Sexual violence

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Statistics on female experiences of sexual assault, including victimisation rates, socio-demographics, incident characteristics and responses.

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Reference period
2021-22 financial year
Released
23/08/2023
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First release

Key statistics

In women’s most recent incident of sexual assault by a male:

  • 53% of the perpetrators were an intimate partner
  • 69% of the incidents occurred in a home
  • 67% of women experienced anxiety or fear after the incident
  • 57% of women sought advice or support after the incident, most often from family and friends

About this release

This release presents detailed sexual violence statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey (PSS).

The survey collected information from persons aged 18 years and over about the nature and extent of their experiences of violence.

Summary statistics on all topics collected in the PSS can be found in Personal Safety, Australia.

The ABS would like to thank those who participated in the survey and acknowledges the experiences of people affected by sexual violence who are represented in this report.

Some people may find the contents of this report confronting or distressing. Support services are available: 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732, Lifeline – 13 11 14.

COVID-19 context

The 2021-22 PSS was conducted between March 2021 and May 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this time, government policies were in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including stay-at-home orders, border control measures, limits on gatherings, and social distancing rules. The survey results should be understood and interpreted within the broader context of the wide-ranging changes to everyday life during the pandemic.

Data quality and interpretation

In the written commentary, where a rate is described as higher or lower than a comparative rate, or one group is described as more or less likely to have had an experience than another group, the difference has been found to be statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.

Figures marked with an asterisk (*) have a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.

While the PSS collects the same information from both men and women, detailed data for men who experienced sexual violence are not sufficiently statistically reliable to include in this publication. Summary prevalence statistics for men are available in Personal Safety, Australia.

For more information about statistical significance, relative standard error, and men’s data quality, refer to the Personal Safety, Australia Methodology.

Definition of sexual violence

In the PSS, sexual violence refers to the occurrence, attempt or threat of sexual assault experienced since the age of 15. Sexual violence is measured by combining experiences of sexual assault and sexual threat.

Sexual assault

An act of a sexual nature carried out against a person's will through the use of physical force, or intimidation or coercion, including any attempts to do this. This includes rape, attempted rape, aggravated sexual assault (assault with a weapon), indecent assault, penetration by objects, forced sexual activity that did not end in penetration, and attempts to force a person into sexual activity.

Sexual threat

Any threat of acts of a sexual nature that were made face-to-face, and which the person targeted believed were able and likely to be carried out.

For more definitions of the terms used throughout the commentary, refer to the Glossary.

Prevalence rates

Prevalence rate refers to the number of women who have experienced sexual violence within a specified time frame (e.g. since age 15, in the last 12 months), expressed as a percentage of all women aged 18 years and over.

An estimated 2.2 million women aged 18 years and over (22%) have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, including:

  • 20% (2.0 million) who experienced sexual assault
  • 5.5% (544,700) who experienced sexual threat

Whether experienced sexual violence since the age of 15

Row 1: 9.9m women live in Australia. Row 2: 2.2m women (22%) experienced sexual violence. Row 3: 2m women (20%) experienced sexual assault. 544,700 women (5.5%) experienced sexual threat. Row 4: 2m women (20%) experienced sexual assault by a male; 60,300 women (0.6%) experienced sexual assault by a female; 534,500 women (5.4%) experienced sexual threat by a male; *15,800 women (*0.2%) experienced sexual threat by a female.

The flow chart’s top level shows that there were 9.9 million women aged 18 years and over living in Australia in 2021-22.

The second level shows that 2.2 million women (22%) experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. It also shows that 7.7 million women (78%) did not experience sexual violence.

The third level shows that 2 million women (20%) experienced sexual assault and 544,700 women (5.5%) experienced sexual threat since the age of 15.

The fourth level shows that, since the age of 15: 2 million women (20%) experienced sexual assault by a male; 60,300 women (0.6%) experienced sexual assault by a female; 534,500 women (5.4%) experienced sexual threat by a male; and *15,800 women (*0.2%) experienced sexual threat by a female.

Footnotes:

  1. Where a woman has experienced both sexual assault and sexual threat, they are counted separately for each type of violence they experienced but are counted only once in the aggregated sexual violence total.
  2. Where a woman has experienced the type of violence by both a male and a female, they are counted separately for each but are counted only once in the aggregated total.

* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.

Prevalence rates by sex of perpetrator

Women were more likely to experience sexual violence since the age of 15 by a male than by a female:

  • 22% (2.2 million) experienced sexual violence by a male
  • 0.7% (67,700) experienced sexual violence by a female

Prevalence rates by relationship to all perpetrators

Women were more likely to experience sexual violence since the age of 15 by a male they knew than by a male stranger:

  • 20% (2.0 million) experienced sexual violence by a male they knew, including 11% (1.1 million) by an intimate partner
  • 6.1% (604,900) experienced sexual violence by a male stranger

Changes over time

12-month sexual violence prevalence rates in 2021-22 have been compared with prevalence rates from earlier surveys (2016, 2012, 2005) to measure changes over time.

Where the rate is described as having increased or decreased, this has been found to be statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.

The 12-month prevalence rate of sexual violence for women in 2021-22 (1.9%) was similar to the rate in 2016 (1.8%).

12-month sexual violence prevalence rate(a), 2005 to 2021-22
 2005201220162021-22
Women1.6%(b)1.2%1.8%1.9%
  1. Refers to the number of women who have experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all women aged 18 years and over.
  2. The difference in the prevalence rate between 2012 and 2021-22 is statistically significant.

Socio-demographic characteristics

This section compares two-year sexual violence prevalence rates of women from different socio-demographic groups and identifies those who were more likely to have experienced sexual violence. Two-year violence prevalence rates are used instead of 12-month rates to allow for additional analysis.   

The socio-demographic information reflects the person’s characteristics at time of survey, which may have changed since the violence occurred.

Some people may find the contents of this section confronting or distressing. Support services are available: 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732, Lifeline – 13 11 14, or Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline - 1800 497 212.

The 2021-22 PSS found an estimated 3.0% of women aged 18 years and over (294,900) experienced sexual violence in the last two years.

Age

The prevalence of sexual violence declined with age. The rate was highest for women aged 18 to 24 years (12%).

  1. Refers to the number of women in each age group who have experienced sexual violence in the last two years, expressed as a percentage of all women in each age group.
  2. Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.

Disability

Women with disability were more likely to have experienced sexual violence (4.0%) than women without disability (2.5%).

Sexual orientation

Women who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or who used a different term such as asexual, pansexual or queer were more likely to have experienced sexual violence (13%) than women who identified as heterosexual (2.4%). For both groups, 98% of those who experienced sexual violence in the last two years experienced it by a male perpetrator.

While data for women who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or who used a different term have been combined into a single output category, experiences of sexual violence may vary across each group.

Family composition

The prevalence of sexual violence varied by family composition, with rates ranging from 1.2% for women living in a couple family with no children to 7.6% for women living in a one parent family with children under 15 years.

  1. Refers to the number of women in the relevant population who have experienced sexual violence in the last two years, expressed as a percentage of all women aged 18 years and over in the relevant population.
  2. Family has at least one child under the age of 15.
  3. Refers to a family consisting of a lone parent with children who are all dependent students aged between 15 and 24 years and/or non-dependent children.
  4. Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
  5. Includes lone person household, group household, and non-family member in a household with one or more families.

Current study status

The rate of sexual violence was higher for women who were currently studying (7.7%) compared with women who were not currently studying (2.2%).

Housing – Tenure type

Women who were renting were more likely to have experienced sexual violence (7.1%) than women who owned their home (1.5%).

Capital city/balance of state

The rate of sexual violence was higher for women living in a capital city (3.4%) compared with women living outside of a capital city (2.3%).

Financial stress

The rate of sexual violence was higher for women living in households that:

  • experienced one or more cash flow problems in the last 12 months (8.1%) compared with households that did not experience cash flow problems (2.2%)
  • were unable to raise $2,000 within a week for something important (6.6%) compared with households that could raise the money (2.4%)

Incident characteristics

The 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey collected information from women aged 18 years and over about the characteristics of their most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred within the last 10 years.

When the incident occurred

An estimated 737,200 women experienced sexual assault by a male in the last 10 years, of which 20% experienced their most recent incident in the last 12 months.

  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.

Relationship to perpetrator

In the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male, the perpetrator was more likely to be someone the woman knew (85%) than a stranger (16%).

The perpetrator was most commonly an intimate partner (53%), including a cohabiting partner (28%), and boyfriend or date (25%).

  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.
  2. Refers to a partner the person lives with (current partner) or lived with at some point (previous partner) in a married or de facto relationship.
  3. This relationship may have different levels of commitment and involvement that does not involve living together. For example, this will include persons who have had one date only, regular dating with no sexual involvement, or a serious sexual or emotional relationship. Includes ex-boyfriend. It excludes de facto relationships.

Location of incident

Approximately 69% of women who experienced sexual assault by a male experienced the most recent incident in a residential location, including:

  • their own home (36% or 266,700)
  • the home of the perpetrator (20% or 147,600)
  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.

Contribution of alcohol or another substance

Around half (47%) of women who experienced sexual assault by a male believed that alcohol or another substance contributed to the most recent incident.

Support-seeking and police contact

This section explores women’s support-seeking and police contact following the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.

Formal and informal support-seeking

Over half (57%) of women who experienced sexual assault by a male sought advice or support about the most recent incident.

Women were more likely to seek support from an informal source (46%) than a formal source (27%).

Women were more likely to seek:

  • informal support if they were aged 18 to 34 years at the time of interview (52%) than if they were aged 35 years and over (35%)
  • formal support if the perpetrator was an intimate partner (35%) than if the perpetrator was a stranger (16%*) or other known person who was not a family member (22%)
Women who experienced sexual assault by a male(a), Formal and informal support-seeking(b), By age and relationship to perpetrator
 Formal supportInformal support
Age at time of interview
18 to 34 years25.8%51.9%
35 years and over28.7%34.9%
Relationship to perpetrator(c)
Stranger*15.8%44.5%
Intimate partner(d)34.8%40.6%
Other known person(e)22.4%53.0%
  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.
  2. Support or advice may have been sought from a formal and informal source.
  3. Estimates for family member are not included in table due to relative standard error over 50%.
  4. Includes cohabiting partner, boyfriend or date, and ex-boyfriend.
  5. Includes friend or housemate, acquaintance or neighbour, employer/manager/supervisor, co-worker, teacher/tutor, client/patient/customer, medical practitioner (e.g. doctor, psychologist, nurse, counsellor), priest/minister/rabbi or other spiritual advisor, carer (includes non-family paid or unpaid helper) and other unspecified known person. Excludes family member.

* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.

Sources of advice or support

For women who experienced sexual assault by a male, sources of advice or support included:

  • friend or family member (45% or 331,300)
  • counsellor or support worker (15% or 110,100)
  • other (non-GP) health professional (14% or 100,200)
  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.
  2. Support or advice may have been sought from more than one source.
  3. Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.

Police contact

An estimated 8.3% of women (61,100) who experienced sexual assault by a male said the police were contacted about the most recent incident, including 7.7% (56,500) who contacted the police themselves.

Common reasons women provided for contacting the police themselves included:

  • to stop the incident or receive protection (64% or 35,900)
  • concern for their own safety or well-being (58% or 33,000)
  • not wanting others to experience similar violence by the perpetrator (53% or 29,800)

The majority (92% or 680,300) of women who experienced sexual assault by a male did not report the most recent incident to police.

Common reasons women provided for not contacting the police included:

  • feeling they could deal with it themselves (34% or 228,100)
  • not regarding the incident as a serious offence (33% or 223,300)
  • feeling ashamed or embarrassed (31% or 212,300)
  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.
  2. More than one reason may have been provided for not contacting the police.

Perceptions

This section explores women’s perceptions of the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.

Around 20% of women who experienced sexual assault by a male perceived the most recent incident as a crime at the time it occurred.

  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.

Women were more likely to perceive the incident as a crime at the time it occurred if:

  • they were aged 35 years and over at the time of interview (27%) than if they were aged 18 to 34 years (17%)
  • the perpetrator was a stranger (34%) than if the perpetrator was an intimate partner (18%) or other known person who was not a family member (18%)

Most women (73% or 540,900) did not perceive the incident as a crime at the time, including:

  • 46% who perceived it as wrong but not a crime (341,100)
  • 27% who perceived it as something that just happens (197,500)

Of the 540,900 women who did not perceive the incident as a crime at the time, two-thirds (64% or 348,600) said that their perception of it had changed over time. The main reasons given by women for the change in perception were:

  • self-education (39% or 135,200)
  • friend, family, or another person (18% or 62,900)
  • awareness campaign (15% or 52,300)
  • counsellor or support service (13% or 45,600)

Impacts

This section explores the impacts on women of the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.

Anxiety or fear for personal safety

Two-thirds (67%) of women who experienced sexual assault by a male experienced anxiety or fear for their personal safety in the 12 months after the most recent incident.

Time off work

About 11% of women who experienced sexual assault by a male took time off work in the 12 months after the most recent incident occurred.

  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.

Physical injuries

Nearly a quarter (23% or 166,200) of women who experienced sexual assault by a male were physically injured in the most recent incident, with bruises being the most common physical injury received (21%).

Of the 166,200 women who were physically injured:

  • 20% consulted a doctor or other health professional about their injuries
  • two-thirds (64%) made one or more changes to their usual routine in the 12 months following the incident due to their injuries

Women who were physically injured reported changes to their usual routine relating to:

  • social and leisure activities (38% or 63,700)
  • sleeping habits (38% or 62,900)
  • building and maintaining relationships (28% or 45,700)
  1. Refers to the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male that occurred in the last 10 years.
  2. Respondents may have reported more than one change to usual routine.

Glossary

Show all

Advice or support

‘Advice or support’ means listening to the respondent, being understanding, making suggestions, giving information, referring respondent to appropriate services, or offering further help of any kind. It includes contacting or visiting any source of help from a friend to a professional organisation, so long as the respondent perceived that they were seeking advice or support.

Anxiety or fear

Experiences of anxiety or fear can include constant worry, feeling nervous or jumpy, feeling scared or afraid, unable to calm down, feeling on edge, being panicked or distressed, and not being able to eat or sleep.

Boyfriend or date

This relationship may have different levels of commitment and involvement that does not involve living together. For example, this will include persons who have had one date only, regular dating with no sexual involvement, or a serious sexual or emotional relationship. Includes both current boyfriend and ex-boyfriend. Excludes de facto relationships.

Cohabiting partner

See Partner.

Disability

Any limitation, restriction or impairment which restricts everyday activities and has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least six months.

Family member

Includes parents/step-parents, children/step-children, siblings/step-siblings, and other relatives or in-laws.

Intimate partner

Includes current partner (living with), previous partner (has lived with), boyfriend/date and ex-boyfriend (never lived with).

Other known person

Any other known person that does not fit into any of the intimate partner or family member categories. Includes:

  • Friend
  • Acquaintance/neighbour
  • Employer/manager/supervisor
  • Co-worker
  • Teacher/tutor
  • Client/patient/customer
  • Medical practitioner (e.g. doctor, psychologist, nurse, counsellor)
  • Priest/Minister/Rabbi/ or other spiritual advisor
  • Carer (includes non-family paid or unpaid helper)
  • Any other known person
Partner

Includes someone the person lives with, or lived with at some point, in a married or de facto relationship. This may also be described as a cohabiting partner.

Prevalence

Refers to the number and proportion (rate) of women in a given population who have experienced sexual violence within a specified time frame – usually in the last 12 or 24 months (prior to the survey) and since the age of 15.

Relationship to perpetrator

Relationship to perpetrator refers to the relationship of the perpetrator(s) to the person at the time of the interview, as perceived by the person who the sexual violence was directed against.

Relative Standard Error

Relative Standard Error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a percentage of the estimate. For more information, refer to the Data processing section of the Personal Safety, Australia methodology.

Sexual assault

An act of a sexual nature carried out against a person's will through the use of physical force, intimidation or coercion, including any attempts to do this. This includes rape, attempted rape, aggravated sexual assault (assault with a weapon), indecent assault, penetration by objects, forced sexual activity that did not end in penetration and attempts to force a person into sexual activity. Incidents so defined would be an offence under State and Territory criminal law.

Sexual assault excludes incidents that occurred before the age of 15 (these are defined as sexual abuse). It also excludes unwanted sexual touching, which is defined as sexual harassment.

Sexual orientation

Sexual orientation is an umbrella concept that encapsulates:

  • sexual identity (how a person thinks of their sexuality and the terms they identify with)
  • attraction (romantic or sexual interest in another person)
  • behaviour (sexual behaviour)

Responses to a sexual orientation question are a subjective view of oneself and can change over the course of a person's lifetime and in different contexts. An individual could respond differently to questions on either sexual identity, attraction or behaviour.

Sexual threat

Any threat of acts of a sexual nature that were made face-to-face, and which the person targeted believed were able and likely to be carried out, experienced since the age of 15.

Sexual violence

The occurrence, attempt or threat of sexual assault experienced since the age of 15.

Data downloads

Sexual violence prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics (Tables 1 to 3)

National sexual violence prevalence, time series and socio-demographic characteristic statistics for women.

Data files
Download xlsx [114.04 KB]

Women’s experiences of sexual assault by a male (Tables 4 to 11)

Characteristics of the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male, including relationship to perpetrator, location and support-seeking behaviours.

Data files
Download xlsx [123.28 KB]

All data downloads

All Sexual violence data download files.

Data files
Download zip [186.62 KB]

Methodology

Personal Safety, Australia methodology, 2021-22 financial year

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