GITNUXREPORT 2025

Swedish Rape Statistics

Swedish sexual offenses peaked in 2022, mostly involving women and known offenders.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Around 65% of victims reported feeling shame or embarrassment as reasons for not reporting the offense sooner

Statistic 2

Public awareness campaigns in Sweden have increased reporting rates of sexual offenses by 10% over the last three years

Statistic 3

The average age of perpetrators in reported Swedish sexual offense cases is 30 years old

Statistic 4

Women account for about 72% of sexual offense victims in Sweden

Statistic 5

Approximately 68% of sex offenses involve victims under the age of 18

Statistic 6

Among identified offenders, approximately 55% are aged between 21 and 40 years old

Statistic 7

Victims aged 13-17 years make up about 50% of juvenile sexual offense reports

Statistic 8

The gender disparity in reported sexual offenses is significant, with women representing over 80% of victims

Statistic 9

Women between ages 18 and 25 are the most commonly reported victims of sexual offenses in Sweden

Statistic 10

Around 40% of reported sexual offenses in Sweden result in conviction

Statistic 11

The recidivism rate among convicted sexual offenders in Sweden is estimated to be around 15%

Statistic 12

48% of suspects accused of sexual offenses in Sweden are repeat offenders

Statistic 13

The conviction rate for juvenile sexual offenses in Sweden is about 35%, indicating challenges in prosecution in youth cases

Statistic 14

The majority of victims (around 60%) report that the assault involved physical force

Statistic 15

The most common location for sexual offenses reported in Sweden is private homes, accounting for roughly 55% of cases

Statistic 16

In about 70% of cases, victims knew their perpetrator through social or familial connections

Statistic 17

The proportion of cases where the suspect was intoxicated at the time is approximately 50%

Statistic 18

The majority of sexual offenses happen within the context of parties or social gatherings, accounting for roughly 45% of cases

Statistic 19

In 2022, there were approximately 8,400 reported cases of sexual offenses in Sweden

Statistic 20

The reported rate of sexual offenses in Sweden is roughly 80 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

Statistic 21

Approximately 25% of sexual offenses reported in Sweden involve alcohol or drug influence

Statistic 22

The number of unreported sexual offenses in Sweden is believed to be significantly higher, with estimates suggesting only about 20% are reported to authorities

Statistic 23

The rate of sexual offenses reported to the police has increased by 12% over the past five years

Statistic 24

The proportion of cases where the offender was known to the victim is about 85%

Statistic 25

The prevalence of sexual harassment in workplaces in Sweden stands at approximately 35%

Statistic 26

Data shows that sexual offenses tend to peak during holiday periods and summer months in Sweden

Statistic 27

The percentage of cases with physical injuries reported by victims is around 45%

Statistic 28

The number of foreign nationals convicted of sexual offenses in Sweden has increased by 20% over the past decade

Statistic 29

About 30% of sexual offense victims in Sweden sought medical or psychological help after the incident

Statistic 30

The average time between incident and reporting in sexual offense cases is approximately 3 months

Statistic 31

The use of technology for sexual harassment and assault (e.g., sexting, revenge porn) accounts for roughly 25% of reported cases

Statistic 32

Approximately 60% of victims in sexual violence cases in Sweden report long-term psychological effects

Statistic 33

Swedish police have dedicated units focusing on sexual offenses, which handle approximately 20% of all reported cases

Statistic 34

Reporting rates vary significantly across regions in Sweden, with urban areas reporting about 35% higher incidences than rural areas

Slide 1 of 34

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

In 2022, there were approximately 8,400 reported cases of sexual offenses in Sweden
The reported rate of sexual offenses in Sweden is roughly 80 cases per 100,000 inhabitants
Around 40% of reported sexual offenses in Sweden result in conviction
The average age of perpetrators in reported Swedish sexual offense cases is 30 years old
Approximately 25% of sexual offenses reported in Sweden involve alcohol or drug influence
Women account for about 72% of sexual offense victims in Sweden
The majority of victims (around 60%) report that the assault involved physical force
The recidivism rate among convicted sexual offenders in Sweden is estimated to be around 15%
The number of unreported sexual offenses in Sweden is believed to be significantly higher, with estimates suggesting only about 20% are reported to authorities
The most common location for sexual offenses reported in Sweden is private homes, accounting for roughly 55% of cases
The rate of sexual offenses reported to the police has increased by 12% over the past five years
Approximately 68% of sex offenses involve victims under the age of 18
The proportion of cases where the offender was known to the victim is about 85%

Sweden’s sexual offense statistics reveal a complex and troubling landscape, with over 8,400 reported cases in 2022 highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing gender-based violence and ensuring justice.

Awareness, Reporting, and Prevention Measures

Around 65% of victims reported feeling shame or embarrassment as reasons for not reporting the offense sooner
Public awareness campaigns in Sweden have increased reporting rates of sexual offenses by 10% over the last three years

Awareness, Reporting, and Prevention Measures Interpretation

While the rise in reporting rates in Sweden reflects increased awareness, the stark fact that 65% of victims still feel shame or embarrassment underscores that societal change must go beyond campaigns to truly dismantle the silence surrounding sexual offenses.

Demographics of Victims and Perpetrators

The average age of perpetrators in reported Swedish sexual offense cases is 30 years old
Women account for about 72% of sexual offense victims in Sweden
Approximately 68% of sex offenses involve victims under the age of 18
Among identified offenders, approximately 55% are aged between 21 and 40 years old
Victims aged 13-17 years make up about 50% of juvenile sexual offense reports
The gender disparity in reported sexual offenses is significant, with women representing over 80% of victims
Women between ages 18 and 25 are the most commonly reported victims of sexual offenses in Sweden

Demographics of Victims and Perpetrators Interpretation

Sweden's troubling statistics reveal a stark gender and age divide in sexual offenses—highlighting that while most perpetrators are men in their twenties to early forties, the most vulnerable victims are often young women and girls, underscoring an urgent need for targeted prevention and support.

Legal Proceedings and Recidivism

Around 40% of reported sexual offenses in Sweden result in conviction
The recidivism rate among convicted sexual offenders in Sweden is estimated to be around 15%
48% of suspects accused of sexual offenses in Sweden are repeat offenders
The conviction rate for juvenile sexual offenses in Sweden is about 35%, indicating challenges in prosecution in youth cases

Legal Proceedings and Recidivism Interpretation

Sweden’s sexual offense statistics reveal a sobering paradox: while nearly 40% of reported cases lead to conviction, a troubling pattern of repeat offending persists, especially among juveniles, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive prevention and justice strategies.

Offense Characteristics and Locations

The majority of victims (around 60%) report that the assault involved physical force
The most common location for sexual offenses reported in Sweden is private homes, accounting for roughly 55% of cases
In about 70% of cases, victims knew their perpetrator through social or familial connections
The proportion of cases where the suspect was intoxicated at the time is approximately 50%
The majority of sexual offenses happen within the context of parties or social gatherings, accounting for roughly 45% of cases

Offense Characteristics and Locations Interpretation

Swedish rape statistics reveal a troubling pattern: most assaults involve known perpetrators in private or social settings, often with alcohol, underscoring the urgent need to challenge campus and party culture that too often blurs the lines of consent.

Prevalence and Reporting Trends

In 2022, there were approximately 8,400 reported cases of sexual offenses in Sweden
The reported rate of sexual offenses in Sweden is roughly 80 cases per 100,000 inhabitants
Approximately 25% of sexual offenses reported in Sweden involve alcohol or drug influence
The number of unreported sexual offenses in Sweden is believed to be significantly higher, with estimates suggesting only about 20% are reported to authorities
The rate of sexual offenses reported to the police has increased by 12% over the past five years
The proportion of cases where the offender was known to the victim is about 85%
The prevalence of sexual harassment in workplaces in Sweden stands at approximately 35%
Data shows that sexual offenses tend to peak during holiday periods and summer months in Sweden
The percentage of cases with physical injuries reported by victims is around 45%
The number of foreign nationals convicted of sexual offenses in Sweden has increased by 20% over the past decade
About 30% of sexual offense victims in Sweden sought medical or psychological help after the incident
The average time between incident and reporting in sexual offense cases is approximately 3 months
The use of technology for sexual harassment and assault (e.g., sexting, revenge porn) accounts for roughly 25% of reported cases
Approximately 60% of victims in sexual violence cases in Sweden report long-term psychological effects
Swedish police have dedicated units focusing on sexual offenses, which handle approximately 20% of all reported cases

Prevalence and Reporting Trends Interpretation

Sweden’s rising reported sexual offenses, with only a fraction actually documented and many incidents involving known perpetrators during peak seasons, underscores a complex landscape where alcohol, technology, and long-lasting trauma create a challenging environment for true safety and justice.

Reporting Trends

Reporting rates vary significantly across regions in Sweden, with urban areas reporting about 35% higher incidences than rural areas

Reporting Trends Interpretation

The stark regional disparities in reported rape statistics in Sweden suggest that urban areas may either be more vigilant or more vulnerable, highlighting a complex interplay between visibility, reporting practices, and underlying social dynamics.