How many sexual predators are there? What’s the common profile of sexual predator? These are the questions you may be asking yourself as you think about the safety in your community and the well-being of your close people.
In this article, we’re diving deep into sexual offender facts. You’ll find insights into their demographics, behaviors, and the implications for public safety.
How many sex offenders are in the US?
There are 654,448 registered sexual offenders as of February 2024.
According to our sex offender database, there are 654,448 registered perpetrators of sex crimes in the USA. Note that there might be fluctuations throughout the year as some people are added, and others are removed from the US sexual offender registry.
Texas, California, and Michigan have the highest number of sexual perpetrators. The Menominee Tribes, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands represent the lower end of the sexual predator watch list. To get to know the exact numbers of sexual offenders by state, check outthe Nannostomus registered sex offenders report.
Who is the most common sex offender? A profile of a sexual predator
In 8 out of 10 cases, the sex offender is someone the victim knew.
Only 19% of rapes and sexual abuse cases are perpetrated by strangers. In 6% of instances, the crimes involve multiple offenders. About 33% of abusers are current or former intimate partners, while 39% of rapes are committed by acquaintances. For male victims, close relatives are twice more frequent perpetrators than for females.
Most sexual assaults are committed by white people—around 40%.
Based on sexual offenders statistics from our report, White offenders make up the largest portion, at nearly 40% of the total. Following that, Hispanic or Latino offenders make up just over 18%, and African American offenders account for nearly 17%. Together, these three groups represent about three-quarters of all known records.
Then there’s a steep drop:
- Asian offenders make up under 2%
- American Indian or Alaska Native offenders make up just 0.09%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander offenders are even fewer—about 0.18%
Another 0.5% fall under “Other,” a category likely used when ethnicity doesn’t align with standardized reporting options.
The second largest slice of the percentage of sexual predators is Unknown. Over 22% of offenders don’t have ethnicity listed.
The likelihood of committing sexual offenses is significantly higher among individuals in their 30s to 50s.
The idea that sex offenses are “youth-driven” doesn’t hold up here. The data tells us that the highest risk of offending sits with people in midlife—between the ages of 35 and 64.
US sex offenders in their 45 to 54 age range account for the largest share: 23.5% Those aged 55 to 64 come next, with 23.1% 35 to 44-year-olds follow closely behind at 21.7%
Add those three groups together, and you’ll find that nearly 70% of all sexual abusers near me are between 35 and 64 years old.
Compare that to younger groups:
- 18–24-year-olds make up just 1.6%
- 13–17-year-olds barely crack 1%
- Under age 12—Practically zero
On the other end, offenders over 65 still appear in the data—especially those aged 65 to 74, who make up 13%. But after 75, the numbers taper off sharply.
For every 1 female offender, there are 23 male perpetrators.
Males are significantly more prone to committing sex offenses across the USA. Men are responsible for approximately 95.8% of reported crimes. In contrast, 4.2% attributed to women molesters.
The convicted sex offender was armed with a gun, knife, or other weapon in 11% of rape or sexual assault victimizations.
This means a higher potential for physical harm beyond the sexual assault itself.
11.5% of rapists are in prison, either awaiting trial or serving sentences for their offenses.
According to our sexual predators statistics, roughly 11.5% of registered sex offenders are currently incarcerated. It means that 9 out of 10 offenders are not in prison.
Many of them are marked as “active,” meaning they live in the community and check in as required. This group makes up over a third of all offenders. Another large group is labeled “compliant,” which means they’re following the rules—reporting their location, updating personal details, and maintaining their registration as expected. A similar portion of offenders has been released from custody but is still legally required to remain on the registry.
Some sexual assaulters near me are considered “registered,” but that label often means there’s no active supervision. Others are under supervision or have moved out of state. A small number are in transitional statuses like “pending” or “civilly committed.”
More than 3,200 offenders have absconded, and over 3,600 are marked as non-compliant. In other words, no one knows exactly where they are or whether they’re still following the law.
The average sexual recidivism rate is 13.7%, while the average overall recidivism rate is 36.9%.
This suggests that individuals convicted of sexual offenses are less likely to re-offend than those convicted of other types of crimes.
Who is the common sex offense victim?
87.1% of sexual cases report victims with unknown gender.
Female victims form the second-largest category, representing 111.3% of registered victims. 1.6% of felonies are reported against male individuals.
Children and teenagers are at the highest risk of sexual abuse, making 78.9% of cases.
The age group most affected is 13 to 17, accounting for just over 44% of all known victims. That’s nearly half. These are teenagers—still in school, still under guardianship—yet they carry the largest share of cases.
Younger children are also heavily affected. Victims between 5 and 12 years old represent more than 24% of the total. That’s one in four. Another 10.5% of victims are under the age of five.
By the time we reach adulthood, the percentages fall off sharply. Victims aged 18 to 24 make up just over 5.5%, and those in the 25 to 34 range drop to about 3%. The older the age group, the smaller the share. Victims between 35 and 64 combined account for less than 2%. Cases involving victims aged 65 and older are extremely rare—making up just 0.24%.
Among those sex victims who arrive at emergency departments, the average age is 14 years for males and 19 years for females.
At an average age of 14 years, male victims are presented as particularly vulnerable at an early age. Conversely, female victims, with an average age of 19, underscore the critical issue of sexual violence among teenagers and young adults.
Most victims in the sexual crime list are White.
White victims make up 60.9% of the cases. Black individuals represent 25.9% of the victims. Amerindian victims constitute 12.5%, while Asian individuals are the least prone to sexual abuse and they constitute 0.5% of cases.
Pedophile statistics on child sexual abuse
- In most cases, abusers seldom use physical force to gain compliance from their kid victims. Mainly, they resort to deception and enticement. Abuse typically occurs within a long-term relationship between the offender and victim.
- More than 80% of adults convicted of rape admit to having committed child molestation.
- Similarly, at least 50% of pedifiles in your area confess to having sexually assaulted adults.
- 34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members. Only 7% of sexual violence cases against kids are conducted by strangers. 59% of offenders were acquaintances.
Interesting facts about sex offenders and offenses
The average cost for services rendered by emergency departments was $3,551.
When the sexual abuse occurred during pregnancy, the expenses were the highest, averaging $4,553. For patients paying out of pocket, for which hospitals might offer a discount, the charges came to an average of $3,673.
Sex offense is the most under-reported crime.
63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Only 12% of child sexual abuse instances are registered with the authorities.
The prevalence of false reporting in the USA is between 2% and 10%.
A study of eight U.S. communities found a 7.1% rate of false reports. According to another statistics on sexual offenders that studied 136 assault cases in Boston, there were 5.9% of false reports. Other researchers studied 812 reports of sexual assault and found a 2.1% rate of false reports.
Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge are the most common car makes among convicted sexual offenders.
Ford is the most common vehicle make owned by 35.37% sexual predators. Chevrolet (29.24%), Dodge (13.75%), and Toyota (11.76%) are other popular choices. A significant number of vehicles are homemade (9.87%), which includes custom cars and modified vehicles.
Conclusion
Understanding the dynamics and statistics of sexual offenders is vital for the safety and well-being of communities. Nannostomus recognizes the importance of accessible and comprehensive information, which is why we offer a meticulously compiled sex offender registry derived from public sexual predator websites. Our database is invaluable for those who require up-to-date and detailed data on sex offenders. Contact us today to discuss how our sex offender registry can meet your specific needs.
Sources:
- Nannostomus registered sex offenders report 2024
- California Megan’s Law Website
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Recidivism of Adult Sexual Offenders by Roger Przybylski
- Science Direct, The demographics of patients presenting for sexual assault to US emergency departments
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Female Victims of Sexual Violence, 1994-2010
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Statistics about sexual violence
- Statista, Number of people in the United States who were victims of a sex offense in 2022, by victim’s age
- The New England Journal of Medicine, Uncovered Medical Bills after Sexual Assault
