By Milcah Tanimu
Countries with the highest rates of rape incidents often present severe risks for women. Here are five of the most dangerous countries globally for women based on reported rape rates:
1. **Botswana**
Botswana has the highest reported rape rate, with 92.93 incidents per 100,000 people in 2024. Nearly 70% of women experience sexual abuse, driven by societal stigma, fear of retaliation, and inadequate legal protections. Marital rape is not criminalized, leaving many victims without legal recourse.
2. **Lesotho**
Lesotho ranks second with 82.68 rape incidents per 100,000 inhabitants. Sexual violence is widespread, and 56% of people believe that women face repercussions for reporting such abuse. Factors like extreme poverty and a lack of justice for victims exacerbate the issue.
3. **South Africa**
South Africa has one of the highest rape rates globally, with 132.4 incidents per 100,000 people. A survey by the South African Medical Research Council revealed that one in four men admits to committing rape. This alarming statistic reflects a significant public health and safety crisis.
4. **India**
In India, rape cases increased by 20% in 2021, with over 31,000 reported cases. In 2022, there were approximately 90 reported rapes per day. Many cases go unreported due to fear of retaliation and distrust in the legal system, leading to underreporting and a high incidence of unpunished crimes.
5. **Sweden**
Sweden, despite its reputation as a peaceful nation, has a high rape rate of 63.54 per 100,000 inhabitants. The high rate is partly due to a broad legal definition of rape, proactive public reporting, and effective law enforcement. This reflects both the prevalence of sexual violence and the country’s thorough reporting mechanisms.
Addressing these issues requires robust legal frameworks, improved reporting mechanisms, and societal changes to protect women and support victims of sexual violence.
