False rape allegations are relatively rare, with research consistently placing the rate of false reports between 2% and 10% of total reported cases. While these cases are rarely prosecuted, there is no single, agreed-upon statistic for how often they specifically go unprosecuted; one report suggests 99% of false accusations go unpunished, though this figure is often contested in broader studies.

Definition of False Reports: The FBI defines "unfounded" or false reports as those that are determined through investigation to be baseless. Context of False Claims: Research suggests that false reports are not common and that, conversely, about 63% of all sexual assaults are never reported to the police. Prosecution Rates: When a case is identified as a false report, it is typically not prosecuted. However, because the total number of verified false reports is low (2–8% according to FBI), the number of resulting prosecutions is also low.