Introduction - All scientific studies examining experiences of sexual violence conclude that the majority of such incidents first occur during childhood. This is a significant risk factor for the development of mental health disorders that can persist into adulthood. The objective of this study is to assess the mental health status of individuals who reported having experienced sexual violence before the age of 15 and to describe the sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of those affected by such violence. Methods - In 2017, the Santé publique France Health Barometer surveyed 25,319 people aged 18 to 75. The variable of interest in this study is whether respondents reported being a victim of sexual violence for the first time before the age of 15.Results - Nearly 6% of women and 1.4% of men reported having been forced to endure or perform sexual touching, or having been forced to have sexual intercourse against their will before the age of 15. Victims of childhood sexual abuse are more likely to experience mental health disorders—particularly women—and have a significantly higher risk of having attempted suicide at some point in their lives than those who did not experience such abuse. Discussion—Despite the well-known underreporting of sexual violence, the results are consistent with the French and international scientific literature. Measuring the phenomenon of violence against children still poses many challenges today, and preventing such violence is a major public health issue. Significant efforts will be needed to advance our understanding of the extent and nature of this phenomenon, as well as its co-occurrence with other adverse life events.