Roughly 1 in 3 women worldwide, about 30%, have experienced sexual or physical violence in their lifetime, according to estimates from the World Health Organization. In the United States, the numbers follow a similar pattern, with large national surveys consistently placing lifetime sexual violence rates for women well above what most people expect. These figures almost certainly undercount the true scope, since the majority of sexual assaults are never reported to police.
Global and National Prevalence
The WHO’s global estimate draws from data across dozens of countries: approximately 27% of women aged 15 to 49 who have been in a relationship report experiencing physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner. An additional 6% of women globally report being sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner, though data on non-partner violence is more limited and likely undercounts the real figure.
In the United States, the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey has consistently found that roughly 1 in 5 women experience completed or attempted rape during their lifetime, with broader categories of sexual violence (including unwanted sexual contact and coercion) pushing prevalence higher. These surveys define sexual violence as any sexual activity where consent is not obtained or freely given, which includes in-person contact as well as technology-facilitated acts like sharing sexual images without consent.
Who Commits Sexual Violence
One of the most persistent misconceptions about sexual assault is that it typically involves a stranger. The data tells a very different story. Among female rape victims in the U.S., about 51% were raped by an intimate partner and 41% by an acquaintance. Strangers account for a small fraction of cases. Later data from 2011 showed a similar breakdown: 45% of female rape victims identified at least one perpetrator who was an intimate partner, and 47% identified an acquaintance.
This means the vast majority of sexual assaults happen between people who know each other, often within relationships or social circles where the victim has reason to trust the person involved. This dynamic is also one of the main reasons assaults go unreported.
College-Age Women Face Higher Risk
Women enrolled in college face a notably elevated risk compared to their peers who aren’t in school. A study examining data from 2015 to 2022 found that the six-month risk of sexual violence was 74% higher for college-enrolled women ages 18 to 24 than for women of the same age who were not enrolled. The risk was highest for women living on campus, where an estimated 1 in 100 women reported an instance of sexual violence during each six-month period studied.
That 1-in-100 figure covers just six months. Over a four-year college career, cumulative exposure climbs substantially. Factors like communal living environments, alcohol-heavy social settings, and power dynamics within campus institutions all contribute to the elevated risk.
Some Groups Face Disproportionate Risk
Sexual violence does not affect all women equally. Women with disabilities are significantly overrepresented among victims. CDC data shows that an estimated 2 in 5 (39%) female rape victims had a disability at the time of the assault. Barriers to reporting, dependence on caregivers, and social isolation can make women with disabilities more vulnerable to both initial assaults and repeat victimization.
Research also consistently shows elevated rates among Indigenous women, women experiencing homelessness, and women in the LGBTQ+ community, though precise prevalence estimates for these groups are harder to pin down because they are often underrepresented in large national surveys.
Most Assaults Are Never Reported
The statistics cited above come from anonymous surveys, not police reports, and for good reason. Bureau of Justice Statistics data shows that 63% of completed rapes, 65% of attempted rapes, and 74% of sexual assaults against women were not reported to police. If researchers relied only on law enforcement data, the true picture would be dramatically understated.
The reasons victims give for not reporting are revealing. The most common response across all categories was that the assault was “a personal matter,” cited by about 23% of rape victims and 25% of sexual assault victims. Fear of reprisal was the second most common reason (cited by 11 to 16% depending on the type of assault). Some victims reported wanting to protect the offender, which reflects how often the perpetrator is someone the victim knows and may depend on emotionally or financially.
Long-Term Health Effects
Sexual assault carries consequences that extend far beyond the event itself. It is one of the most potent triggers for post-traumatic stress disorder. A large-scale study comparing different types of trauma found that 45% of women who experienced rape met full diagnostic criteria for PTSD, a rate higher than for most other traumatic experiences including combat, accidents, and natural disasters. For men who experienced rape, the rate was even higher at 65%.
Beyond PTSD, survivors face elevated rates of depression, anxiety disorders, substance use problems, chronic pain, and sexual health difficulties. These effects can persist for years or decades, particularly when survivors do not receive support or when the assault occurred during adolescence. The physical and mental health costs of sexual violence are one reason public health organizations treat it as a population-level health issue rather than simply a criminal justice matter.