The Rising Tide: Sexual Assault Since 2000

Sexual assault remains a profound public health crisis in America and around the world. While liability metrics and campus protocols have evolved, persistent gaps in reporting and support systems demand continued advocacy, education, and cultural change toward zero tolerance.

It's important for us to look at the data that's been culled throughout the last 25 years to get a handle on the scope of these issues.

A Troubling Trend

Data show significant increases in sexual assault reporting and incidence over the last two decades.

• Self-reported rape/& assault in the U.S. more than doubled between 2017 and 2018: from 1.4 to 2.7 per 1,000 persons aged 12+.

• The U.S. Sentencing Commission reveals that sexual assault offenses increased by 19.7% between FY 2019 and FY 2023 (1,395 of 64,124 cases in 2023).

• BJS data suggest recent dips (0.14% to 0.10% in 2023), but overall long-term prevalence is still high.

  
  

Campus Vulnerabilities

• Women 18‑24 at college are 3× more likely—and non-students 4× more likely—than their peers to experience sexual violence.

• This age group remains disproportionately targeted, underscoring urgent needs in prevention and support.

  
  

Reporting Culture & Prevention

• Between 1992 and 2000, reporting hovered around 31%, gradually increasing although many assaults still go unreported.

• Despite awareness campaigns, stigma and distrust persist—only about 25–40% of incidents were reported in recent years.

  
  

Consequences & Need for Intervention

• Underreporting interferes with justice and hampers data accuracy.

• Survivors often endure psychological trauma—PTSD, anxiety, and depression—which further complicates recovery.

• Effective prevention requires shifting bystander norms, educating youth, and fostering positive masculinity.

  
  

Key Numbers at a Glance

• 1 in 6 U.S. women (~17 million) has suffered rape by 1998; college-aged women face even higher risk.

• Reported sexual assault rates have risen significantly since 2000, but underreporting blurs the full scope.