1) "Sweden rape capital of the world" a common line in press and on social media. But, what would happen to Swedish rape statistics if rape laws, definitions and reporting practices from, say, Germany, were applied to Swedish rape cases? A new report does that w/striking results.

2) There's no doubt that number of reported rapes in Sweden high (stats below rapes per 100k). But as many (incl. me) have pointed out, these numbers must be understood in relation to Sweden’s specific legal definitions of rape, and practices for reporting and counting rapes.

3) Sweden’s high rape statistics been used as an argument against immigration, and for the need to protect female citizens. In other words, that the abnormally high number of rapes in Sweden the result of the intake of abnormally high number of immigrants per capita.

4) Swedish Natl Council for Crime Prevention now out w/report showing what would happen to Swedish numbers if German laws applied to Swedish rape cases. Results? In 2016, Swedish reported rapes would have dropped by 76%, from 64 per 100,000 to 15 per 100,000. How can this happen?

5) First, in Germany, to be ”rape” assailant must use/threaten violence. This is not case in Sweden, where sex w/someone in a ”vulnerable state” (drunk, sleeping) sufficient for rape. Using German definition, fully 40% of all recorded rapes in Sweden would NOT be defined as rape.

6) Second, in Sweden all cases of adult sex w/minors under 15 is rape, even w/consent. In Germany (where age of consent is 14) such cases not classified as rape (except in particularly violent cases) but as sexual assault against a child, and not included in German rape stats.

7) Third, when rape report is filed in Sweden it is immediately reported as a rape & included in statistics, even if case is later closed or deemed to have no merit. In Germany, only cases that have been investigated and deemed to have been a rape go though to the statistics.

8) Fourth, in Germany, multiple rapes of a victim by a single rapist count in statistics as one rape. In Sweden, every single act of rape is recorded in national statistics as a separate crime and a separate rape. The impact on numbers can be significant. https://twitter.com/ChrChristensen/status/1218497934733586432

9) Other factors can also impact rape statistics, such as willingness on the part of women in Sweden to report. The comparison w/Germany (which also took in many immigrants) gives a clear indication how legal definitions, procedures and counting can significantly impact numbers.

10) With numbers re-adjusted to German standards, Sweden (at 15/100K) would be around the EU average. That doesn’t make things better. Rape is still a huge problem, and Sweden has a low rape conviction rate (though w/some increase after 2018 change in the law on consent).

11) Since Swedish numbers would decline using other laws/methods, why don't those who claim to want to “protect women” ask why more countries don’t adopt similar, broader definitions of rape? And, what might other countries rape stats look like if they used Sweden's laws/methods?

12) The study and thread are far from all-inclusive—there are many factors to consider—but give an insight into how one of the most-cited statistics from/about Sweden is far more complex than people who present simplistic explanations either know, or are willing to admit.

13) For those interested, the report (in Swedish) can be accessed here. https://www.bra.se/download/18.7d27ebd916ea64de5306c556/1601388382121/2020_2_Anmalda_och_uppklarade_valdtakter_i_Europa.pdf

14) Late addition: since some unable (or unwilling) to get the larger point of this thread...my position is that it’s Sweden that has the more progressive, feminist laws regarding rape. Most of Europe would likely see big increases in reported rapes if they used the same system.

15) Clarification on German law regarding rape, violence and consent mentioned in this thread: the criteria I mentioned were those in effect when the numbers I cited were collected. Germany amended this in 2016 so that, eg, physical resistance was no long required to prove rape.