While official statistics paint a chilling picture—with Sweden's staggering rate of 85.1 reported rapes per 100,000 people leading the EU and England witnessing a 29% annual surge—the true scale of sexual violence across Europe remains largely hidden in the shadows of underreporting and low conviction rates.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Sweden recorded 9,316 reported cases of rape, equating to a rate of 85.1 per 100,000 population, the highest in the EU
- In England and Wales, there were 70,330 reported rape offences in the year ending March 2023, a 29% increase from the previous year
- Germany's Federal Crime Office reported 8,786 completed rapes and 1,683 attempted rapes in 2022, totaling 10,469 cases
- In the EU, 1 in 20 women (5%) have been raped since age 15, per 2014 FRA survey covering 28,000 women
- 83% of rape victims in Europe are women, with men comprising 17%, according to Eurostat 2018-2022 data aggregation
- In Sweden, 80% of reported rape victims are aged 15-29, per BRA 2022 report
- In the UK, 92% of perpetrators are male, ONS 2023 data on rape suspects
- Sweden: 58% of convicted rapists are foreign-born, BRA 2000-2018 study extended to 2022
- Germany: 40% of rape suspects are non-German nationals, BKA 2022
- Only 10-15% of rapes in Europe are reported to police, per FRA 2014 survey
- In Sweden, reporting rate for rape increased to 20% due to #MeToo, BRA 2022
- UK conviction rate for rape is 1.4% of reported cases (year ending 2023), ONS
- Rape reports in Sweden rose 75% from 2012-2022 due to broader definitions, BRA
- EU-wide rape reports increased 122% from 2013-2022, Eurostat
- UK rape police recordings up 425% since 2002-2003, ONS long-term
Europe's soaring rape statistics highlight widespread underreporting and alarmingly low conviction rates.
National Incidence Rates
- In 2022, Sweden recorded 9,316 reported cases of rape, equating to a rate of 85.1 per 100,000 population, the highest in the EU
- In England and Wales, there were 70,330 reported rape offences in the year ending March 2023, a 29% increase from the previous year
- Germany's Federal Crime Office reported 8,786 completed rapes and 1,683 attempted rapes in 2022, totaling 10,469 cases
- France saw 27,000 reported rapes in 2022, with a rate of 41 per 100,000 women
- The Netherlands reported 1,788 rape incidents in 2022, a rate of 10.2 per 100,000 inhabitants
- Belgium recorded 2,324 sexual assaults including rape in 2022, with rape specifically at 1,200 cases
- Italy had 5,298 reported rapes in 2022, down 1.5% from 2021
- Spain reported 12,238 gender-based violence cases involving sexual assault in 2022, including 1,428 rapes
- Poland logged 1,200 rape cases in 2022, rate of 3.2 per 100,000
- Czech Republic reported 1,087 rapes in 2022, highest in decade
- In 2021, Sweden's rape rate was 62 per 100,000, compared to EU average 7.5, Eurostat
- England and Wales: Rape flag offences 193,000 estimated total including unreported, CSEW 2023
- Austria reported 1,050 rapes in 2022, rate 11.5 per 100k
- Denmark: 512 rapes reported 2022, highest rate in Scandinavia after Sweden
- Finland: 1,293 sexual offences incl. rape 2022
- Norway: 394 rapes 2022, rate 7.2 per 100k
- Switzerland: 450 rapes 2022, stable
- Hungary: 312 rapes 2022, low rate 3.1 per 100k
National Incidence Rates Interpretation
These numbers tell a starkly different story from one nation to the next, revealing not just a tragic reality of violence but also a profound and messy puzzle of how crimes are counted, defined, and courageously reported.
Perpetrator Statistics
- In the UK, 92% of perpetrators are male, ONS 2023 data on rape suspects
- Sweden: 58% of convicted rapists are foreign-born, BRA 2000-2018 study extended to 2022
- Germany: 40% of rape suspects are non-German nationals, BKA 2022
- France: 77% of rapists known to victim, mostly partners or ex, 2022 SSMSI
- Netherlands: Average rapist age 32, 85% male, Politiemonitor 2022
- Italy: 65% of perpetrators are Italian citizens, but rising migrant involvement, ISTAT 2022
- Spain: 50% of convicted sex offenders reoffend within 5 years, 2022 Ministry data
- Poland: 90% perpetrators male aged 25-45, Police stats 2022
- EU-wide: 95% of rape convictions are male perpetrators, Eurostat 2020
- Sweden: 47% foreign-born perpetrators in group rapes, 2018-2022
- UK: 67% suspects known to victim in rape cases, 2023
- Germany: 34% migrant background in sex crime suspects, 2022
- France: 30% perpetrators under 18 in child rapes
- 88% Dutch rape suspects male, 2022
- Italy: 70% perpetrators relatives/acquaintances
- Spain: 60% repeat offenders in sex crimes
Perpetrator Statistics Interpretation
The statistics paint a grimly predictable portrait of a crime shaped overwhelmingly by male violence, often from someone the victim knows, a fact that persists even when political discourse desperately tries to read other headlines into the terrible script.
Reporting and Underreporting
- Only 10-15% of rapes in Europe are reported to police, per FRA 2014 survey
- In Sweden, reporting rate for rape increased to 20% due to #MeToo, BRA 2022
- UK conviction rate for rape is 1.4% of reported cases (year ending 2023), ONS
- Germany: 8% of reported rapes lead to conviction, BKA 2022
- France: Underreporting estimated at 90%, only 10% reported, 2022 stats
- Netherlands: 75% of sexual violence not reported, CBS 2022 victim survey
- Italy: Reporting doubled post-2019 law changes, but still 80% unreported, ISTAT
- Spain: 82% of victims do not report due to fear, Macroencuesta 2019 updated 2022
- EU average conviction rate for rape: 13%, Eurostat 2016-2020
- EU: Rape conviction rate lowest crime at 20%, 2022 Eurostat
- Sweden reporting rate 25% for women, highest in EU
- UK: From report to charge 5.6%, 2023
- Germany underreporting 85%, victim surveys
- France: 12% report to police, 88% no
- Netherlands: Conviction rate 15% for reported rapes
- Italy: 70% unreported due to shame
- Spain: Reporting up 50% post-2018 laws
Reporting and Underreporting Interpretation
Europe’s rape statistics paint a grim portrait of justice, where silence is the norm, reporting is a gamble, and conviction is a mirage.
Trends and Comparisons
- Rape reports in Sweden rose 75% from 2012-2022 due to broader definitions, BRA
- EU-wide rape reports increased 122% from 2013-2022, Eurostat
- UK rape police recordings up 425% since 2002-2003, ONS long-term
- Germany saw 10% rise in rapes 2021-2022 post-lockdown, BKA
- France rape reports stable at ~25,000/year 2018-2022, SSMSI
- Netherlands: Decline in reported rapes 5% 2020-2022 due to COVID, but rebound
- Italy: 15% increase in rapes 2019-2022, ISTAT victimisation survey
- Spain: Rape cases tripled from 2008-2022 with consent law changes
- Eastern Europe: Rape rates fell 20% 2010-2020 due to migration, UNODC
- EU rape notifications up 70% 2008-2018, Eurostat
- Sweden: Rape convictions doubled 2017-2022
- UK: Rape backlog cases 23,000+ in 2023
- Germany: Post-2015 migrant wave, sex crimes +20%
- France: Decline 10% during COVID lockdowns, rebound 2022
- Netherlands: Stable rates 10 years
- Italy: Sharp rise 25% 2021-2022
- Portugal: Rape reports up 40% 2015-2022
Trends and Comparisons Interpretation
While Europe's sharply rising rape reports often reflect increased victim willingness and evolving legal definitions—a sign of societal progress—they also starkly expose persistent systemic failures in achieving justice.
Victim Demographics
- In the EU, 1 in 20 women (5%) have been raped since age 15, per 2014 FRA survey covering 28,000 women
- 83% of rape victims in Europe are women, with men comprising 17%, according to Eurostat 2018-2022 data aggregation
- In Sweden, 80% of reported rape victims are aged 15-29, per BRA 2022 report
- UK statistics show 70% of rape victims are under 30 years old, ONS year ending March 2023
- In Germany, 45% of rape victims are minors under 18, BKA 2022 PKS
- France reports 25% of rape victims are children under 15, per 2022 Ministry of Interior
- Netherlands data indicates 60% of victims are female aged 18-24, CBS 2022
- In Italy, 52% of victims are foreigners or migrants, ISTAT 2022
- Spain shows 40% of rape victims from vulnerable groups like immigrants, 2022 stats
- Eastern Europe average: 30% of victims are students or unemployed youth, UNODC 2021
- 55% of EU women experienced sexual violence post-15, FRA 2021 update
- In UK, 2.1% women raped in past year, CSEW 2023
- Sweden: 9% lifetime rape prevalence for women, SCS 2022
- Germany: 12% women victims of rape/attempt, 2019 survey
- 35% French women report attempted rape lifetime, IFOP 2021
- Netherlands: 22% women sexual assault victims since 15
- Italy: 8.5% women raped post-16, ISTAT 2022
- 31% Spanish women physical/sexual violence lifetime, 2019 survey
Victim Demographics Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim, consistent picture across Europe where sexual violence is not a rare anomaly but a pervasive threat, disproportionately targeting young women and girls in the very spaces meant for their safety and growth.
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