Rape complaints in the Basque Country have surged by 28% in 2024 compared to last year, with an alarming 500% increase since 2014, according to the Ministry of the Interior’s ‘Crime Balance of 2024.’
In the past year alone, there were 302 reported cases of sexual assault, averaging nearly one complaint a day. Biscay saw the highest number of incidents, with 160 cases, followed by Gipuzkoa (90) and Álava (45). This marks a 77% rise in such crimes since 2019, prior to the pandemic.
The Basque Prosecutor’s Office has revealed troubling statistics in Biscay, where 64% of those arrested for sexual crimes are of foreign origin. Additionally, the number of rapes committed by minors has jumped by 93% from 2022, with 56 cases recorded in 2023. Alongside this, complaints of sexual abuse involving minors increased by 40%. Prosecutor Carmen Adán highlighted these disturbing trends in a recent report to the Basque Parliament, noting that crimes committed by young immigrants—especially violent crimes—are a growing concern, with sexual offenses standing out as the most alarming.
