Due to high rates of rape and sexual violence, certain countries are particularly dangerous for women. Here’s a look at the most dangerous countries based on reported incidents of rape and gender-based violence:
1. Botswana
- Rape Rate: 92.93 incidents per 100,000 people (2024)
- Key Issues: Societal stigma, lack of legal recourse for marital rape, and widespread abuse with nearly 70% of women affected. The failure to adequately address sexual violence contributes to the high rate of reported incidents.
2. Lesotho
- Rape Rate: 82.68 incidents per 100,000 people (2024)
- Key Issues: High rates of sexual violence exacerbated by acute poverty. Many victims face societal backlash for reporting abuse, and some may be married off to their attackers.
3. South Africa
- Rape Rate: 132.4 incidents per 100,000 people
- Key Issues: High prevalence of rape with disturbing statistics revealing that one in four men admits to committing rape. The issue is compounded by systemic failures in addressing and prosecuting sexual violence.
4. India
- Rape Rate: Approximately 90 incidents per day (2022)
- Key Issues: Significant increase in reported rape cases with a high rate of unreported incidents due to fear of retaliation, stigma, and distrust in law enforcement. Many cases go unprosecuted, leaving victims without justice.
5. Sweden
- Rape Rate: 63.54 incidents per 100,000 people (2024)
- Key Issues: Despite being a relatively peaceful country, Sweden has one of the highest recorded rape rates due to broad legal definitions of rape, high public reporting rates, and effective law enforcement that encourages reporting and prosecutes aggressively.
These countries face severe challenges in protecting women and addressing sexual violence. Societal attitudes, legal frameworks, and enforcement practices play critical roles in these issues, highlighting the need for significant reforms and improved support for victims.