What percentage of women experience sexual violence over their lifetime?

• A. Over 50%.
• B. Under 10%.
• C. Approximately 25%.
• D. Approximately 75%.

Answer: (A)

Lifetime exposure to sexual violence among women is extremely common. When sexual violence is defined broadly to include coerced or forced sex, as well as various forms of sexual coercion and assault by partners or others, a large proportion of women report experiencing it at least once in their lives. In many global and regional studies, the prevalence crosses the halfway mark, meaning more than half of women report some form of sexual violence during their lifetime. That’s why the option stating more than half is the best match among the given choices. The exact figure varies by definitions and setting, but the pattern across studies is that lifetime sexual violence is a very widespread issue, making the other options—under 10%, about 25%, or around 75%—less consistent with the common findings.