Newly released data from Eurostat places Portugal in the middle tier of European Union member states concerning reported cases of sexual violence throughout 2024. During that period, the country recorded 3,237 total cases of sexual violence, a figure that includes hundreds of reported rapes.
While these numbers represent a slight increase from 2023, Portugal remains significantly below the rates seen in nations such as France, which recorded the highest volume of complaints, and Germany and Sweden, which also sit at the top of the spectrum. Conversely, countries including Cyprus, Malta, and Lithuania reported the lowest instances of these crimes.
On a broader scale, the European Union as a whole saw a rise in reported sexual violence, with total cases across the bloc reaching over 256,000. This marks a 5% year-over-year increase, while reports specifically classified as rape climbed by 7% during the same timeframe.
These figures underscore a persistent and intensifying challenge regarding sexual safety and reporting across the European region.
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Regarding intentional homicides, Eurostat also provided updated statistics for 2024, placing Portugal 15th among EU nations with 72 recorded cases. This figure reflects a positive long-term trend, as it remains well below the 92 cases recorded a decade prior in 2014.
Across the bloc, France, Germany, and Spain reported the highest numbers of intentional homicides, while Luxembourg, Malta, and Cyprus recorded the lowest. Overall, the EU witnessed a minor 1% increase in intentional homicides compared to 2023, though the current total of 3,953 cases represents an 11% decrease when measured against the 4,448 homicides reported in 2014.
