Reports of sexual assault in U.S. military declined for third straight year

Official reports of sexual assault and the estimated number of sexual assaults in the military both decreased in fiscal year 2025, according to the Pentagon's annual review of sexual assault released on Friday.

The review included data from an anonymous survey conducted every other year that asks service members whether they've been the victim of unwanted sexual conduct or harassment, which gives officials a more accurate indicator of the scale of the problem within the ranks.

The survey found that the number of active duty women who said they've experienced unwanted sexual contact declined from 6.8% in fiscal year 2023 to 4.3% in fiscal year 2025, and the rate for active duty men decreased from 1.3% to 1%.

This is the second survey in a row with a decrease in prevalence after high rates of 8.4% for women and 1.6% for men in 2021.

The Pentagon received 7,998 official reports of sexual assault involving either service members as victims or offenders in fiscal year 2025, a decrease from 8,195 in 2024, and 8,515 in 2023.

The rate of reporting increased from 25% in fiscal year 2023, to 33% in 2025, which the Pentagon said it considers a good thing because it wants victims to feel like they can come forward.

"The Department continues to encourage greater reporting to connect warfighters with vital restorative care and enable leadership to hold offenders appropriately accountable," the Pentagon said in a news release that accompanied the report.

Out of an estimated 20,492 service members impacted by sexual assault in fiscal year 2025, 6,843 made official reports, the Pentagon found.

"Dignity, respect, and discipline are foundational to the warrior ethos and the overall preparedness of the force. Sexual assault and sexual harassment undermine these values, eroding trust and threatening the mission," Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata said in a statement.

The congressionally mandated report, which in the past has been released in the spring with a briefing for reporters to ask questions, was published online by the Pentagon on Friday.