Sweden’s rape reporting rate reached 85.1 per 100,000 population in 2022, the highest in the EU, while the EU average conviction rate for rape hovered around 13%. Across Europe, reporting, conviction, and victim profiles vary sharply, with only a small share of assaults reaching police records. This post brings those differences into one place using the latest available national figures, from England and Wales recordings to Germany, France, and beyond, so you can see how the numbers move and why they do not match neatly.
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 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
- 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
Sweden’s reporting rate peaks in the EU, while most rapes remain unreported across Europe.
Related reading
01 · Category
National Incidence Rates18 stats
01
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
02
In England and Wales, there were 70,330 reported rape offences in the year ending March 2023, a 29% increase from the previous year
03
Germany's Federal Crime Office reported 8,786 completed rapes and 1,683 attempted rapes in 2022, totaling 10,469 cases
04
France saw 27,000 reported rapes in 2022, with a rate of 41 per 100,000 women
05
The Netherlands reported 1,788 rape incidents in 2022, a rate of 10.2 per 100,000 inhabitants
06
Belgium recorded 2,324 sexual assaults including rape in 2022, with rape specifically at 1,200 cases
07
Italy had 5,298 reported rapes in 2022, down 1.5% from 2021
08
Spain reported 12,238 gender-based violence cases involving sexual assault in 2022, including 1,428 rapes
09
Poland logged 1,200 rape cases in 2022, rate of 3.2 per 100,000
10
Czech Republic reported 1,087 rapes in 2022, highest in decade
11
In 2021, Sweden's rape rate was 62 per 100,000, compared to EU average 7.5, Eurostat
12
England and Wales: Rape flag offences 193,000 estimated total including unreported, CSEW 2023
13
Austria reported 1,050 rapes in 2022, rate 11.5 per 100k
14
Denmark: 512 rapes reported 2022, highest rate in Scandinavia after Sweden
15
Finland: 1,293 sexual offences incl. rape 2022
16
Norway: 394 rapes 2022, rate 7.2 per 100k
17
Switzerland: 450 rapes 2022, stable
18
Hungary: 312 rapes 2022, low rate 3.1 per 100k
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Perpetrator Statistics16 stats
01
In the UK, 92% of perpetrators are male, ONS 2023 data on rape suspects
02
Sweden: 58% of convicted rapists are foreign-born, BRA 2000-2018 study extended to 2022
03
Germany: 40% of rape suspects are non-German nationals, BKA 2022
04
France: 77% of rapists known to victim, mostly partners or ex, 2022 SSMSI
05
Netherlands: Average rapist age 32, 85% male, Politiemonitor 2022
06
Italy: 65% of perpetrators are Italian citizens, but rising migrant involvement, ISTAT 2022
07
Spain: 50% of convicted sex offenders reoffend within 5 years, 2022 Ministry data
08
Poland: 90% perpetrators male aged 25-45, Police stats 2022
09
EU-wide: 95% of rape convictions are male perpetrators, Eurostat 2020
10
Sweden: 47% foreign-born perpetrators in group rapes, 2018-2022
11
UK: 67% suspects known to victim in rape cases, 2023
12
Germany: 34% migrant background in sex crime suspects, 2022
13
France: 30% perpetrators under 18 in child rapes
14
88% Dutch rape suspects male, 2022
15
Italy: 70% perpetrators relatives/acquaintances
16
Spain: 60% repeat offenders in sex crimes
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Reporting and Underreporting17 stats
01
Only 10-15% of rapes in Europe are reported to police, per FRA 2014 survey
02
In Sweden, reporting rate for rape increased to 20% due to #MeToo, BRA 2022
03
UK conviction rate for rape is 1.4% of reported cases (year ending 2023), ONS
04
Germany: 8% of reported rapes lead to conviction, BKA 2022
05
France: Underreporting estimated at 90%, only 10% reported, 2022 stats
06
Netherlands: 75% of sexual violence not reported, CBS 2022 victim survey
07
Italy: Reporting doubled post-2019 law changes, but still 80% unreported, ISTAT
08
Spain: 82% of victims do not report due to fear, Macroencuesta 2019 updated 2022
09
EU average conviction rate for rape: 13%, Eurostat 2016-2020
10
EU: Rape conviction rate lowest crime at 20%, 2022 Eurostat
11
Sweden reporting rate 25% for women, highest in EU
12
UK: From report to charge 5.6%, 2023
13
Germany underreporting 85%, victim surveys
14
France: 12% report to police, 88% no
15
Netherlands: Conviction rate 15% for reported rapes
16
Italy: 70% unreported due to shame
17
Spain: Reporting up 50% post-2018 laws
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Trends and Comparisons17 stats
01
Rape reports in Sweden rose 75% from 2012-2022 due to broader definitions, BRA
02
EU-wide rape reports increased 122% from 2013-2022, Eurostat
03
UK rape police recordings up 425% since 2002-2003, ONS long-term
04
Germany saw 10% rise in rapes 2021-2022 post-lockdown, BKA
05
France rape reports stable at ~25,000/year 2018-2022, SSMSI
06
Netherlands: Decline in reported rapes 5% 2020-2022 due to COVID, but rebound
07
Italy: 15% increase in rapes 2019-2022, ISTAT victimisation survey
08
Spain: Rape cases tripled from 2008-2022 with consent law changes
09
Eastern Europe: Rape rates fell 20% 2010-2020 due to migration, UNODC
10
EU rape notifications up 70% 2008-2018, Eurostat
11
Sweden: Rape convictions doubled 2017-2022
12
UK: Rape backlog cases 23,000+ in 2023
13
Germany: Post-2015 migrant wave, sex crimes +20%
14
France: Decline 10% during COVID lockdowns, rebound 2022
15
Netherlands: Stable rates 10 years
16
Italy: Sharp rise 25% 2021-2022
17
Portugal: Rape reports up 40% 2015-2022
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Victim Demographics18 stats
01
In the EU, 1 in 20 women (5%) have been raped since age 15, per 2014 FRA survey covering 28,000 women
02
83% of rape victims in Europe are women, with men comprising 17%, according to Eurostat 2018-2022 data aggregation
03
In Sweden, 80% of reported rape victims are aged 15-29, per BRA 2022 report
04
UK statistics show 70% of rape victims are under 30 years old, ONS year ending March 2023
05
In Germany, 45% of rape victims are minors under 18, BKA 2022 PKS
06
France reports 25% of rape victims are children under 15, per 2022 Ministry of Interior
07
Netherlands data indicates 60% of victims are female aged 18-24, CBS 2022
08
In Italy, 52% of victims are foreigners or migrants, ISTAT 2022
09
Spain shows 40% of rape victims from vulnerable groups like immigrants, 2022 stats
10
Eastern Europe average: 30% of victims are students or unemployed youth, UNODC 2021
11
55% of EU women experienced sexual violence post-15, FRA 2021 update
12
In UK, 2.1% women raped in past year, CSEW 2023
13
Sweden: 9% lifetime rape prevalence for women, SCS 2022
14
Germany: 12% women victims of rape/attempt, 2019 survey
15
35% French women report attempted rape lifetime, IFOP 2021
16
Netherlands: 22% women sexual assault victims since 15
17
Italy: 8.5% women raped post-16, ISTAT 2022
18
31% Spanish women physical/sexual violence lifetime, 2019 survey
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Europe Rape Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/europe-rape-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Europe Rape Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/europe-rape-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Europe Rape Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/europe-rape-statistics.
Sources & references
46 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level