Sexual Assault Statistics in America: Updated 2026

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Sexual assault remains a widespread problem in the United States. The numbers are difficult to read, but they matter. They help show who is being harmed, where gaps remain, and why prevention, accountability, and survivor support are still so important.

RAINN, citing the U.S. Department of Justice National Crime Victimization Survey, estimates that 443,634 rapes and sexual assaults occur each year among people age 12 and older. That number counts victimizations, not unique people; some survivors experience sexual violence more than once. RAINN estimates that about 301,580 people age 12 and older are harmed by sexual violence in a year. About 73% of rapes and sexual assaults are not reported to police.

The statistics below bring together data from RAINN, the CDC, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and other established sources. Where possible, we have used the latest available figures and linked the original source so readers can see how each number was measured.

Key Sexual Assault Statistics in the U.S.

These figures offer a quick picture of the scale of sexual violence and the groups most affected.

• 89% of victims of reported rape are girls and women. RAINN
• 45.1% of women and 16.9% of men in the U.S. have experienced some form of contact sexual violence during their lifetimes. CDC
• 60% of U.S. women and 18% of U.S. men experience verbal sexual harassment at work or in public during their lifetimes. RAINN
• CDC data from the 2016/2017 NISVS found that bisexual women reported especially high lifetime levels of contact sexual violence; more than half of lesbian and heterosexual women also reported contact sexual violence. CDC
• In the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 47% of respondents reported having been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. U.S. Transgender Survey
• CDC data also shows a high burden among gay and bisexual men: more than half reported some form of contact sexual violence during their lifetimes in the 2016/2017 NISVS. CDC
• Research reviews have estimated that roughly 2%–10% of reported sexual assaults are false reports. PubMed
• CDC's 2023/2024 NISVS estimates that 8.6% of U.S. women have experienced rape by an intimate partner during their lifetimes. CDC
• The Department of Defense reported that, in FY2025, 4.3% of active-duty women and 1.0% of active-duty men experienced unwanted sexual contact, down from the rates measured in FY2023. DoD SAPRO
• 69% of reported rapes occur in a residence or home. RAINN

A Quick Note on the Numbers

Sexual assault statistics can look different from one source to another even when both sources are credible. That is usually because they are measuring different things. The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) asks people age 12 and older about criminal victimization whether or not it was reported to police. The CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) uses behavior-specific public-health questions and includes a broader range of sexual violence. FBI crime data reflects offenses reported to law enforcement. Those differences matter when comparing percentages, annual counts, and trends.

Sexual Assault Statistics for Children and Teens

Sexual violence often begins at a young age. Data on children and teens comes from several systems, including national victimization surveys, law-enforcement records, and child protective services. Each source captures a different part of the problem.

• Young people face elevated risk. RAINN notes that people ages 12–34 are among the groups at highest risk for rape and sexual assault. RAINN
• Girls and young women ages 16–19 are four times more likely than the general population to experience rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. RAINN
• 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under age 18 experience sexual abuse or assault. RAINN
• Children who experience sexual abuse can show a wide range of emotional and behavioral responses, including sleep problems, anxiety, depression, changes in behavior, or sexual knowledge that is not developmentally appropriate. NCTSN
• Of sexual abuse cases reported to law enforcement, 93% of victims under 18 knew the perpetrator; 59% were acquaintances and 34% were family members. RAINN

College Campus Sexual Assault Statistics

College sexual violence deserves special attention because risk rises during certain periods of the academic year and students may face barriers to reporting or getting support. Prevention is not about telling students how to avoid being assaulted. Responsibility lies with the person who causes harm, while schools have a role in making consent education, reporting options, support, and accountability clear and accessible.

• About 26% of undergraduate women and 7% of undergraduate men report rape or sexual assault by physical force or inability to consent after enrolling in college. RAINN
• The first months of the academic year are often described as the campus "red zone," a period when the risk of sexual violence is higher. RAINN
• At U.S. colleges with Division I football programs, reported rapes involving college-age victims increased 41% on home game days and 15% on away game days in one study. RAINN

Alcohol is often present in campus sexual violence, but intoxication never makes a survivor responsible for an assault and does not remove the perpetrator's responsibility to obtain consent.

• LGBTQ students also face elevated rates of sexual harassment and sexual violence, although estimates vary depending on the population and survey used. Williams Institute

Long-Term Effects of Sexual Assault

There is no single way a person responds to sexual assault. Some effects appear immediately; others surface later. Survivors may experience changes in sleep, mood, relationships, work, school, physical health, or their sense of safety.

• Nearly half of survivors, 46%, report severe social and emotional distress following rape or sexual assault, while another 25% report moderate distress. RAINN
• Research consistently links sexual assault with post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, depression, and other mental-health challenges. These outcomes are not inevitable, and support can make a meaningful difference in recovery. Research review
• The CDC estimates the lifetime economic cost of rape at $122,461 per survivor, including medical care, lost productivity, and criminal-justice costs. CDC

Who Commits Sexual Assault?

Statistics about perpetrators challenge one of the most persistent myths about sexual assault: that the person who causes harm is usually a stranger. In reality, sexual violence often happens within relationships and familiar settings. Keeping the focus on perpetrator behavior also matters; responsibility rests with the person who chose to violate another person's consent.

• 76% of reported rapes are perpetrated by someone the victim already knows, including acquaintances, friends, partners, spouses, and family members. RAINN
• Most reported rapes are perpetrated by men, although women can also perpetrate rape. Current FBI data cited by RAINN shows that at least 4% of reported rape is perpetrated by women. RAINN
• 89% of identified child sexual abuse perpetrators are male, according to child protective services records. RAINN
• 77% of reported rapes are perpetrated by individuals under age 50, with 63% of perpetrators between ages 10 and 39. RAINN
• Guns or knives are documented in about 2% of reported rape cases. In 52%, perpetrators use what the FBI categorizes as "personal weapons," such as fists or teeth. Sexual violence can also occur without a visible weapon or physical injury. RAINN

Sexual Violence Prevention: What Can Help?

Sexual violence is preventable, but there is no single fix. The CDC recommends prevention at several levels: relationships, schools, workplaces, communities, and the systems survivors rely on after harm occurs.

• Promote social norms that protect against violence, including bystander approaches and engaging men and boys as allies. CDC
• Teach healthy relationship, consent, social-emotional, and dating skills before harmful patterns become established. CDC
• Strengthen economic, educational, and leadership opportunities for girls and women. CDC
• Create protective environments through safer schools, clear workplace policies, and community-level prevention. CDC
• Make victim-centered services, treatment, advocacy, and practical support easier to reach. CDC

Prevention works best when responsibility is shared across communities and institutions rather than placed on potential victims. Survivors also need systems that respond seriously, safely, and without blame when they choose to seek help or report what happened.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Assault Statistics

Sexual Assault Support and Survivor Resources

If you have experienced sexual assault, you can decide what kind of support feels right for you and when to seek it. Confidential help is available whether you want someone to talk to, practical information, medical guidance, or help understanding your options.