Countries with the highest rape incidents

Rape is an unlawful sexual activity, typically committed forcibly or under threat of injury, against a person's will.

It is estimated that approximately 35% of women worldwide have experienced sexual harassment in their life, according to World Population Review data of "Rape Statistics by Country 2020."

Because many women who experience sexual violence seldom report or come forward about their incidences, exact rape numbers are challenging to report. 

However, some national studies show that up to 70 percent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to data of the United Nations.

Less than 40% of women who experience sexual violence seek help and less than 10% seek assistance from law enforcement, according to data available on rape in most of the countries.

Here are the 10 countries with the highest rape rates:

1. South Africa

South Africa has the highest rape rate in the world of 132.4. Some 66,196 incidents in per 100,000 people. According to a survey conducted by the South African Medical Research Council, approximately one in four men surveyed admitted to committing rape, according to World Population Review data.

2. Botswana

Botswana is the second with a rate of rape - 92.90 and 1,865 incidents in per 100,000 people.

3. Lesotho

Lesotho has 82.70 rape rate and around 1,777 incidents in per 100,000 people.

4. Swaziland

Swaziland recorded 849 incidents in per 100,000 people with 77.50 rape rate .

5. Bermuda

Bermuda is the fifth country with 67.30 rate of rape and 43 incidents in per 100,000 people.

6. Sweden

Sweden has 63.50 rape rate and around 5,960 incidents in per 100,000 people, according to World Population Review data.

7. Suriname

Suriname recorded 223 incidents in per 100,000 people with 45.20 rate of rape.

8. Costa Rica

Costa Rica has 36.70 rape rate and around 1,685 incidents in per 100,000 people.

9. Nicaragua

Nicaragua recorded 1,829 incidents in per 100,000 people with 31.60 rate of rape.

10. Grenada

Grenada with 30.60 rate of rape, has 32 incidents in per 100,000 people.

Here are some others countries with high rate of rape:

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has 11,682 incidents per 100,000 people among the total population with 9.82 rape rate. According to the local human rights organization Ain-o-Salish Kendra (ASK), between January and September 2020, at least 975 rape cases were reported in Bangladesh, including 208 gang-rapes.

India

The number of rape incidents in India in per 100,000 citizens is 22,172 as of 2020 with 1.80 rape rate. According to the local human rights org, according to World Population Review data. India recorded an average of 87 rape cases daily in 2019.

Pakistan

The NGO Sahil reported 3,832 cases of child abuse in 2018 which is an 11 percent increase from 2017 (3,445 cases).

China

A report conducted by the All-China Women's federation estimated that close to forty percent of Chinese women who are involved in a relationship or are married experience physical or sexual violence.

Japan

The number of rape incidents in per 100,000 citizens is 1,289 as of 2020, according to Nation Master's Crime > Rape rate: Countries Compared data.

USA

The United States has a rape rate of 27.3. As in many other countries with 84,767 reported rape incidents. According to World Population Review data, only 9% of rapists in the US get prosecuted, and only 3% of rapists will spend a day in prison, while 97% of rapists in the United States will walk free.

The self-reported incidence of rape or sexual assault doubled from 1.4 victimizations per 1,000 persons' age 12 or older in 2017 to 2.7 in 2018. Based on data from the survey, it is estimated that 734,630 people were raped (threatened, attempted, or completed) in the United States in 2018. 

In the United States, 70% of rape is committed by someone the victims know. Women ages 16-19 are four times more likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault, and female college students ages 18-24 are three times more likely to experience sexual assault. Transgender people and those with disabilities are twice as likely to be victims of sexual assault or rape.

Russia

Russia has the rape rate of 3.40 with a number of 2,907 cases reported in 2021. 

In 2019, approximately 32 thousand rape and attempted rape crimes were registered in Russia, marking a decrease in number compared to the previous year.

Disclaimer: Figures do not take into account rape incidents that go unreported to the police.