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Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Adult Experiences

Non-Partner Experiences

CSO statistical publication, 18 May 2023, 11am

National Helplines

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this survey, help is available from the following national helplines or from local/regional helplines which you can find in the Background Notes.

The Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Adult Experiences was published on 18 May 2023. Data within the publication were revised on 1 June 2023. These data revisions were due to a formatting issue relating to the marital status classification where the divorced/legally separated and widowed were incorrectly labelled. All content relating to the tables, including the text of the statistical release, Publication Briefing presentation and PxStat tables (data.cso.ie), now reflect the revised data.

Details as to the extent of these revisions on previously published data can be found in the Information Note Sexual Violence Survey - Adult Experiences.

Overall sexual violence experienced as an adult with a non-partner

This chapter looks at the overall prevalence of sexual violence experienced as an adult with a non-partner in Ireland, analysed by a wide range of sociodemographic characteristics. Sexual violence as an adult is defined in this survey as a range of non-consensual experiences from non-consensual sexual touching to non-consensual sexual intercourse. See Background Notes for further details. Where the text refers to sexual violence with a non-partner, this relates to experiences where the person was not a partner or ex-partner. In this survey, a partner is defined as a person that they are/were married to, living with, a boyfriend/girlfriend or someone they are/were regularly dating.

The demographic characteristics provided are based on the information given by the respondent when the survey was collected, and so may not necessarily accord with their demographic profile when the sexual violence took place (for example, they may have had a lower educational level when the sexual violence occurred but have a higher educational level now when engaging with the survey).

This chapter covers sexual violence experiences where a person was able to consent but did not and sexual violence experiences where the person was unable to give consent to what they experienced or stop what was happening (where the person reported that they had sexual intercourse when they could not give consent, or stop what was happening because they were asleep, passed out or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs).

Similar to the experiences as an adult with a partner, certain cohorts of the population reported higher levels of sexual violence experienced as an adult with a non-partner. These include amongst others, women, those who were single and bisexual people. Females reported experiencing non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner (10%) at a rate five times higher than men (2%). In terms of marital status, those who were single reported the highest levels of non-consensual sexual touching (22%) and non-consensual other sexual contact experiences (16%) as an adult with a non-partner. Bisexual people reported over the double the rate of non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner (39%) than heterosexual/straight people (15%). Further information on the overlap between partner and non-partner experiences was published in the Perpetrator of Sexual Violence chapter in the Sexual Violence Survey 2022 - Main Results publication.

of men

experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner

Source: CSO Ireland, Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Adult Experiences

Over one in five of those aged 25-34 experienced sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner

Key findings for sexual violence experienced as an adult with a non-partner:

Over one in five (27%) of those aged 25-34 experienced sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner. This was the highest rate across all age groups but similar to the 26% for those aged 18-24. See Table 6.1.
Women reported a level of sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner at almost three times the rate (29%) than men (9%).
People with a third level education reported experiencing sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner at over five times the rate (26%) than those with a primary level of education or below (5%). See Figure 6.1.
Adults with a disability reported experiencing sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner (24%) at a higher level than those without a disability (18%).
Those who were single were more likely to have experienced sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner (26%) compared with those who were married (16%) or those widowed (10%).
Bisexual people reported over double the level (46%) of sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner compared with heterosexual/straight people (19%). The equivalent rate for gay/lesbian people was 30%.

X-axis label	Highest level of education attained
Primary or below	5
Lower secondary	9
Higher secondary	17
Post leaving certificate	19
Third level	26

Table 6.1 Adult experience of sexual violence with a non-partner by sociodemographic variables, 2022

Table 6.1 Adult¹ experience of sexual violence² with a non-partner by sociodemographic variables³, 2022
% of persons aged 18 years and over
	Experienced sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner
	Yes	No	Not stated⁴	Total
State	20	70	10	100

Sex
Male	9	80	10	100
Female	29	61	10	100

Age group⁵
18-24	26	65	9	100
25-34	27	62	12	100
35-44	23	66	12	100
45-54	20	71	10	100
55-64	16	78	6	100
65 years and over	10	79	12	100

Highest level of education attained
Primary or below	5	78	17	100
Lower secondary	9	79	11	100
Higher secondary	17	73	10	100
Post leaving certificate	19	72	8	100
Third level	26	64	10	100

Principal Economic Status
Employed	22	70	8	100
Unemployed	22	70	7	100
Retired	8	81	11	100
Unable to work due to long-standing health problems	24	67	9	100
Student	24	71	5	100
Fulfilling domestic tasks	24	71	5	100
Other⁶	18	33	49	100

Citizenship
Irish	20	71	9	100
Non Irish	17	71	13	100

Marital status⁷
Single	26	63	11	100
Married	16	74	10	100
Widowed	10	80	10	100
Divorced or legally separated	21	68	11	100

Disability
Yes	24	67	9	100
No	18	75	7	100
Not stated	0	8	92	100

Ethnicity
White - Irish	20	71	9	100
White - Irish traveller /Roma /other	21	70	9	100
Black or Black Irish	[18]	[67]	[15]	100
Asian or Asian Irish	8	80	12	100
Other⁶ including mixed group /background	12	36	51	100

Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	19	72	9	100
Bisexual	46	44	10	100
Gay/lesbian	30	58	12	100
Other including asexual /questioning /unsure	28	61	12	100
Will not say /cannot say⁶	2	39	59	100
¹ Experience of sexual violence as an adult refers to those experienced over the age of consent (17 years and over). See Background Notes for further details.
² Sexual violence as an adult is defined in this survey as a range of non-consensual experiences from non-consensual sexual touching to non-consensual sexual intercourse. See Background Notes for further details.
³ Please note data may not add to 100% due to rounding issues.
⁴This represents the proportion of respondents who did not answer the question. In this survey, respondents could move through the survey and not answer questions which they did not feel comfortable answering the question.
⁵ The age group category classifies the age the respondent was when they answered the survey.
⁶ Please note this includes not stated.
⁷ See background notes for further details on marital status.
[ ] Figures in parentheses indicate percentages based on small numbers and are, therefore, subject to a wide margin of error.

Open in Excel: Sexual Violence Survey 2022 - Adult Experiences Table 6.1 (XLS 13KB)

Females reported experiencing non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner at a rate five times higher than men

Key findings for sexual violence experienced as an adult with a non-partner by the type of experience:

Females reported experiencing non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner (10%) at a rate five times higher than men (2%). Non-consensual sexual intercourse is defined as sexual intercourse where the person was coerced, threatened or forced into having sex or where the person was unable to give consent. Across all types of sexual violence experiences as an adult with a non-partner, women experienced higher rates than men. See Table 6.2.
Those who were aged 25-34 experienced higher rates of non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner (10%) compared with those aged 65 and over (2%). See Table 6.2.
Those who had a third level education were over three times more likely to have reported non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner (8%) than those with a primary education or below (2%).
Those who were unemployed experienced the highest rate of non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner (8%) than others. For example, the equivalent rate for those who were retired was 2%. However, for non-consensual attempted sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner, students reported the highest rate at 12%.
Bisexual people reported almost four times the rate of non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner (19%) than heterosexual/straight people (5%).

X-axis label	Age group
18-24	7
25-34	10
35-44	7
45-54	6
55-64	4
65 years and over	2

Table 6.2 Adult experience of non-consensual sexual violence with a non-partner by type of experience, 2022

Table 6.2 Adult¹ experience of non-consensual sexual violence² with a non-partner by type of experience^3,4, 2022
% of persons aged 18 years and over
	Type of non-consensual sexual violence experienced as an adult with a non-partner
	Sexual intercourse			Attempted sexual intercourse			Sexual touching			Other sexual contact
	Yes	No	Not stated⁵	Yes	No	Not stated⁵	Yes	No	Not stated⁵	Yes	No	Not stated⁵
State	6	84	11	7	81	12	16	74	10	12	77	11

Sex
Male	2	88	11	3	85	12	7	83	10	5	84	11
Female	10	80	11	11	78	11	25	65	10	18	71	11

Age group⁶
18-24	7	83	10	10	79	11	21	69	9	15	73	11
25-34	10	78	12	10	77	13	22	66	12	17	71	12
35-44	7	81	12	8	79	13	19	70	12	14	73	12
45-54	6	85	10	7	82	11	16	74	10	10	80	10
55-64	4	90	6	6	87	7	12	81	7	9	84	6
65 years and over	2	86	12	3	83	13	7	81	12	5	82	12

Highest level of education attained
Primary or below	2	80	17	3	78	19	4	78	18	4	77	19
Lower secondary	3	85	12	5	82	13	7	82	12	5	83	12
Higher secondary	4	85	10	5	83	11	14	75	10	8	81	11
Post leaving certificate	6	85	9	6	84	10	15	76	9	11	81	9
Third level	8	82	10	9	80	11	21	69	10	16	73	10

Principal Economic Status
Employed	7	84	9	7	83	10	18	74	9	13	78	9
Unemployed	8	84	8	10	81	9	17	74	8	13	78	8
Retired	2	87	11	3	85	12	6	83	11	5	84	11
Unable to work due to long-standing health problems	7	82	11	10	79	11	22	69	9	15	75	10
Student	6	88	6	12	81	7	20	75	5	16	76	7
Fulfilling domestic tasks	7	89	5	10	85	5	18	77	5	14	81	5
Other⁷	6	45	49	8	43	49	14	37	49	12	38	49

Citizenship
Irish	6	85	9	7	83	10	16	74	9	12	79	10
Non Irish	4	83	13	7	79	14	13	75	13	11	76	13

Marital status⁸
Single	9	79	12	11	77	12	22	67	11	16	73	12
Married	4	86	10	5	84	11	13	77	10	10	80	10
Widowed	2	88	10	3	87	11	9	81	11	5	84	11
Divorced or legally separated	9	79	11	8	80	12	17	71	11	12	76	11

Disability
Yes	8	82	10	10	80	10	20	71	9	15	75	10
No	5	87	8	6	86	9	14	78	8	10	82	8
Not stated	0	8	92	0	8	92	0	8	92	0	8	92

Ethnicity
White - Irish	6	85	9	7	83	10	16	75	9	12	79	10
White - Irish traveller /Roma /other	6	85	9	8	81	11	17	74	9	13	78	9
Black or Black Irish	[7]	[78]	[15]	[12]	[72]	[15]	[11]	[74]	[15]	[16]	[69]	[15]
Asian or Asian Irish	1	88	12	2	84	13	7	81	12	4	83	13
Other⁷ including mixed group /background	5	44	51	4	44	51	9	40	51	8	40	51

Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	5	85	10	7	83	11	15	75	9	11	79	10
Bisexual	19	71	10	19	70	11	39	51	10	30	59	11
Gay/lesbian	8	80	12	11	75	13	24	65	12	15	74	12
Other including asexual /questioning /unsure	9	78	13	10	75	15	22	65	13	18	70	12
Will not say /cannot say⁷	2	39	59	1	39	60	1	38	61	1	40	59
¹ Experience of sexual violence as an adult refers to those experienced over the age of consent (17 years and over). See Background Notes for further details.
² Sexual violence as an adult is defined in this survey as a range of non-consensual experiences from non-consensual sexual touching to non-consensual sexual intercourse. See Background Notes for further details.
³ Definitions for each type of experience are detailed in the Background Notes. Adults may have experienced more than one type of experience in one sexual violence episode or in many episodes. Note that non-consensual sexual touching refers to someone touching a person’s breasts/genitals without their consent or being made to touch another's breasts/genitals. Non-consensual other sexual contact includes other not specified sexual contact which was attempted or occurred.
⁴ Please note data may not add to 100% due to rounding issues.
⁵This represents the proportion of respondents who did not answer the question. In this survey, respondents could move through the survey and not answer questions which they did not feel comfortable answering the question.
⁶ The age group category classifies the age the respondent was when they answered the survey.
⁷ Please note this includes not stated.
⁸ See background notes for further details on marital status.
[ ] Figures in parentheses indicate percentages based on small numbers and are, therefore, subject to a wide margin of error.

Open in Excel: Sexual Violence Survey 2022 - Adult Experiences Table 6.2 (XLS 16KB)

Over one in five adults with a third level education reported experiencing non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner

Over one in five adults (21%) with a third level education reported experiencing non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner. See Table 6.2. Non-consensual sexual touching includes instances where a person ever had their breasts and/or genitals touched by a someone without consent or were made to touch someone else’s breasts and/or genitals without their consent.
Women experienced non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner (25%) at a level over three times higher than men (7%). See Figure 6.3.
Those aged 25-34 reported experiencing non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner at over three times the rate (22%) than those aged 65 and over (7%).
Those who were unable to work due to a long-standing health problem experienced over three times the rate of non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner (22%) than those who were retired (6%).
Those whose citizenship was Irish were more likely to have experienced non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner (16%) than those who were non-Irish (13%).
Those who were single reported higher levels of non-consensual sexual touching (22%) and non-consensual other sexual contact experiences (16%) as an adult with a non-partner than other marital statuses. The equivalent rates for those who were widowed were 9% and 5% respectively.
Those who were disabled reported experiencing higher levels of non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner (20%) than those who did not have a disability (14%).
Overall, bisexual people reported over the double the rate of non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner (39%) than heterosexual/straight people (15%). The equivalent rate for those who were gay/lesbian people (24%) was also higher than the rate for heterosexual/straight people.

X-axis label	Male	Female
Sexual intercourse	2	10
Attempted sexual intercourse	3	11
Sexual touching	7	25
Other sexual contact	5	18

Over one in six bisexual people reported experiencing non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner when they were able to give consent but did not give it

Key findings for sexual violence experienced as an adult with a non-partner by their ability to give consent:

Over one in six (16%) bisexual people reported experiencing non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner when they were able to give consent but did not give it. See Table 6.3. This consists of the 5% of bisexual people who only experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse when they were able to give consent but did not give it and 11% who experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse both when they were able to give consent but did not give it and were unable to give consent. Situations where a person was unable to give consent to the type of sexual violence they experienced included when they could not give consent, or stop what was happening because they were asleep, passed out or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Overall, 4% of the adult population experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner when they were unable to give consent. This consists of the 2% of adults who only experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse when they were unable to give consent and 2% who experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse when they were able to give consent but did not and who also were unable to give consent.
Men who experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner and were able to give consent but did not give it represented 2% of men. The equivalent rate for women was 6%.
There was an age effect where those younger reported experiencing higher levels of non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner when they were unable to give consent. This was experienced by 7% of those aged 25-34. This consists of the 4% of those aged 25-34 who only experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse when they were unable to give consent and 3% who experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse when they were able to give consent but did not and who also were unable to give consent. The equivalent rate for those aged 65 and over was 1%.
Certain sociodemographic categories showed higher rates of non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner when they were able to give consent but did not give it. These included those with a disability with 6% reporting this, those unable to work due to long-standing health problems with 6% reporting this and those divorced/legally separated with 7% reporting this experience.

Table 6.3 Adult experience of non-consensual sexual intercourse with a non-partner by their ability to give consent, 2022

Table 6.3 Adult¹ experience of non-consensual sexual intercourse² with a non-partner by their ability to give consent³, 2022
% of persons aged 18 years and over
	Experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner
	Adult able to give consent but did not give it only⁴	Adult unable to give consent only	Adult was both able and unable to give consent⁵	No experience of non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult	Not stated⁶	Total
State	2	2	2	84	11	100

Sex
Male	1	1	1	88	11	100
Female	3	3	3	80	11	100

Age group⁷
18-24	2	3	2	83	10	100
25-34	2	4	3	78	12	100
35-44	2	3	3	81	12	100
45-54	2	1	2	85	10	100
55-64	2	1	1	90	6	100
65 years and over	1	0	1	86	12	100

Highest level of education attained
Primary or below	1	0	1	80	17	100
Lower secondary	2	0	1	85	12	100
Higher secondary	1	1	2	85	10	100
Post leaving certificate	2	2	2	85	9	100
Third level	2	3	2	82	10	100

Principal Economic Status
Employed	2	2	2	84	9	100
Unemployed	2	3	3	84	8	100
Retired	1	0	1	87	11	100
Unable to work due to long-standing health problems	2	1	4	82	11	100
Student	1	2	3	88	6	100
Fulfilling domestic tasks	1	2	3	89	5	100
Other⁸	3	2	1	45	49	100

Citizenship
Irish	2	2	2	85	9	100
Non Irish	1	1	2	83	13	100

Marital status⁹
Single	2	3	3	79	12	100
Married	2	1	1	86	10	100
Widowed	0	0	2	88	10	100
Divorced or legally separated	4	2	3	79	11	100

Disability
Yes	3	2	3	82	10	100
No	2	2	1	87	8	100
Not stated	0	0	0	8	92	100

Ethnicity
White - Irish	2	2	2	85	9	100
White - Irish traveller /Roma /other	3	1	2	85	9	100
Black or Black Irish	[3]	[2]	[2]	[78]	[15]	100
Asian or Asian Irish	0	0	1	88	12	100
Other⁸ including mixed group /background	1	1	3	44	51	100

Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	2	2	2	85	10	100
Bisexual	5	3	11	71	10	100
Gay/lesbian	3	3	2	80	12	100
Other including asexual /questioning /unsure	5	1	3	78	13	100
Will not say /cannot say⁸	2	0	0	39	59	100
¹ Experience of sexual violence as an adult refers to those experienced over the age of consent (17 years and over). See Background Notes for further details.
² Non-consensual sexual intercourse is defined as sexual intercourse where the person was coerced, threatened or forced into having sex. See Background Notes for further details.
³ Please note data may not add to 100% due to rounding issues.
⁴ Non-consensual sexual intercourse where the adult was able to give consent but did not is defined as experiences where the person experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse but they did not indicate that there was any other factors involved in the episode. Non-consensual sexual intercourse where the person was unable to give consent is defined as sexual intercourse where the person was unable to give consent to the type of sexual violence they experienced or stop what was happening because they were asleep, passed out or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. See Background Notes for further details.
⁵ This category experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult where they could have given consent but did not or where they could not give consent or stop what was happening as they were incapacitated. Adults may have experienced both types of experience in one sexual violence episode or in many episodes.
⁶ This represents the proportion of respondents who did not answer the question. In this voluntary survey, given the particular sensitivities of the questions being asked, respondents could skip questions they did not wish to answer. See Background Notes for further details.
⁷ The age group category classifies the age the respondent was when they answered the survey.
⁸ Please note this includes not stated.
⁹ See background notes for further details on marital status.
[ ] Figures in parentheses indicate percentages based on small numbers and are, therefore, subject to a wide margin of error.

Open in Excel: Sexual Violence Survey 2022 - Adult Experiences Table 6.3 (XLS 14KB)

Next chapter: Non-Partner Experiences - Details

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Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Adult Experiences

Non-Partner Experiences

Non-Partner Experiences

National Helplines

Overall sexual violence experienced as an adult with a non-partner

Over one in five of those aged 25-34 experienced sexual violence as an adult with a non-partner

Females reported experiencing non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner at a rate five times higher than men

Over one in five adults with a third level education reported experiencing non-consensual sexual touching as an adult with a non-partner

Over one in six bisexual people reported experiencing non-consensual sexual intercourse as an adult with a non-partner when they were able to give consent but did not give it

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