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Nearly one in three Indian women and more than one in ten Indian men were sexually abused before the age of 18, according to a new global study published in the journal The Lancet, spotlighting a harrowing crisis of child sexual abuse that often begins early in life.
The research, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, analysed data spanning 204 countries over three decades, from 1990 to 2023. Data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study was used to calculate the prevalence of sexual violence against children (SVAC).
The study estimated that 30.8 per cent of Indian women and 13.5 per cent of Indian men experienced sexual violence during their childhood, placing India among the countries with the highest prevalence rates for women. For young Indian adults aged 20-24, the numbers remain stark: 26.9 per cent of women and 9.4 per cent of men reported having experienced sexual violence as children.
Globally, the figures are no less grim. The paper found that 18.9 per cent of women and 14.8 per cent of men worldwide have been victims of child sexual abuse. Of those aged 13-24 who reported ever experiencing sexual violence, two-thirds of girls and nearly three-quarters of boys said it happened before they turned 18.
The findings reveal that SVAC is not only pervasive but alarmingly persistent over time, showing little change since 1990. India, alongside countries such as Costa Rica, Chile and the Solomon Islands, recorded among the highest prevalence for women, underlining that the crisis is global, not regional.
The research showed that the vast majority of sexual abuse begins before adulthood. Childhood and adolescence are not just vulnerable years, they are the primary years of risk. Across the global sample, 67.3 per cent of female survivors and 71.9 per cent of male survivors said their first encounter with sexual violence happened during childhood.
The researchers argued that these early windows must be the focus of future prevention efforts through safe schooling environments, better social support systems and the dismantling of patriarchal norms that enable secrecy and shame.
The true scale of the problem may be even greater, the research cautioned. The study adjusted for underreporting linked to how surveys were conducted. For instance, face-to-face interviews often yield lower disclosures than anonymous methods.
In fact, 63 countries had no publicly available data on sexual abuse against children and even among countries with data, most had only one year of usable information, making it difficult to track trends or policy impact. In India, while prevalence is high, the frequency and consistency of surveys remain patchy.
While sexual violence against girls has long received attention in public discourse, the study also finds that boys are significantly affected, sometimes more than girls.
In countries like Bangladesh and Haiti, the prevalence of child sexual abuse is higher among boys than girls, challenging entrenched assumptions and calling for a more inclusive approach to child protection.
For Indian boys, the rate (13.5 per cent) is just below the global average (14.8 per cent) but still deeply concerning.
Entrenched notions of masculinity and stigma around male victimhood contribute to silence and underreporting, the authors of the paper said.
The study revealed several global “hotspots” where children are disproportionately affected. Among women, the highest age-standardised prevalence of childhood sexual violence in 2023 was found in Solomon Islands (42.6 per cent), Ivory Coast (32.4 per cent), Chile (31.4 per cent), Costa Rica (30.9 per cent) and India (30.8 per cent).
For men, the highest rates were reported in Ivory Coast (28.3 per cent), Bangladesh (27.7 per cent), Haiti (26 per cent), Botswana (27.1 per cent) and Nigeria (24.2 per cent).
Looking at the regionwise numbers, in South Asia, India recorded the highest female prevalence at 30.8 per cent, while Bangladesh topped the male rates at 27.7 per cent, over twice the global average for boys.
In sub-Saharan Africa, Ivory Coast reported the highest rates for both girls (32.4 per cent) and boys (28.3 per cent), making it one of the few countries where male prevalence nearly equals female. Chile (31.4 per cent) and Haiti (26.0 per cent) led in Latin America and the Caribbean for girls and boys, respectively.
The Solomon Islands recorded the world’s highest female prevalence at 42.6 per cent, while Laos had the highest male rate (22.4 per cent) in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania.
In Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, Bosnia and Herzegovina stood out with 14.7 per cent among women and a reversed pattern, 21.0 per cent among men, highlighting the male burden.
Among high-income countries, New Zealand reported the highest rates for both girls (28.8 per cent) and boys (22.8 per cent). In nearly every region, young adults aged 20-24 reported SVAC rates matching or exceeding past averages.
The authors of the study stressed the need for multisectoral responses, including strengthening child protection laws, investing in survivor support services and ensuring education systems are safe and responsive.
