The crime rate in Sweden was around 15,000 per 100,000 inhabitants from 2010 to 2020. However it fell in both 2021 and 2022. The total number of crimes also decreased in 2021.

Increased use of firearms

While Sweden usually is perceived as a peaceful country to live in, it has received unwanted attention in recent years for increasing gang violence and incidents involving the use of firearms. In 2022, the country recorded its highest number of shootings and its highest number of fatal-shootings.

The perpetrators

A high majority of the crime suspects in Sweden are men. In 2021, more than three in four crime suspects were men. In terms of age, 30-49-year-olds made up the highest share of suspects.

This is a dataset on reported swedish crime statistics from 1950 to 2023 taken from https://bra.se/bra-in-english/home/crime-and-statistics/crime-statistics.html

The dataset includes - Total number of crimes - Life and Death crimes - Murder, Manslaughter and lethal assault - Assault/Aggravated Assult - Sexual Offences - Rape, Aggravated Rape - Theft, Robbery, Stealing - Burglary not involving firearm - Burglary in flats, Private Houses - Vehicle theft - Theft out of a motor vehicle - Theft from shops, Department stores etc. - Robbery, Aggravated robbery - Fraud and other acts of dishonesty - Criminal Damage - Narcotics - Driving under the influence

Things to consider:

1 Statistic figures on reported completed murder and manslaughter are higher than the actual number of murder and manslaughter.

2 Year 1950-1984 also including "sexual violation".

3 Year 1965-1967 also including burglary involving fire arms, ammunition and explosives.

4 Including crimes against the Narcotics Regulation year 1950-1983. From 1 July 1983 crimes against the Narcotics Regulation is covered by the Narcotics Drugs (Penal) Act section 5a.

5 Since 1 July 1999 also including driving under the influence of illicit drugs.

6 Four cases of embezzlement reported in 1996 covered appx 24'500 offences.

7 Statistics on crimes against creditors (Penal code ch. 11) and tax crimes are incomplete year 1998 and 1999 due incomplete reporting to Brå.

8 Data for year 1999 and 2000 may have been affected by a system change in year 1999/2000.

9 Excluding data where crime is uncategorized. These data were removed from the statistics from year 2003.

The number of homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in Sweden fluctuated over the past 20 years, but was usually around one. It was at its lowest in 2012, when 0.71 homicides per 100,000 inhabitant were registered, and at its highest in 2007 and 2020, reaching 1.2. In 2023, the homicide rate stood at 1.15. That year, 124 homicides were reported in Sweden.

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

In 2022, there was a reduction in theft crimes by 11 percent compared to 10 years ago. On the other hand, the number of property damage cases increased by five percent and fraud crimes by three percent. In 2022, around 1.5 million crimes were committed in Sweden.

Types of crime

The most common crime in Sweden in 2022 was theft crime, which accounted for 27 percent of all crimes. Crimes against people was the second largest type of crime, which accounted for 20 percent of all crimes. On the other hand, traffic crimes made up only five percent of the crimes committed in Sweden that year.

 Theft crimes

While theft crimes made up the largest share of reported crimes, only one percent reported to have been victims of thefts in Sweden. On the other hand, eight percent reported to have been threatened at some point.

The number of reported violent crimes in Sweden increased from 2014 to 2021, before falling slightly in 2022 and 2023. Overall, **** million crimes were reported in Sweden in 2023.

Context

Swedish crime statistics from 1950 to 2015

Content

This data set contains statistics on reported crimes in Sweden (by 100.000) from 1950 to 2015. It contains the following columns:

1. crimes.total: total number of reported crimes
2. crimes.penal.code: total number of reported crimes against the criminal code
3. crimes.person: total number of reported crimes against a person
4. murder: total number of reported murder
5. sexual.offences: total number of reported sexual offences
6. rape: total number of reported rapes
7. assault: total number of reported aggravated assaults
8. stealing.general: total number of reported crimes involving stealing or robbery
9. robbery: total number of reported armed robberies
10. burglary: total number of reported armed burglaries
11. vehicle.theft: total number of reported vehicle thefts
12. house.theft: total number of reported theft inside a house
13. shop.theft: total number of reported theft inside a shop
14. out.of.vehicle.theft: total number of reported theft from a vehicle
15. criminal.damage: total number of reported criminal damages
16. other.penal.crimes: number of other penal crime offenses
17. fraud: total number of reported frauds
18. narcotics: total number of reported narcotics abuses
19. drunk.driving: total number of reported drunk driving incidents
20. Year: the year
21. population: the total estimated population of Sweden at the time

Acknowledgements

Raw data taken from: https://www.bra.se/bra/bra-in-english/home/crime-and-statistics/crime-statistics.html

Historical dataset showing Sweden murder/homicide rate per 100K population by year from 1990 to 2021.

Sweden - Population reporting occurrence of crime, violence or vandalism in their area was 9.40% in December of 2023, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Population reporting occurrence of crime, violence or vandalism in their area - last updated from the EUROSTAT on October of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Population reporting occurrence of crime, violence or vandalism in their area reached a record high of 14.40% in December of 2018 and a record low of 9.40% in December of 2023.

The region with highest number of homicides in Sweden in 2022 was the region of Stockholm, where 38 deaths by homicide were registered. Region South ranked second by number of homicides, with Region West following in third. The lowest number of homicides were recorded in the Northern Region and Region Bergslagen. The number of homicides in Sweden was roughly the same in 2021 as in 2022.

Sweden has witnessed an increase in the rates of sexual crimes including rape. Knowledge of who the offenders of these crimes are is therefore of importance for prevention. We aimed to study characteristics of individuals convicted of rape, aggravated rape, attempted rape or attempted aggravated rape (abbreviated rape+), against a woman ≥18 years of age, in Sweden. By using information from the Swedish Crime Register, offenders between 15 and 60 years old convicted of rape+ between 2000 and 2015 were included. Information on substance use disorders, previous criminality and psychiatric disorders were retrieved from Swedish population-based registers, and Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify classes of rape+ offenders. A total of 3 039 offenders were included in the analysis. A majority of them were immigrants (n = 1 800; 59.2%) of which a majority (n = 1 451; 47.7%) were born outside of Sweden. The LCA identified two classes: Class A — low offending class (LOC), and Class B — high offending class (HOC). While offenders in the LOC had low rates of previous criminality, psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders, those included in the HOC had high rates of previous criminality, psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. While HOC may be composed by more “traditional” criminals probably known by the police, the LOC may represent individuals not previously known by the police. These two separated classes, as well as our finding in regard to a majority of the offenders being immigrants, warrants further studies that take into account the contextual characteristics among these offenders. Key pointsRape, aggravated rape, attempted rape or attempted aggravated rape (rape+) are increasing in Sweden.The majority of those convicted of rape+ are immigrants.LCA identifies two classes of rape+ offenders: LOC and HOC. Rape, aggravated rape, attempted rape or attempted aggravated rape (rape+) are increasing in Sweden. The majority of those convicted of rape+ are immigrants. LCA identifies two classes of rape+ offenders: LOC and HOC.

IntroductionWhile there has been a reduction in specific homicide categories in Sweden, the last decade has witnessed an increase in the overall rate. The escalation is predominantly linked to heightened gun violence associated with criminal gangs. As a result, Sweden faces an extreme rate of shootings and firearm-related homicides, constituting one of the most severe instances across Europe. However, comprehensive scientific studies on this phenomenon are lacking. This paper presents the design of the Violent Crimes in Skåne (ViCS) project, which aims to investigate violent crimes requiring hospitalization or causing death in Sweden’s region Skåne from a medical, forensic, and criminological perspective. The project aims to examine the epidemiology and trends of violent crimes, injury profiles, treatments, patient outcomes, causes of death, and victim demographics.Methods and analysisUsing a retrospective cross-sectional design, ViCS will examine trauma by violent crimes from 2000 to 2019. Data will be sourced from several institutions, including hospital records from nine emergency hospitals, and the National Board of Forensic Medicine Agency. The project aims to study medical and criminological aspects of violent crimes, primarily focusing on assaults involving firearms, sharp weapons, blunt instruments, kicks, punches, and other types of assault like strangulation. Data analysis will involve descriptive and inferential statistics.DiscussionViCS aims to contribute to the limited body of knowledge about victims of violent crimes in Sweden. The findings may inform evidence-based interventions in medical, forensic, and criminological fields, potentially enabling targeted prevention strategies and improvements in emergency care for victims.

Selection of time series of different scientific publications and of publication of the official statistics:

EUROSTAT, European Statistical Office OECD: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development; ONS: Office for National Statistics, England; SCB: Statistiska Centralbyran, Sweden; Federal Statistical Office, Wiesbaden. Deutschland; WHO: World Health Organization.

More than half of students admit to committing crime during the past 12 months. Each documented year, almost ** percent state that they have participated in theft.

In 2023, there were almost ****** men suspected of crimes against another person. Comparably, around ****** women were suspected of the same crime. Moreover, around ***** women were suspected of narcotics offenses, compared to nearly ****** men.

The Study’s Subject: The German Statistical Office of the German Empire compiled a comparative representation of different countrie’s crime statistics. In this context the statistical office was faced with the problem of diverging methodologies and classifications of the countrie’s crime statistics data collections. After World War 1 the “International Statistic Institute (ISI)” and the “International Penal Law and Prison Commission” (IPPC) ) resumed their research activities in the fields of criminal statistics in international comparison. In this context the Statistical Office of the German Empire carried out an investigation of 33 european and non-european countries with the aim to work out a comparative compilation of various criminalstatistical classifications. Is was established that at the time of preparation a comparison of different classifications a comparable international data compilation could not be gathered due to significant differences between the classifications. Finally from the 33 countries it could be compiled time series on criminal statisics only for a small selection of countries. The reason for this situation was the lack of data material for many countries. Therefore, the development of crime could be presented in form of time series for the following countries: - Austria- England and Wales- France- German Empire- Sweden- Canada- Japan In terms of the crime statistical objective data on lawsuit processes (for example the number of criminal proceedings) has not been incorporated. Furthermore, no data on the military criminal justice are included in the data compilation. The following information, which was available in the statistics, has been taken from the statistics for the data compilation: Information on the persons, who has been accused or convicted: Number of persons totally, by gender, teenagers or adults.Information on the offences the persons were accused for: accused or convicted by groups of offences or single selected offences.The sentences imposed as results of lawsuit processes are not included in this data compilation. Data tables in HISTAT (Thema: Kriminaltiät): A. Österreich (Austria) A.1 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte nach Geschlecht (Legally convicted by sex)A.2 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte wegen Verbrechen nach ausgewählten Deliktarten (Legally convicted of crimes by selected types of offences)A.3 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte wegen Verbrechen und Übertretungen zusammen nach ausgewählten Deliktarten (Legally convicted of crimes and violations by selected types of offences)A.4 Verurteilte auf 100.000 Strafmündige nach ausgewählten Deliktarten (Kriminalitätsziffern) (Convicted per 100.000 of population of the age of criminal responsibility by selected offences (crime rate)) B. England und Wales (England and Wales)B.1 Angeklagte wegen schwerer Vergehen vor Schwurgerichten und Vierteljahressitzungen nach Deliktarten (Accuesed of heavy offences at the jury court (Assizes) and at the „Quarter Sessions“ by types of offences)B.2 Angeklagte wegen schwerer und leichter Vergehen vor allen Gerichten insgesamt und vor den Gerichten für summarische Rechtsprechung (Accused of heavy offences and of petty offences at all types of courts and at courts of summary jurisdiction)B.3 Angeklagte und Verurteilte nach Geschlecht C. Frankreich (France) C.1 Verhandlungen vor Schwurgerichten (Hearings at the jury courts)C.1.1 Angeklagte vor Schwurgerichte nach Geschlecht (Accused at jury courts by gender)C.1.2 Anzahl der Verurteilten durch Schwurgerichte (Number of convicted by the jury court)C.1.3 Erhobene Anklagen nach Deliktart vor Schwurgerichten (Prosecutions by types of offences at the jury court) C.2 Verhandlungen vor Strafgerichten (Hearings at the tribunal court)C.2.1 Angeklagte vor und Verurteilte der Strafgerichte insgesamt (Accused and convicted of tribunal courts, totaly)C.2.2 Anklagen vor Strafgerichte nach Deliktarten (Prosecutions at the tribunal court by types of offences) D. Deutsches Reich (German Empire) D.1 Abgeurteilte Personen und verurteilte Personen nach Geschlecht, Jugendliche und Vorbestrafte (1882-1927) (Persons judged and convicted persons by sex)D.2 Verurteilte Personen nach Deliktgruppen (1882-1927) (Convicted Persons by types of offences)D.3 Kriminalitätsziffern der verurteilten Personen - auf 100.000 der strafm. Bevölkerung (1882-1927) (Crime rate of convicted Persons – per 100.000 of population of the age of criminal responsibility)D.4 Kriminalitätsziffern der verurteilten Personen nach Deliktgruppe - auf 100.000 der strafm. Bevölkerung (1882-1927) (Crime Rate of convicted Persons by type of offence – per 100.000 of population of the age of criminal responsibility)D.5 Die Strafmündige Bevölkerung des Deutschen Reiches (1882-1928) (Population of the German Empire of the a...

In 2022, threats was the type of crime reported by the highest share of both women and men in Sweden, with 7.6 and 8.0 percent, respectively. Moreover, except for harassment and sexual assault, the share of self-reported crimes was highest among men for each type of crime. Nearly eight percent of women in Sweden reported that they were victims of sexual abuse, compared to only one percent of men.

Since 2014, Sweden has the highest rate of reported serious assaults of the Nordic countries. In 2022, 44.4 serious assaults per 100,000 citizens were reported in the country, compared to 38.8 in Iceland in second. Sweden has experienced increasing problems with gang violence in recent years.

Gegenstand der Studie: Das Statistische Reichsamt hat eine vergleichende Darstellung der Kriminalstatistiken unterschiedlicher Länder vorgenommen. Hierbei stellte sich das Problem voneinander abweichender Methodiken und Systematiken der kriminalstatistischen Erhebungen verschiedener Staaten. Aufgrund der nach dem 1. Weltkrieg wieder aufgenommenen Forschungsaktivitäten des „Internationalen Statistischen Instituts (ISI)“ und der „Internationalen Strafrechts- und Gefängniskommission“ hat das Statistische Reichsamt eine Untersuchung über 33 europäische und außereuropäische Länder vorgenommen mit dem Ziel, eine vergleichende Zusammenstellung der unterschiedlichen kriminalstatistischen Systematiken herauszuarbeiten. Dabei musste festgestellt werden, dass zu dem Zeitpunkt der Ausarbeitung eine vergleichbare internationale Zusammenstellung nicht ohne weiteres vorgenommen werden konnte. Von den 33 Ländern konnten schließlich nur für eine kleine Auswahl Zeitreihen zusammengestellt werden, da zwar die Angaben zur Systematik vorlagen, aber das erhobene Statistische Material für die meisten Länder dem Statistischen Reichsamt nicht vorlagen. Damit konnte die Entwicklung der Kriminalität nur für folgende Länder dargestellt werden:- Österreich- England und Wales- Frankreich- Deutsches Reich- Schweden- Kanada- Japan Im Hinblick auf die kriminalstatistische Zielsetzung sind Daten zu strafprozeßtechnischen Inhalten, wie z.B. die Zahl der Strafprozesse, nicht mit aufgenommen worden. Weiterhin sind keine Daten zur Militärstrafrechtspflege in der Datenkompilation enthalten. Folgende Angaben wurden aus den zur Verfügung stehenden Statistiken in die Datenkompilation aufgenommen:Angaben zu den Personen, die Angeklagt bzw. Verurteilt wurden: Anzahl, Geschlecht, Jugendliche oder Erwachsene.Angaben zu den der Person vorgeworfenen Delikten: Angeklagte bzw. Verurteilte nach Deliktgruppen oder einzelnen ausgewählten Delikten.Es ist nicht das verhängte Strafmaß nach einer Verurteilung enthalten. Datentabellen in HISTAT (Thema: Kriminaltiät): A. Österreich A.1 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte nach GeschlechtA.2 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte wegen Verbrechen nach ausgewählten DeliktartenA.3 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte wegen Verbrechen und Übertretungen zusammen nach ausgewählten DeliktartenA.4 Verurteilte auf 100.000 Strafmündige nach ausgewählten Deliktarten (Kriminalitätsziffern) B. England und WalesB.1 Angeklagte wegen schwerer Vergehen vor Schwurgerichten und Vierteljahressitzungen nach DeliktartenB.2 Angeklagte wegen schwerer und leichter Vergehen vor allen Gerichten insgesamt und vor den Gerichten für summarische RechtsprechungB.3 Angeklagte und Verurteilte nach Geschlecht C. Frankreich C.1 Verhandlungen vor SchwurgerichtenC.1.1 Angeklagte vor Schwurgerichte nach GeschlechtC.1.2 Anzahl der Verurteilten durch SchwurgerichteC.1.3 Erhobene Anklagen nach Deliktart vor Schwurgerichten C.2 Verhandlungen vor StrafgerichtenC.2.1 Angeklagte vor und Verurteilte der Strafgerichte insgesamt C.2.2 Anklagen vor Strafgerichte nach Deliktarten D. Deutsches ReichD.1 Abgeurteilte Personen und verurteilte Personen nach Geschlecht, Jugendliche und Vorbestrafte (1882-1927)D.2 Verurteilte Personen nach Deliktgruppen (1882-1927)D.3 Kriminalitätsziffern der verurteilten Personen - auf 100.000 der strafm. Bevölkerung (1882-1927)D.4 Kriminalitätsziffern der verurteilten Personen nach Deliktgruppe - auf 100.000 der strafm. Bevölkerung (1882-1927)D.5 Die Strafmündige Bevölkerung des Deutschen Reiches (1882-1928) E. SchwedenE.1 Verurteilte Personen nach Deliktarten F. KanadaF.1 Verurteilungen nach Deliktarten G. Japan G.1 Kriminalitätsstatistik nach alter Systematik G.1.1 Angeklagte wegen Verbrechen insgesamt und Verurteilte nach Geschlecht und Alter (1882-1907)G.1.2 Angeklagte wegen Verbrechen insgesamt und nach Deliktgruppen (1882-1907)G.1.3 Anklagen wegen Vergehen insgesamt und nach Deliktgruppen (1882-1907) G.2 Kriminalitätsstatistik nach neuer Systematik G.2.1 Verurteilte in 1. Instanz nach Geschlecht (1904-1927)G.2.2 Verurteilte in 1. Instanz insgesamt und nach einzelnen Delikten (1904-1927) The Study’s Subject: The German Statistical Office of the German Empire compiled a comparative representation of different countrie’s crime statistics. In this context the statistical office was faced with the problem of diverging methodologies and classifications of the countrie’s crime statistics data collections. After World War 1 the “International Statistic Institute (ISI)” and the “International Penal Law and Prison Commission” (IPPC) ) resumed their research activities in the fields of criminal statistics in international comparison. In this context the Statistical Office of the German Empire carried out an investigation of 33 european and non-european countries with the aim to work out a comparative compilation of various criminalstatistical classifications. Is was established that at the time of preparation a comparison of different classifications a comparable international data compilation could not be gathered due to significant differences between the classifications. Finally from the 33 countries it could be compiled time series on criminal statisics only for a small selection of countries. The reason for this situation was the lack of data material for many countries. Therefore, the development of crime could be presented in form of time series for the following countries: - Austria- England and Wales- France- German Empire- Sweden- Canada- Japan In terms of the crime statistical objective data on lawsuit processes (for example the number of criminal proceedings) has not been incorporated. Furthermore, no data on the military criminal justice are included in the data compilation. The following information, which was available in the statistics, has been taken from the statistics for the data compilation: Information on the persons, who has been accused or convicted: Number of persons totally, by gender, teenagers or adults.Information on the offences the persons were accused for: accused or convicted by groups of offences or single selected offences.The sentences imposed as results of lawsuit processes are not included in this data compilation. Data tables in HISTAT (Thema: Kriminaltiät): A. Österreich (Austria) A.1 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte nach Geschlecht (Legally convicted by sex)A.2 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte wegen Verbrechen nach ausgewählten Deliktarten (Legally convicted of crimes by selected types of offences)A.3 Rechtskräftig Verurteilte wegen Verbrechen und Übertretungen zusammen nach ausgewählten Deliktarten (Legally convicted of crimes and violations by selected types of offences)A.4 Verurteilte auf 100.000 Strafmündige nach ausgewählten Deliktarten (Kriminalitätsziffern) (Convicted per 100.000 of population of the age of criminal responsibility by selected offences (crime rate)) B. England und Wales (England and Wales)B.1 Angeklagte wegen schwerer Vergehen vor Schwurgerichten und Vierteljahressitzungen nach Deliktarten (Accuesed of heavy offences at the jury court (Assizes) and at the „Quarter Sessions“ by types of offences)B.2 Angeklagte wegen schwerer und leichter Vergehen vor allen Gerichten insgesamt und vor den Gerichten für summarische Rechtsprechung (Accused of heavy offences and of petty offences at all types of courts and at courts of summary jurisdiction)B.3 Angeklagte und Verurteilte nach Geschlecht C. Frankreich (France) C.1 Verhandlungen vor Schwurgerichten (Hearings at the jury courts)C.1.1 Angeklagte vor Schwurgerichte nach Geschlecht (Accused at jury courts by gender)C.1.2 Anzahl der Verurteilten durch Schwurgerichte (Number of convicted by the jury court)C.1.3 Erhobene Anklagen nach Deliktart vor Schwurgerichten (Prosecutions by types of offences at the jury court) C.2 Verhandlungen vor Strafgerichten (Hearings at the tribunal court)C.2.1 Angeklagte vor und Verurteilte der Strafgerichte insgesamt (Accused and convicted of tribunal courts, totaly)C.2.2 Anklagen vor Strafgerichte nach Deliktarten (Prosecutions at the tribunal court by types of offences) D. Deutsches Reich (German Empire) D.1 Abgeurteilte Personen und verurteilte Personen nach Geschlecht, Jugendliche und Vorbestrafte (1882-1927) (Persons judged and convicted persons by sex)D.2 Verurteilte Personen nach Deliktgruppen (1882-1927) (Convicted Persons by types of offences)D.3 Kriminalitätsziffern der verurteilten Personen - auf 100.000 der strafm. Bevölkerung (1882-1927) (Crime rate of convicted Persons – per 100.000 of population of the age of criminal responsibility)D.4 Kriminalitätsziffern der verurteilten Personen nach Deliktgruppe - auf 100.000 der strafm. Bevölkerung (1882-1927) (Crime Rate of convicted Persons by type of offence – per 100.000 of population of the age of criminal responsibility)D.5 Die Strafmündige Bevölkerung des Deutschen Reiches (1882-1928) (Population of the German Empire of the age of criminal responsibility) E. Schweden (Sweden)E.1 Verurteilte Personen nach Deliktarten (Convicted Persons by types of offences) F. Kanada (Canada)F.1 Verurteilungen nach Deliktarten (Convictions by types of offences) G. Japan (Japan) G.1 Kriminalitätsstatistik nach alter Systematik (Crime statistics according to the old classification)G.1.1 Angeklagte wegen Verbrechen insgesamt und Verurteilte nach Geschlecht und Alter (1882-1907) (Accused of crimes as a whole and convicted by gender and age)G.1.2 Angeklagte wegen Verbrechen insgesamt und nach Deliktgruppen (1882-1907) (Accused of crimes as a whole and by types of offences)G.1.3 Anklagen wegen Vergehen insgesamt und nach Deliktgruppen (1882-1907) (Prosecutions of crimes as a whole and by types of offences) G.2 Kriminalitätsstatistik nach neuer Systematik (Crime statistics addording to the new classification)G.2.1 Verurteilte in 1. Instanz nach Geschlecht (1904-1927) (Convictions of the first instance by gender)G.2.2 Verurteilte in

More men than women are victims of homicide in Sweden. The number of men who were killed in violent crimes increased from 2012 to 2015, but has remained more stable since. Meanwhile, the number of female homicide victims was usually between 25 and 30 during the past decade. In 2022, 93 men and 23 women were confirmed as homicide victims in Sweden. Compared to other European countries, Sweden's homicide rate was around the average.