In 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had Africa's highest organized crime index in Africa, scoring 7.35 points. Nigeria ranked second with a total of 7.28 points. To follow, other African countries with significant criminality levels were South Africa, Kenya, Libya, and the Central African Republic. Main criminal markets in Africa Human trafficking is the main type of crime perpetrated in Africa. In 2022, over 21,700 human trafficking victims were identified in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most victims of trafficking in persons on the continent are girls and women, who are predominantly victims of forced labor and sexual exploitation. Other common forms of criminality in Africa are financial crimes, as well as arms trafficking, which include the illegal trade of unauthorized small arms, ammunition, and explosives. Terrorism across Africa In recent years, terrorism has spread at particularly high levels in some African countries. Nigeria, headquarter of the Boko Haram terrorist group, has been facing high levels of crime, violence, and poor national security, and ranked among the highest 10 countries in the global terrorism index in 2022. However, Nigeria and Niger have seen improvements between 2020 and 2022, with the hot spot area in the region moving more towards the border area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Furthermore, terrorism tends to have adverse effects on the economy. For example, the economic impact of terrorist acts between 2007 and 2019 in Nigeria amounted to around 142 billion U.S. dollars.

In 2023, Singapore had the highest criminal justice index score across the Asia-Pacific region, with **** points out of one. In contrast, Afghanistan and Myanmar had the lowest criminal justice index scores in the Asia-Pacific region, scoring **** points each in 2023.

The average for 2017 based on 97 countries was 7.4 homicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in El Salvador: 61.8 homicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Japan: 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Historical chart and dataset showing Brazil crime rate per 100K population by year from 1990 to 2020.

Introduction

Crime Statistics: Crime affects how we live, where we go, and how safe we feel every day. The latest numbers from 2025 reveal significant shifts in the types of crimes occurring and their geographical distribution. As towns and cities grow and new technologies are introduced, it's essential for everyone—from parents and students to business owners and local leaders—to understand what is happening.

This Crime Statistics will break down the newest US crime data, including violent crimes, property crimes, where crime is rising or falling, how police are responding, and which groups are most at risk. These facts and figures aren't just stats—they show what's happening in real communities and help us make better choices for a safer future.

As of 2024, Libya was the North African country with the highest crime index, achieving **** index points. The index measures the level of crime in a given country or city. Algeria followed with a score of **** (moderate level). In contrast, Tunisia registered the lowest crime index in North Africa in that year.

In 2023, the District of Columbia had the highest reported violent crime rate in the United States, with 1,150.9 violent crimes per 100,000 of the population. Maine had the lowest reported violent crime rate, with 102.5 offenses per 100,000 of the population. Life in the District The District of Columbia has seen a fluctuating population over the past few decades. Its population decreased throughout the 1990s, when its crime rate was at its peak, but has been steadily recovering since then. While unemployment in the District has also been falling, it still has had a high poverty rate in recent years. The gentrification of certain areas within Washington, D.C. over the past few years has made the contrast between rich and poor even greater and is also pushing crime out into the Maryland and Virginia suburbs around the District. Law enforcement in the U.S. Crime in the U.S. is trending downwards compared to years past, despite Americans feeling that crime is a problem in their country. In addition, the number of full-time law enforcement officers in the U.S. has increased recently, who, in keeping with the lower rate of crime, have also made fewer arrests than in years past.

Historical chart and dataset showing Japan crime rate per 100K population by year from 1990 to 2021.

The average for 2017 based on 79 countries was 105 robberies per 100,000 people. The highest value was in Costa Rica: 1587 robberies per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Oman: 1 robberies per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 2003 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Introduction

Crime statistics: Crime Statistics serve as a crucial tool for understanding and addressing criminal activities within a society. In India, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), established in 1986, is responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data across the country. This data collection aids in identifying trends, allocating resources, and formulating policies to combat crime effectively.

In 2024, India reported a crime rate of 445.9 incidents per 100,000 people, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.56% compared to the previous year. The most prevalent crimes included theft, robbery, and assault. Notably, rape cases increased by 1.1%, and kidnappings saw a surge of 5.1%.

Regional disparities were evident, with Uttar Pradesh recording the highest per capita crime rate at 7.4, followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 5.8, and Jharkhand at 5.3. Urban areas continued to experience higher crime rates compared to rural regions.

The NCRB employs a systematic approach to crime data analysis, encompassing five key steps: collection, categorization, analysis, dissemination, and evaluation. This methodology ensures that the data is not only accurate but also actionable, facilitating informed decision-making by law enforcement agencies and policymakers.

Understanding crime statistics is essential for developing effective strategies to enhance public safety and reduce criminal activities across the nation.

These numbers don't tell the whole story, but they give us a good starting point to understand what's happening in our communities. They can be used as tools to help criminal justice professionals anticipate increased risk of crime.

Crime severity index (violent, non-violent, youth) and weighted clearance rates (violent, non-violent), Canada, provinces, territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 1998 to 2024.

Historical chart and dataset showing East Asia & Pacific crime rate per 100K population by year from 2010 to 2021.

The average for 2017 based on 35 countries was 1.7 homicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in Russia: 9.2 homicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Luxembourg: 0.3 homicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This layer shows the total crime index in the U.S. in 2017 in a multi-scale map (by state, county, ZIP Code, tract, and block group). The pop-up is configured to include the following information for each geography level:Total crime indexPersonal and Property crime indices Sub-categories of personal and property crime indicesThe values are all referenced by an index value. The index values for the US level are 100, representing average crime for the country. A value of more than 100 represents higher crime than the national average, and a value of less than 100 represents lower crime than the national average. For example, an index of 120 implies that crime in the area is 20 percent higher than the US average; an index of 80 implies that crime is 20 percent lower than the US average.Additional Esri Resources:Esri DemographicsU.S. 2017/2022 Esri Updated DemographicsEssential demographic vocabularyEsri's arcgis.com demographic map layers

Annual ranking of countries based on crime rates, political stability, health safety, and environmental safety

In 2024, South Africa ranked first in the crime index among African countries, with a score of **** index points. Nigeria was the second most dangerous country on the continent, obtaining **** points. The index evaluates the overall crime levels in a specific country. Several African countries scored between ** and ** points, indicating high crime levels. Escalating concerns: South Africans worry about crime and violence In 2024, South Africa had one of the highest proportions of respondents expressing concerns about crime and violence compared to other countries participating in an online study. Throughout the period examined, the percentage of participants worried about violence peaked at ** percent in March 2023. The escalating levels of violent crime currently witnessed in the country has caused this significant rise in concerned respondents. South Africa's organized crime landscape In 2023, South Africa ranked the ************* in organized crime compared to its African counterparts. The continent's most prevalent organized criminal activity was **************************************. Moreover, from a regional perspective, Southern African countries had the lowest organized crime rate.

Crime index data for North Carolina and counties.

Historical chart and dataset showing Bosnia crime rate per 100K population by year from 1990 to 2021.

Historical chart and dataset showing Bulgaria crime rate per 100K population by year from 1990 to 2021.

Historical dataset showing Algeria crime rate per 100K population by year from 2006 to 2021.