While popular memory often associates witchcraft almost exclusively with women, the historical reality in Central Europe shows a different distribution:

: Most were poor peasants or artisans, representing a sample of the ordinary population rather than social elites.

: In certain areas of the Holy Roman Empire between 1530 and 1730, the percentage of male victims ranged from 13% to 27%. In some specific regions like Carinthia, men formed the majority at 68% of those accused.

Men accused of witchcraft often shared specific social characteristics that made them vulnerable:

: Approximately one in four (25%) accused witches in Central Europe was male.

The historical guide to male witches in Central Europe, particularly based on the seminal work Man as Witch: Male Witches in Central Europe by Rolf Schulte, reveals that men were a significant but often overlooked demographic in the early modern witch trials. Statistical Overview