Statistics About Abuse

Child sexual abuse is likely the most prevalent health problem children face with the most serious array of consequences. ¹

One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by their 18th birthday. 4

Only 30% of cases of child sexual assault are reported to authorities. ³

93% of abused minors know their perpetrator. ⁵

Children are most vulnerable to sexual assault between the ages of 7 and 13. ⁴

More than one-quarter of male victims of completed rape (28 %) were first raped when they were 10 years old or younger. ²

Teens 16 to 19 years of age were 3 1/2 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. ³

Approximately 1 in 7 youth Internet users received unwanted sexual solicitations. ³

4% of youth Internet users received aggressive solicitation, in which solicitors made or attempted to make offline contact with youth. ³

38% of teen girls and 39% of teen boys say they have had sexually suggestive text messages or e-mails - originally meant for someone else - shared with them. ³

51% of teen girls say pressure from a male is a reason they sent sexy messages or images. ³

1. Townsend, C. (2013). Prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse compared with other childhood experiences.

2. Michele C Black et al., (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Summary Report, Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011. 

3. The U.S. Department of Justice (2012). Raising Awareness about Sexual Abuse

4. The National Center for Victims of Crime (2012). Child Sexual Abuse Statistics

5. U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2000) Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement