BRAZIL · CRIME AND SAFETY
Key Facts
- The country Brazil, where São Paulo is the largest city, with about 12 million people.
- Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 75.0 points (October 2026 edition).
- What happened São Paulo rape cases reached 2,458 from January to September 2026, up 11.5% on 2025.
- The wider picture Across São Paulo state, rape cases rose 5% to 11,498, while city homicides and robberies fell.
- What officials say The state security secretariat calls violence against women a priority and points to more women’s police stations.
São Paulo rape cases reached 2,458 from January to September 2026, up 11.5% on the same months of 2025. The state Secretariat of Public Security, which runs police statistics, released the figures on Thursday 29 October 2026.
For US readers, the numbers matter because São Paulo is the main business and travel gateway to Brazil. The count covers cases brought to the police, and it rose while robberies and homicides in the city fell.
What Happened
The secretariat counted 2,458 rapes in the city in the first nine months of 2026, about nine a day. That is 11.5% more than in January to September 2025, when the count was roughly 2,200.
September alone brought 268 cases, against 256 in September 2025, a rise of 4.7%. The year has been uneven: the first half closed at 1,648 cases, up 10.8%, and July showed 259 against 218, up 18.8%.
The category covers two offences in Brazilian law. These are rape of an adult and rape of a vulnerable person, a term that includes children under 14.
Across the whole state of São Paulo, rape cases rose 5% in the nine months, to 11,498 from 10,950 a year earlier. In September alone the state total fell 2.3% to 1,281, so the city’s rise that month ran against the state trend.
What Authorities Say
In a statement, the secretariat said that tackling violence against women is a priority and cited work on prevention, victim support, protection and investigation. It said the network of women’s police stations and attached service rooms has grown from 202 to 379 units under the current state administration.
The secretariat added that the city has nine specialised women’s police stations, seven of them open around the clock. Across the state there are 144 such stations, and 39 of them work without a break.
Why It Matters
São Paulo rape cases are rising while almost every other major crime indicator is falling. Robberies in the city dropped 15.6% in the nine months, and homicides fell from 376 to 338, a drop of 10.1%.
The state government has pointed to the falling robbery and homicide numbers as progress. Rape is the category moving the other way.
Our earlier look at São Paulo’s mixed crime picture and the 25-year low in robberies show how uneven the trend has been. The new figures add rape cases as the one major indicator that is climbing.
Official rape statistics depend on victims going to the police, so a rise can reflect more crimes, more willingness to report, or both. The figures alone cannot separate the two.
What It Means for You
If you travel to São Paulo, these numbers cover a city of about 12 million people and do not single out a tourist district. The rise is a reason for ordinary precautions, not on its own a reason to change travel plans.
Solo travelers, and women in particular, should use licensed ride services at night, share their location with someone they trust, and never leave drinks unattended. Our Brazil safety guide for expats lists practical steps by district.
In an emergency in Brazil, call 190 for the police. Women who need help can call 180, the national hotline for women, or go to one of the women’s police stations that take reports directly.
Companies with staff in the city may want to refresh safety briefings, and our São Paulo city page gives more context. Visitors to the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend face the same city conditions as residents, so the same precautions apply.
What Is Not Known
The figures do not show whether São Paulo rape cases are rising because of more crimes or more victims coming forward. They also do not name a cause for the increase.
How the 2,458 cases divide between adult victims and vulnerable victims is not yet confirmed. Nothing in the data shows where in the city the cases are concentrated.
The final 2026 total is not known, since October, November and December are still to be counted. The next monthly release will show whether the upward trend continues.
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Rapes Were Recorded in São Paulo?
São Paulo rape cases reached 2,458 from January to September 2026, up 11.5% on the same months of 2025. State security secretariat data show about nine cases a day.
Is São Paulo Safe for Visitors?
Robberies and homicides in the city fell in the same period, but rape cases rose. Ordinary precautions such as licensed rides at night apply, and nothing in the data singles out tourist areas.
What Counts as Rape in These Figures?
The count combines rape and rape of a vulnerable person, a legal term that includes children under 14. It covers only cases brought to the police, so it is not an estimate of all crimes.
Sources: Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria Municipal de Segurança Urbana, city crime updates, 30 October 2026; Secretaria da Segurança Pública do Estado de São Paulo (SSP-SP), monthly crime statistics and statement, released 29 October 2026, 29 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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