Where are women most unsafe in India?
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Delhi recorded the highest crime rate against women in the country in 2024.
India loses 16 women every day to dowry-related harassment. But violence against women in India goes far beyond dowry deaths. Across India, the safety of women varies dramatically across states and cities, and sometimes even by a few kilometres.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Delhi recorded the highest crime rate against women in the country in 2024, with 130.7 cases per lakh women. Delhi has held this position between 2022 and 2024.
Close behind are Telangana, Odisha, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Telangana reported 128.6 cases per lakh women in 2024, while Odisha crossed 118. These numbers include crimes registered under the Indian Penal Code, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Special and Local Laws.
At the other end of the table sits Nagaland, with just 5.1 cases per lakh women in 2024 — by far the lowest in the country. Manipur and Gujarat also reported crime rates well below the national average (64.6).
Between 2020 and 2024, some states recorded sharp declines in crime rates against women. Assam saw the biggest fall, with the crime rate dropping from 154.3 to 59.3, a decline of 95 cases per lakh women. Jharkhand, West Bengal and Gujarat also recorded significant declines during the period. However, some states moved in the opposite direction. Telangana recorded the sharpest rise in crime rate against women, increasing from 95.4 in 2020 to 128.6 in 2024.
Safe and unsafe cities
Jaipur reported the highest crime rate among all surveyed cities: 199.6 cases per lakh women. Lucknow and Indore follow closely. At the city level, Delhi recorded 176.7 crimes per lakh women in 2024.
Now compare that to Chennai, which reported just 25.4 cases per lakh women — one of the lowest rates among major cities. Kolkata and Coimbatore also ranked among the safer cities. The gap between Jaipur and Chennai is not small; it is nearly eight times.
Major crimes against women declined
Data shows that several major crimes against women actually declined in 2024 compared to the previous year. Cases of cruelty by husbands or relatives fell by 14 per cent. Kidnapping and abduction dropped by 20 per cent. Assaults on women fell sharply by 42 per cent. Even dowry-related crimes recorded an eight per cent fall between 2023 and 2024.
India loses 16 women every day to dowry-related harassment. But violence against women in India goes far beyond dowry deaths. Across India, the safety of women varies dramatically across states and cities, and sometimes even by a few kilometres.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Delhi recorded the highest crime rate against women in the country in 2024, with 130.7 cases per lakh women. Delhi has held this position between 2022 and 2024.
Close behind are Telangana, Odisha, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Telangana reported 128.6 cases per lakh women in 2024, while Odisha crossed 118. These numbers include crimes registered under the Indian Penal Code, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Special and Local Laws.
At the other end of the table sits Nagaland, with just 5.1 cases per lakh women in 2024 — by far the lowest in the country. Manipur and Gujarat also reported crime rates well below the national average (64.6).
Between 2020 and 2024, some states recorded sharp declines in crime rates against women. Assam saw the biggest fall, with the crime rate dropping from 154.3 to 59.3, a decline of 95 cases per lakh women. Jharkhand, West Bengal and Gujarat also recorded significant declines during the period. However, some states moved in the opposite direction. Telangana recorded the sharpest rise in crime rate against women, increasing from 95.4 in 2020 to 128.6 in 2024.
Safe and unsafe cities
Jaipur reported the highest crime rate among all surveyed cities: 199.6 cases per lakh women. Lucknow and Indore follow closely. At the city level, Delhi recorded 176.7 crimes per lakh women in 2024.
Now compare that to Chennai, which reported just 25.4 cases per lakh women — one of the lowest rates among major cities. Kolkata and Coimbatore also ranked among the safer cities. The gap between Jaipur and Chennai is not small; it is nearly eight times.
Major crimes against women declined
Data shows that several major crimes against women actually declined in 2024 compared to the previous year. Cases of cruelty by husbands or relatives fell by 14 per cent. Kidnapping and abduction dropped by 20 per cent. Assaults on women fell sharply by 42 per cent. Even dowry-related crimes recorded an eight per cent fall between 2023 and 2024.
