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“This was three times higher than the number of cases in the same year in Sweden’s next-door neighbour, Norway, and twice the rate in the United States and the UK. It was more than 30 times the number in India, which recorded about two offences per 100,000 people. “

One has to be very, very careful with international crime comparisons — especially regarding rape.

The definitions of “rape” vary widely from country to country. (E.g. spousal rape isn’t reported in many countries, and there are varying definitions of “statutory rape”, depending on national statutes, if any.) If these statistics were comparing “forcible rape”, then they would be more reliable.

Also, the reporting rates vary widely from country to country.

I’m not trying to diminish the seriousness of this issue in any way — but, the first requirement in comparing any data is to have clear definitions of the terms being compared.

I think you're right, there appears to be an anomaly in Sweden reporting of rape.

For example, Sweden has one of the lowest murder rates in the world, about 1 per 100,000, compared to the U.S. at 4.8 per 100,000.

You would expect a correlation between the violent crime of rape and the violent crime of murder.

I believe that Sweden has a lower standard of evidence to prosecute for rape. Note that Julian Assange, the wikileaders founder, was prosecuted for rape for not using a condom. I don't believe in that case force was even alleged.

You are right about the definition and reportage being different in various countries. I imagine that reporting rape in Sweden is higher because the women there are more ‘empowered’, but I wonder what the effect PC downplaying of muslim on native rapes will have over the long term.