Official data shows significant differences in the evolution of rape cases recorded by the Police since the year 2000. England and Wales recorded an increase of 747%, while Poland reduced its records by 78%
The cases of rape recorded by the Police show a very different evolution among the analyzed European countries since the year 2000. England and Wales went from 8,593 recorded cases in 2000 to 72,804 in the latest available data, corresponding to the year ending in June 2025.
According to the data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) used in the graph, this represents an increase of 747% compared to the records from 2000.
France also experienced a significant increase. The records went from 7,500 cases in 2000 to 45,288 in 2024, according to Eurostat data. The variation represents an increase of 504%.
Poland reduced recorded cases by 78%
The behavior of Poland was completely different from that of England, Wales, and France. In 2000, 2,399 cases of rape were recorded, while in 2024 the figure fell to 533.
According to Eurostat data reproduced in the graph, this represents a reduction of 78% in the recorded cases during the period.
Violations in Europe
Hungary, on the other hand, showed a much smaller variation. The records went from 412 cases in 2000 to 489 in 2024, equivalent to an increase of 19%.
Police records do not equate to actual prevalence
The data allows us to observe the evolution of complaints or officially recorded cases, but should not be interpreted directly as a measurement of the actual number of rapes committed in each country.
The graph itself warns that legal definitions, reporting mechanisms, and recording practices have changed over time, so the figures from different years are not necessarily perfectly comparable.
Additionally, there are differences between the statistical and legal systems of each country. For this reason, the data serves to observe the evolution of recorded cases, but requires context before using it as a direct measure of the prevalence of the crime.
The numbers presented correspond to the official data used in the graph: ONS for England and Wales and Eurostat for France, Poland, and Hungary.
