physical abuse 
at some point in their lives (Jacobson, physical and Sexual Assault Histories Among Psychiatric Outpatients, 1989)
Women with disabilities are at greater risk of abuse, particularly those in institutional settings, than women in 
the general population (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Women, Abuse, and Mental Health: 
Shaping a National Agenda, 1993)
As many as 76% of adults diagnosed with cognitive impairment are also victims/survivors of sexual violence 
(Centers for Disease Control, National Center for injury Prevention and Control, 1996).

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Male Survivors Statistics

92,700 men are forcibly raped each year in the United States. (Prevalence, Incidence and 
Consequences of Violence Against Women: Findings from the National Violence Against 
Women Survey. Tjaden, P. and Thoennes, N. U.S. Department of Justice, Centers for Disease 
Control. November, 1998.)

The year in a male's life when he is most likely to be a victim of sexual assault is the age of 
4. (1999 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000.)

One in four victims of sexual assault under the age of 12 are boys. (Juvenile Offenders 
and Victims 1999 National Report, Office of Juvenile Delinquency Prevention, 1999.)

48% of males were raped by strangers, compared with 28% of females. (Criminal 
Victimization in 1999: changes 1998-1999, with trends 1993-1999. U.S. Department of Justice, 
Bureau of Justice Statistics. August, 2000.)

Boys are less likely than girls to report sexual abuse because of the fear of retribution, 
the social stigma against homosexual behavior, the desire to appear self-reliant, and the concern 
about loss of independence following disclosure. (Sexual Abuse of Boys: Definition, Prevalence, 
Correlates, Sequelae, and Management. Holmes, W., Slap, G. The Journal of the American 
Medical Association, Vol. 280. 1998.)

11% of total sexual assault victims are male, 89% are female. (1999 National Crime 
Victimization Survey (NCVS). U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000.)

The organization Stop Prison Rape conservatively estimates that 360,000 men are 
sexually assaulted in prisons in the United States each year. For at least 2/3 of these inmates 
the rapes are not isolated events, but a repeated pattern (often as gang rapes). (Male on Male 
Rape: The Hidden Toll of Stigma and Shame. Scarce, Michael. Plenum Press. New York, New 
York. 1997.)

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Teen/College Students Statistics

College and Teen Specific statistics

For every 1,000 college women living on a campus, 35 rapes happen every academic year, 
and Fewer than 5% of these assaults are reported to law enforcement officials ("The Sexual 
Victimization of College Women" published by the U.S. Dept. of Justice in December 2000).

1 out of 6 college women report having been the vicitm of rape or attempted rape during 
the preceding year (National Survey of Sexual Violence on College Campuses, based on 1998 
Ms. Project on Campus Sexual Assault).

20% of high school girls ages 14-18 report being hit, slapped, shoved or forced into sexual 
activity by a dating partner (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001)

Girls aged 16 to 19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims 
of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault (National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) 
designed by the U.S. Department of Justice (2000))

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Child Statistics

Statistics on Child Sexual Abuse

1 In 3-4 girls will have been sexually abused by age 18. (Diana Russell. 1983: 
David Finkelhor. 1978: Vincent De Francis. 1969)

Young females are four times more likely than any other group to be the victims 
of sexual assault, and the least likely to report their victimization. (The National 
Crime Victimization Survey 2004)

90% of offenders are known to the child. Child sexual abuse is more frequent 
within families than outside families. (Sexual Assault Center. Seattle: National 
Council for Prevention of Child Abuse. 1979)

Child sexual abuse is seldom a one-time occurrence. Abusive relationships last 
an average of 4 years, and many last much longer than 4 years (National Center for 
Prevention of Child Abuse. 1979)

The average age for the onset of a sexually abusive relationship is 6-8 years old. 
(Sexual Assault Center. Seattle: Child Protective Services, Seattle: Department of 
Health and Hospitals, City of Boston, 1984 )

At least 65-75% of prostitutes were sexually abused as children. (Boyer & James. 
1982: Enablers Study, Minneapolis. '980: C. Henry Kempe Center. Denver)

Offenders almost never seek treatment voluntarily. Abuse will most likely 
continue unless a report is made. (Groth, 1979)

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