Greece has seen sexual violence cases increase sharply over the past 14 years, with police recording 1,250 offences in 2024 compared to just 511 in 2010, according to the latest Eurostat data. That marks a 145% rise, one of the steeper climbs recorded across the European Union during the same period.
Rape cases in Greece also moved upward. Police logged 215 rape offences in 2010. By 2024, that number had reached 352, a jump of roughly 64%.
Experts point out that higher numbers do not always mean more crimes are being committed. Increased reporting, driven by growing public awareness and broader acceptance of speaking out, likely accounts for a significant portion of the rise.
The trend holds across Europe. The EU recorded 256,302 sexual violence offences in 2024. Of those, 98,190, or 38% of the total, were classified as rape. Compared to 2023, sexual violence cases rose 5%, while rape cases climbed 7%.
The decade-long picture is even sharper. Between 2014 and 2024, sexual violence offences across the EU jumped 94%, and rape cases rose 150%.
France reported the highest number of sexual violence cases in 2024, with 96,654 offences. Germany followed with 54,361, and Sweden recorded 21,207. Among countries reporting the lowest figures, Liechtenstein logged just 28 cases, Cyprus recorded 58, and Montenegro reported 49.
In 2024, police recorded 256 302 sexual violence offences, among which 98 190 (38% of the total) were rape offences.
Between 2014 and 2024, sexual violence offences jumped by 94% (+124 350 cases) and rape offences by 150% (+58 983).
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For rape specifically, France again topped the list with 45,288 cases, followed by Germany at 14,266 and Sweden at 9,309. At the lower end, Liechtenstein reported 5 rape cases, Montenegro 27, and North Macedonia 31.
Researchers note that these numbers reflect only police-recorded offences. Actual cases are widely believed to be higher, as many victims never come forward.
Across the EU, sexual violence offences increased at an average rate of nearly 10% per year between 2014 and 2024. Rape offences grew at roughly 7% annually during the same period.
For Greece, the numbers signal a system that is seeing more reports land on record. Whether that reflects an actual rise in violence, a shift in reporting culture, or both, remains an open question that researchers and policymakers continue to examine.
