Number of rapes rises by 24.6% last year

A total of 1,806 incidents of rape were recorded in the country in 2021, which is 356 cases (24.6 per cent) more than in 2020, according to Statistics Finland.

The recorded number of sexual abuses of a child was 2,055, which is 16.1 per cent more than in the year before.

In 2021, a total of 109 cases of aggravated rape of a child were reported. In 2020, the number was 68.

In the statistics, aggravated rape of a child is included in the figures on cases of sexual abuse of a child.

In addition, 1,415 other sexual offences were reported in the last year. Of them, 726 were cases of sexual harassment, which is 171 cases (30.8 per cent) more than in 2020.

The recorded numbers of rapes and sexual abuses of a child reported to the authorities vary much yearly.

Individual reports of an offence may include a series of incidents comprising several criminal acts.