Police Scotland warn rape is at the "highest level of recording", with sex crimes overall having risen by almost 15 per cent to 12,267 between April and December last year.
Data shows 98 girls aged under 13 were raped - a surge of more than 36 per cent on the previous year and the highest number recorded in the past three years.
Overall, 2,241 serious sexual assaults were reported between April and December, up 169 on the previous year, according to the force report.
The report, which went before the Scottish Police Authority's policing performance committee today, reveals rape now accounts for "almost one fifth of all reported sexual crimes".
Critics today demanded tougher action to tackle the worsening epidemic of violence against women and girls
Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for justice Liam Kerr MSP said the "deeply alarming figures" show violence against women and girls remains a serious and growing problem in Scotland.
He said: "After nearly two decades in power, the SNP's relentless weakening of the justice system is leaving our streets less safe and failing to protect victims.
"The Scottish Conservatives would ensure that victims are put first and that there is a visible police presence in our communities to help them keep safe."
Mr Kerr added: "Violent offenders should know they will feel the full consequences of the law but the SNP cannot be trusted to do this.
"That is why it is crucial Scots use their peach ballot paper in May to stop an SNP majority and ensure that we elect as many MSPs as possible to fight against the SNP's reckless justice policies."
Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said the "horrifying figures" show violence against women and girls is endemic in Scotland.
Ms McNeill said: "It is all the more worrying in this context that so many Rape Crisis centres in Scotland are facing such acute funding pressure.
"The SNP must urgently investigate what is driving this shameful rise in sexual violence and domestic abuse. It is a scandal that so many women are unsafe in our communities and even in their own home.
"The SNP's inaction in the face of rising rates of serious sexual crime is a major failure of their time in government."
She added: "We must use every power we have to tackle this crisis - making sure our justice system works and doing the preventative work that needs to be done with boys and young men."
The force report shows rapes of girls aged 13-15 and boys aged 13-15, as well as boys under 13, also increased compared with the previous year.
According to Police Scotland, almost 60 per cent of rapes recorded during the period - 1298 crimes - were "domestic".
They admit the number of domestic rapes could be even higher due to "inconsistencies in recording".
Across the force's 13 divisions, eight recorded an increase in rapes compared with the previous year.
In December 2024, a predator who had avoided prosecution for a sex attack under the controversial guidelines went on to rape a teenager.
Lennox McGhee was 15 when he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in 2020 but the case didn't go to court.
With no jail term or criminal record, it meant he was free to target more young women and just two years later, he raped a 15-year-old girl in a park in East Kilbride.
McGhee, now 20, was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of the sex attack in December and had to be treated as a first offender, meaning he was jailed for four years and eight months.
The highest numbers were recorded in Greater Glasgow with 394 crimes, followed by Tayside with 230 crimes and Lanarkshire with 224 crimes.
The rise in sexual violence comes amid revelations 13 Scottish rape charges were diverted from prosecution between July 2023 and November last year, with seven more cases ongoing.
Diversion rules were designed for people committing low-level offences such as vandalism or theft to be handled through social work, intervention or rehabilitation.
But these rules have started being applied to young men accused of rape.
Instead of facing trial, alleged attackers can be given therapy and spared a criminal conviction.
In the force report, deputy chief constable Alan Spears said recorded rape crimes were at the highest level since comparable figures began.
He said: "Over half of rape crimes reported between April and December included a domestic element.
"Women and girls should be able to live their lives free from all forms of violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation.
"My hope is that higher levels of reporting indicate increased confidence in victims coming forward.
"We will continue to work alongside partners to focus on a trauma-informed approach from first point of contact."
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said any increase in reported crimes was "of concern", particularly those relating to sexual offences.
She said: "It is abhorrent that such crimes, which are mainly against women by men, take place.
"We remain steadfast in our commitment to preventing this violence and addressing the underlying actions and attitudes that perpetuate it through our Equally Safe strategy.
"Whilst we recognise that some of this increase may be due to actions to increase confidence in the justice system so more victims come forward to report sexual crimes, ultimately it is still appalling that so many women and girls are subject to sexual offences and violence."
The Crown Office has said diversion aims to address the underlying causes of offending and used when deemed the most appropriate course of action.
They say it is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Rape Crisis Scotland were contacted for comment.
[h t t p s://youtu.be/ZPrecJHUOUs?si=EUYt1LqUhI4YTDTt]
When it works like that what do you wonder?