In 2025, the rape rates reported across India’s 28 states and 8 union territories (UTs) present a multifaceted picture of crime reporting, societal influences, and data deficiencies.

According to information from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India’s average rape rate is approximately 3.78 reported incidents per 100,000 women and girls.

Nonetheless, the disparities among regions are significant, with Rajasthan leading at 16.4, while several states and UTs indicate a rate of 0.

This article delves into essential facts, noteworthy insights, and the fundamental causes behind these statistics, including the reasons some areas report no incidents of rape.

State wise Rape cases per 1 Lakh People

Rank	State/Union Territory	Rape Rate (per 1,00,000 people)
1	Rajasthan	16.4
2	Chhattisgarh	13.5
3	Chandigarh	13.3
4	Delhi	12.9
5	Haryana	12.3
6	Arunachal Pradesh	11.1
7	Assam	8.7
8	Madhya Pradesh	8.0
9	Uttarakhand	7.9
10	Goa	6.8
11	Odisha	6.5
12	Kerala	5.8
13	Jharkhand	5.2
14	Himachal Pradesh	4.5
15	Telangana	4.2
16	Maharashtra	4.0
17	Uttar Pradesh	3.5
18	Karnataka	3.4
19	Punjab	3.1
20	Bihar	2.9
21	Andhra Pradesh	2.7
22	Gujarat	2.3
23	West Bengal	2.1
24	Tamil Nadu	0.8
25	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	0
25	DNHDD	0
25	Jammu & Kashmir	0
25	Ladakh	0
25	Lakshadweep	0
25	Manipur	0
25	Meghalaya	0
25	Mizoram	0
25	Nagaland	0
25	Puducherry	0
25	Sikkim	0
25	Tripura	0

Key Facts

Highest Rape Rates: Rajasthan has the highest rape rate at 16.4 per 100,000 women and girls, followed by Chhattisgarh at 13.5, Chandigarh at 13.3, Delhi at 12.9, and Haryana at 12.3.

These areas represent the top five, with rates considerably exceeding the national average.

National Average: The average rape rate in India stands at 3.78, which only accounts for reported incidents. This statistic is influenced by elevated rates in certain states and the absence of reported cases in others.

Lowest Rape Rates: Tamil Nadu has the lowest non-zero rate at 0.8, while twelve regions—including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, and Tripura—exhibit a rape rate of 0.

Urban vs. Rural: Union territories such as Chandigarh and Delhi, characterized by urban populations, rank prominently, indicating that urban areas may experience higher reporting rates due to improved access to law enforcement or increased media attention.

Interesting Observations

Regional Disparities: The top five states and UTs (Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana) have rape rates more than three times the national average.

Rajasthan’s rate of 16.4 is nearly double that of Madhya Pradesh (8.0), the eighth-ranked state, highlighting a significant gap even among high-ranking regions.

North-South Divide: Northern states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi rank high, while southern states like Tamil Nadu (0.8), Andhra Pradesh (2.7), and Karnataka (3.4) report lower rates.

This could reflect differences in social attitudes, law enforcement efficiency, or cultural factors influencing reporting.

Small States and UTs: Smaller states like Arunachal Pradesh (11.1) and Goa (6.8) have surprisingly high rates, possibly due to their small populations amplifying per capita figures or better reporting mechanisms.

Zero Rates: The 12 regions with zero rape rates are predominantly smaller states and UTs, many in the Northeast (Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura) or remote UTs (Ladakh, Lakshadweep).

This raises questions about data reliability and reporting practices.

Why Do Certain States and Union Territories Report Zero Rape Rates?

The reported zero rape rates for twelve states and Union Territories (UTs) do not necessarily imply the absence of sexual violence.

Instead, various factors contribute to these statistics:

Underreporting: In India, rape is significantly underreported due to social stigma, fear of retaliation, and a lack of confidence in the justice system. In smaller or remote areas such as Lakshadweep or Nagaland, cultural norms or community pressures may further deter victims from coming forward.

Data Gaps: The data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) may not adequately reflect specific rape statistics for smaller UTs or regions affected by conflict, such as Manipur and Jammu & Kashmir, where law enforcement may prioritize other offenses or experience disruptions.

For the year 2022, there was no specific data on rape rates available for these areas, resulting in a recorded rate of zero.

Small Populations: Union Territories like Ladakh and Lakshadweep have very small populations, meaning that even a few reported cases may not result in a significant per capita rate, or the data may be aggregated in a way that leads to zero reported rates.

Conflict and Instability: In states such as Manipur, ethnic violence and unrest in 2022 hindered normal crime reporting. Sexual violence in conflict zones is frequently underreported or misclassified, which contributes to the zero rates reflected in official statistics.

Administrative Issues: Certain UTs, including Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, may possess less effective crime reporting systems, or their data may be combined with that of other regions, obscuring specific statistics on rape.

The underlying reason for the zero rape rates is not that these areas are devoid of sexual violence, but rather a combination of underreporting, limitations in data collection, and contextual factors such as conflict or small population sizes.

Research conducted by human rights organizations indicates that sexual violence does occur in these regions but often remains unreported or is addressed outside of formal legal frameworks.

Conclusion

The data on rape rates for Indian states and Union Territories in 2025 reveals considerable regional differences, with Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh at the forefront.

Meanwhile, twelve regions report zero rates, a situation attributed to underreporting, gaps in data, and contextual challenges. The national average of 3.78 obscures these disparities and the larger issue of unreported incidents.

For policymakers and advocates, it is essential to address underreporting, enhance data collection in smaller areas, and confront social stigma to effectively understand and mitigate sexual violence throughout India.

The zero rates observed in certain regions should be viewed as a call to action rather than an indication of success, prompting a more thorough investigation into the obstacles that victims encounter when seeking justice.

Source

• Crime in India – NCRB.gov.in
• Women and Men in India 2023