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A viral chart suggests the UK has the highest rate of rape in Europe — however, misleading data, incorrect comparisons, and political bias cloud the truth. it explains what the statistics actually indicate and highlights the importance of context.

Caution: This article includes mentions of sexual assault and other elements that some readers might find upsetting.

A trending bar chart shared on X (refer to the image below) presents a concerning scene. At the top, a red bar marked “United Kingdom” stretches much further than all others, paired with a headline in uppercase: “rapes in Europe.”

As shown in the graphic, the rate of rapes in the UK per 100,000 individuals in 2022 seemed significantly greater compared to Spain, Greece, Germany, and other European countries. However, the chart is a classic example of employing precise figures to mislead and alter the truth.

The truth verification process examined it more closely.

Claim: “The UK has become the rape capital of Europe,” a user shared on X. The statement was seen more than a million times.

Fact check: Misleading.

The data indicating that the UK has 109 rapes per 100,000 individuals is sourced from the World Population Review. These numbers are based on information from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). They also highlight, “the significant challenges in comparing data across different countries.” The website itself advises readers, pointing out the “apples-to-oranges nature of international rape statistics” because of substantial variations in legal definitions, reporting methods, and cultural influences.

“It’s derived from a source that explicitly states, ‘don’t do this because it’s not accurate,’ ” said Tanya Serisier, a criminology lecturer at the Birkbeck University of London and author of “Speaking Out: Feminism, Rape and Narrative Politics,” in an interview with .

Why do the figures deceive?

The data is correctly referenced from World Population Review as of this summer. It has since been revised to 117 rapes per 100,000 individuals — an increase from 25 per 100,000 in 2003. The rate remained close to 100 between 2018 and 2020 before rising to its current level. However, comparing these numbers between nations presents challenges. In 2022, Grenada was first on the list, followed by the United Kingdom, Sweden, Panama, and Iceland.

Lebanon, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong find themselves at the bottom of the ranking.

The European Union’s statistical agency, Eurostat, which gathers comparable data throughout Europe, stated that “concentrating only on the number of criminal offenses can be deceptive and inadequate.” The UK’s relatively high rate is more indicative of its reporting methods and legal classifications rather than the true level of crime.

Why cross-country comparisons fail

Several factors make it challenging to compare crime statistics between different countries.

It begins with how nations characterize rape. Some have extremely limited legal definitions, necessitating evidence of physical assault, threat, or force. Other countries use more extensive definitions. The UK revised its sexual offenses legislation in 2003 to focus on consent.

There are also variations in how different countries record and report criminal activities. For instance, a gang rape might be considered one offense, or, as in the UK, as several offenses committed by each individual involved.

The United Kingdom employs what are known as input statistics, in which a case is recorded alongside the submission of a police report. In some countries, they wait until after a report has been filed, while others wait until an investigation is concluded.

In conclusion, cultural variations exist, including trust in the judicial system, the endurance of rape stereotypes, perspectives on consent, and, as Eurostat notes, the society’s “degree of understanding and tolerance towards sexual violence.”

Each of these elements influences whether a victim chooses to inform the authorities, with the police supplying the data presented in the chart.

A more effective method of assessment

Criminologists suggest an alternative method: victim questionnaires, in which selected groups of individuals are questioned regarding their experiences during a specific timeframe, rather than depending on data from police reports.

Crime statistics only reveal to us — and people frequently use the metaphor of an iceberg — what is visible above the water. These are the incidents that are reported and recorded by official organizations,” Serisier stated. “However, for almost all crimes, there is another level of occurrences that never reach the attention of authorities.

As per data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics, police in England and Wales documented over 71,000 cases of rape in 2024, marking a 479% rise compared to 2002. However, the Crime Survey for England and Wales presents a different perspective. It suggests that approximately 1.9 million adults faced rape or attempted rape in 2022, the most recent year with available figures. Despite this, the percentage of adults reporting they have been raped has stayed fairly consistent since 2005, varying between 0.4% and 0.7% annually.

A continent-wide study featuring uniform questions would be “the only method to determine the actual rate of rape,” stated Marcelo Aebi, a comparative criminologist from the University of Lausanne.

The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention reached a comparable conclusion in a 2020 report, stating: “A properly conducted European survey on crime victims is a more reliable source of information.”

The role of migration

Claim:“The main reason? Unchecked large-scale immigration,” wrote British MP Rupert Lowe, head of the anti-immigration organization Restore Britain, which designed the image. His post has been seen one million times.

Fact check:False.

The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have almost the same proportion of residents born abroad — approximately 16% in 2022 — but the graph indicates that the Dutch rape rate per 100,000 people is less than one-sixth of the UK’s.

The argument frequently put forward is, ‘We are admitting more immigrants, especially from certain regions, and this is raising our rates of sexual assault,’” Serisier explained. “There is no evidence to support this claim in any way.

The United Kingdom does not release information regarding the nationality or ethnic background of offenders. National data indicates that 85% of victims were acquainted with their perpetrator, as found in a government survey carried out between 2014 and 2017.

Several other elements probably played a role in the increase in reported rapes. Following a 2014 revelation by a Metropolitan Police insider that sexual offenses were being underreported by approximately a quarter, the police revised their methods for documenting crime reports. Societal shifts, including the #MeToo movement and prominent cases, may have encouraged more victims to speak out.

Lowe, once a member of Nigel Farage’s populist groupReform UKparty, launched Restore Britain in the summer of 2025. He has advocated for an anti-immigration stance, stating “the asylum system needs to be eliminated” while urging “large-scale deportations” and “the expulsion of millions of individuals.”

I wish to examine the data, as facts should come first,” remarked Marcelo Aebi. “In these matters, there is a great deal of advocacy; individuals who have already decided what they want to express and how to present it. Rhetoric is quite simple.

Although the UK’s rape statistics seem very high, the actual situation is much more complicated. Variations in legal definitions, reporting methods, and cultural influences make global comparisons inaccurate — and assertions connecting immigration to sexual violence lack supporting evidence.

If you are experiencing emotional stress, consult a professional. You can access details about where to get assistance, regardless of your location around the globe, on this website:www.befrienders.org.

Edited by: Astrid Prange de Oliviera, Rayna Breuer, and Rachel Baig

Author: Josh Axelrod