Which age group has the largest percentage of rape victims?

• A. 19-30 years
• B. Over age 30
• C. 12-18 years
• D. Under 12 years

Answer: (A)

Understanding how rape victimization by age is distributed shows that young adulthood carries the largest share. The 19-30 age range tends to have the highest percentage of victims because this life stage involves greater dating activity, more independent living, and environments like colleges or workplaces where interactions with potential perpetrators can occur. These factors increase exposure and opportunities for victimization, which is reflected in the data.

Older age groups have lower percentages in many datasets, not because risk disappears, but because the number of people in those groups is higher and the patterns of contact and vulnerability change with age. The youngest group (under 12) and teens (12-18) do experience victimization as well, but they typically represent a smaller portion of the total victims in many studies, while those over 30 show lower shares than the late-teens-to-30s bracket. Remember, numbers can vary by dataset and reporting practices, but the general pattern in many national statistics points to young adults being most affected.