Facts and Statistics
Sexual Violence Pyramid, adapted from NSVRC (National Sexual Violence Resource Center)
- In January 2012, the FBI finally updated its definition of rape! This new definition will reflect the reality of rape and include male victims. Learn more:
FBI Updates Definition | U.S. Scraps 80-year-old Definition of Rape - According to a 2011 study by the CDC, 1.3 million American women experienced a rape or attempted rape in 2010, while only with 84,767 rapes were reported.
- Every 2 minutes, someone in the US is sexually assaulted.
- The CDC recognizes sexual violence as a public health crisis in this nation, where an estimated 1 in 5 women have been raped in their lifetime, and 1 in 4 women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner.
- Two-thirds of rapes are committed by someone the victim knows.
- 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker.
- Four in ten rapes occur in the victim's home.
- One in five girls in grades 9-12 will experience physical or dating violence from a dating partner.
- Girls ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
- According to a study by the American Prosecutors Research Institute, false rape allegations account for only 2 to 8% of all reported rapes. This is no higher than for any other crime.
- Victims of sexual assault are 3 times more likely to suffer from depression and 6 times more likely to suffer from PTSD. Victims of trauma commonly experiences shock, numbing, dissociation, and effects on memories of details. This can affect victim's statements to the police.
- Approximately 60% of rapes are never reported to the police.
- Even in the attacks that are reported to the police, there is only a 16.3% chance that the rapist goes to prison. Factoring in unreported rapes, only ~6% of rapists will spend a single day in jail.
- In a 2010 study of college students, males, those pledging a fraternity or sorority, athletes, those without previous rape education, and those who did not know someone who had been sexually assaulted showed a higher rate of belief in rape myths than their peers. Furthermore, those who buy into rape myths are less likely to intervene as bystanders.
- According to the Department of Justice, 95% of rapes that occur on college campuses are never reported.
- An extensive study by the Center for Public Integrity found that perpetrators enrolled in college are rarely expelled, and that the majority of assaults on campus are committed by serial offenders. The average number of victims for these perpetrators is six.
If you have been sexually assaulted and need help, please contact:
Safe Horizon, NYC rape crisis center, sexual assault Hotline: 212-227-3000
National Sexual Assault Hotline, free, confidential, 24 hours: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
For more resources, including medical and legal help, visit our resource page.