Sexual offending in Australia 2023–24

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Abstract

The Australian Sexual Offence Statistical collection brings together data on all types of sexual offending from across the country. This Statistical Report covers sexual offending proceeded against by police in all states and territories for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. In 2023–24, police proceeded against 10,359 individuals for sexual offences in Australia. Ninety three percent of alleged sexual offenders were male (n=9,590) and seven percent (n=696) were female. Males were more likely than females to have two or more victims, to have multiple sexual offence incidents and to have been charged, arrested or summonsed. Most offenders were proceeded against for non-penetrative sexual conduct offences (58%, n=6,042), but patterns of offence types varied for different offender groups. Adult offenders were more likely than youth offenders to have non-penetrative or penetrative offences and to have been charged, arrested or summonsed for a sexual offence. Offenders were proceeded against for sexual offences involving a total of 9,767 identified victims.

References

URLs correct as at March 2026

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Australian Bureau of Statistics 2025b. Recorded crime – offenders. Canberra: ABS. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/recorded-crime-offenders/2023-24

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Contents

  • Acknowledgements
  • Acronyms and abbreviations
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
    • Data collection
    • Definitions
    • Data items and coding
    • Calculation of rates
    • Counting rules
    • Limitations
    • Changes from previous report
  • Sexual offenders
    • Sex of offenders
    • Age of offenders
    • Types of sexual offences
  • Sexual offence victims
  • Youth offenders
    • Sex of youth offenders
    • Age of youth offenders
    • Types of sexual offences
    • Indigenous status
    • Offender–victim relationship
    • Location of offending
    • Number of incidents and victims
    • Number and type of proceedings
    • Prior police proceedings
  • Adult offenders
    • Sex of adult offenders
    • Age of adult offenders
    • Types of sexual offences
    • Indigenous status
    • Type of police proceedings
    • Prior police proceedings
    • Adults with child sexual offences
    • Adults with non-child sexual offences
    • Adults with child and non-child sexual offences
  • References
  • Appendix A: Methodology
    • State and territory data items coding
  • Appendix B: Data tables