Fact check: What are the lowest rape rates in European countries according to 2024 statistics?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, specific 2024 rape rate statistics for European countries are not provided in any of the sources examined. However, the most relevant data comes from the EU gender-based violence survey (wave 2021), which indicates that the countries with the lowest percentages of women who experienced non-partner violence were Bulgaria (6%), Poland (8%), and Czechia (10%) ^[1].

The sources reveal that every third woman in the EU has experienced gender-based violence ^[1], highlighting the widespread nature of this issue across Europe. While some sources discuss sexual violence in specific countries like France ^[2] and mention rising sexual violence in Germany ^[3], none provide comprehensive comparative data for 2024 specifically.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several critical pieces of context are missing from the available data:

• No actual 2024 statistics are provided in any of the analyses, despite the original question specifically requesting 2024 data
• Methodological differences in how countries collect and report rape statistics are not addressed, which significantly impacts cross-country comparisons
• Legal framework variations across European countries affect reporting rates - the sources mention that 20 European countries have adopted consent-based rape laws as of May 2023 ^[4], but don't explain how these legal changes impact statistical reporting
• Cultural and social factors that influence reporting rates in different countries are not discussed
• The distinction between reported crimes and actual prevalence is not clearly addressed in the available data

The focus on "non-partner violence" in the EU survey data ^[1] may not capture the full picture of sexual violence, as it excludes intimate partner rape, which represents a significant portion of sexual violence cases.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that reliable, comprehensive 2024 rape rate statistics exist and are readily available for European countries. This assumption is problematic because:

• Statistical reporting lags mean that comprehensive, verified statistics for 2024 would likely not be available yet, especially given that we're still in 2025
• The question conflates different types of data - some countries may report police statistics while others report survey-based prevalence data
• There's an inherent bias toward countries with better reporting systems - countries with lower reported rates may simply have less effective reporting mechanisms or greater social stigma around reporting sexual violence

The framing of the question as seeking "lowest rape rates" could inadvertently promote a misleading narrative that certain countries are inherently "safer" when the reality may be that they have less effective reporting systems, greater social stigma, or different legal definitions of sexual violence.