STATISTICS
- According to UNICEF (2024), more than 370 million girls and women worldwide have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood ( 1 in 8 globally).
- When including non-contact sexual violence (online grooming, verbal abuse, exploitation), the number rises to 650 million girls and women ( 1 in 5)
- Boys and men are also severely affected: an estimated 240–310 million experienced rape/sexual assault in childhood ( 1 in 11), and 410–530 million≈ experienced any form of sexual violence during childhood ( 1 in 7).
- More than 79 million girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18. That corresponds roughly to “over 1 in 5” girls in that region.
- When including “non-contact” forms of sexual violence (e.g. online abuse, verbal harassment, grooming, exposure) the global numbers increase dramatically — highlighting that many more children (especially girls) are affected beyond what contact-only data captures.
- Within the subset of countries in Southern Africa (under the Southern African Development Community — SADC), a 2023 UNICEF/SADC statistical profile estimates that the “lifetime prevalence of forced sex among girls and women” ranges widely across countries: from 6% up to 27%, with a regional average of ~17%.
- The same SADC/UNICEF report notes that violent discipline (physical punishment at home) is extremely common: “about 120 million children aged 1– 14 years (over 8 in 10)” in the region experience some form of violent discipline at home.
- According to UNICEF’s global/regional estimates (reflecting data collected between 2010 and 2022, from 120 countries), sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest number of contact-sexual-violence victims globally.
- In Asia, UNICEF estimates ~ 75 million victims in Eastern & South-Eastern Asia and ~ 73 million in Central & Southern Asia — showing that Asia bears a substantial part of the global burden.
Data from Pakistan
- Based on a national NGO report, there were 4,253 reported cases of child sexual abuse in 2022 ( 12 children per day). Victims included 55% girls and 45% boys.
- In 2024, at least 3,364 child-abuse cases (including sexual abuse, abduction, missing children, and child marriages) were reported across Pakistan; among them 1,791 were girls (53%) and 1,573 boys (47%), with victims ranging from infants to adolescents.
- Among particularly vulnerable groups — e.g. street children (estimated ~2 million) — research shows extremely high prevalence: up to 88% reporting sexual activity; many exploited by adults, often through commercial sex.
- In a recent survey among university-age individuals, ~ 30% reported some form of childhood sexual abuse or molestation; over half said the perpetrator was known to them.
The recent empirical studies (2023–2025) highlight that CSA in Pakistan is ongoing, widespread, and affecting both females and males, across socioeconomic strata.
- Use of a culturally developed scale for measuring “sexual maltreatment” (not only “abuse”) is a major advance — it reflects that CSA is often under-recognized or normalized, and that broader definitions help capture more realistic prevalence rates.
- Qualitative research underscores that awareness gaps (e.g. misunderstanding what constitutes “abuse,” not recognizing grooming) are major barriers to disclosure and prevention.
- Prevention-oriented interventions (e.g. awareness cartoons) show promise — useful for policy, education, and advocacy.
- The older review work helps provide a “baseline” and track trends over time; combining it with newer studies strengthens the case for urgent, systemic interventions.
Suggested citation list, Africa
- UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (2024). Over 79 million girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa subjected to rape or sexual assault during childhood. (Regional prevalence summary; cornerstone 2024 data.)
- UNICEF (2024). When Numbers Demand Action: Global Estimates of Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents.(Includes regional breakdowns for Africa and discussion of data gaps.)
- UNICEF & SADC (2023). Violence Against Girls, Boys and Women in Southern Africa: Statistical Profile. (Contains country-level prevalence of forced sex: 6%–27%; regional average 17%.)
- WHO (World Health Organization). Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children (latest edition). (Includes Africa-specific risk data, reporting trends, and country profiles.)
- UNICEF (2014). Hidden in Plain Sight: A Statistical Analysis of Violence Against Children. (Still foundational; includes Africa-wide comparative data and early prevalence baselines.)
- UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office. Violence Against Children in West and Central Africa: Patterns, Prevalence, and Responses. (Regional overview with CSA and CSE data among girls and boys.)
- DHS Surveys / MICS Surveys (Country-specific, various years).
Examples:
• Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), Tanzania.
• DHS, Malawi.
• DHS, Kenya.
• Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, etc.
(These national surveys often include questions on sexual violence before age 15
or 18.) - African Union (AU) & UNICEF. Ending Violence Against Children in Africa: Action Plan Progress Reports. (Regional policy + statistics relevant to sexual exploitation and abuse indicators.)
- UNICEF South Africa (2022). National Study on the Prevalence of Violence Against Children in South Africa. (One of the most comprehensive national-level studies in Africa; includes CSA specifics.)
- Tanzania VAC Study (2011) & Malawi VAC Study (2013) – CDC/UNICEF collaborations.(Although older, these remain two of the strongest country-level datasets on
childhood sexual violence in Africa.)
Suggested Citation List Asia (for Website / Reference Section)
- Qureshi I. Childhood Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: A Comparative Study of Domestic and Public Domains. Pakistan Perspectives, 2025.
- Shah S., Ahmed T., Malik G.M. Understanding the Prevalence of Child Abuse in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Study. Pakistan Social Sciences Review, Vol. 7 No. 3, 2023.
- [Authors]. Socioeconomic and Demographic Risk Factors of Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: A Case Study of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2023.
- Saleem G., Achakzai N.K., Asad A., Asad M., Islam R. Development of a Retrospective Measure of Childhood Sexual Maltreatment in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, 2025.
- Khan M.A. et al. Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: A Phenomenological Study. (2024) — exploring parental awareness and perceptions.
- Razzaq F., Siddiqui A., Ashfaq S., Ashfaq M.B. Enhancing children’s awareness of sexual abuse in Pakistan with video literacy interventional cartoons. Journal of Public Health Policy (2023).
- Avais M.A., Narijo H., Parker M. A Review of Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan Based on Data from “Sahil” Organization. Journal of Islamabad Medical & Dental College, 2020.
- [Various]. Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse – Pakistan’s Context. Asia / regional review, 2025.
Important caveats: National “reported-case” data likely represents only a fraction of actual incidents — factors such as stigma, fear, social pressure, lack of trust in law enforcement, and absence of national representative studies mean the true prevalence is likely much higher. Vulnerable groups (street children, impoverished children, displaced/migrant children) are often under-represented in official data but may suffer disproportionately.