Child abuse statistics
Before the age of 18…
1 out of every 4 girls is sexually abused
1 out of every 6 boys is sexually abused
1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under.
The median age for reported child abuse is 9 years old.
85% of child abuse victims never report their abuse.
Nearly 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling are children under 12.
More than 90% of abusers are people children know, love and trust.
30-40% of victims are abused by a family member.
50% are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust.
Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused.
Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims…at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims.
An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.
Nearly 50% of women in prison state that they were abused as children.
Over 75% of serial rapists report they were sexually abused as youngsters.
The way a victim's family responds to abuse plays an important role in how the incident affects the victim.
Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who "tell" and are not believed are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social, and physical problems often lasting into adulthood.
Women who report childhood rape are 3 times more likely to become pregnant before age 18.
An estimated 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The average age of their offender is 27 years.
Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to be sexually promiscuous.
More than 75% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused.
An estimated 42 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.
Consequences of child sexual abuse begin affecting children and families immediately. They also affect society in innumerable and negative ways. These effects can continue throughout the life of the survivor so the impact on society for just one survivor continues over multiple decades. Try to imagine the impact of 42 million survivors.....the number of survivors in America today. Prevention education is proven to be effective in reducing these statistics. We can all play a role in protecting children! Together we can make a difference!