The Crime Index by Country is a crucial metric that helps to understand the level of crime in different nations around the globe. This index is often used by researchers, policymakers, and individuals to gauge safety and security within countries, influencing decisions on travel, relocation, and international relations. Here’s an in-depth look at the Crime Index and its implications.
Crime Index by Country 2024
| Rank | Country | Crime Index | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venezuela | 81.2 | 18.8 |
| 2 | Papua New Guinea | 79.7 | 20.3 |
| 3 | Afghanistan | 78.3 | 21.7 |
| 4 | Haiti | 77.9 | 22.1 |
| 5 | South Africa | 75.4 | 24.6 |
| 6 | Honduras | 73.4 | 26.6 |
| 7 | Trinidad And Tobago | 70.8 | 29.2 |
| 8 | Syria | 69.1 | 30.9 |
| 9 | Yemen | 68.6 | 31.4 |
| 10 | Jamaica | 68.1 | 31.9 |
| 11 | Peru | 67.8 | 32.2 |
| 12 | Guyana | 67.3 | 32.7 |
| 13 | Angola | 66.5 | 33.5 |
| 14 | Nigeria | 66.2 | 33.8 |
| 15 | Brazil | 65.6 | 34.4 |
| 16 | Somalia | 65.2 | 34.8 |
| 17 | Bolivia | 64.6 | 35.4 |
| 18 | Argentina | 64.2 | 35.8 |
| 19 | Namibia | 63.9 | 36.1 |
| 20 | Mozambique | 63.7 | 36.3 |
| 21 | Cameroon | 63.5 | 36.5 |
| 22 | Ecuador | 62.1 | 37.9 |
| 23 | Us Virgin Islands | 62.1 | 37.9 |
| 24 | Puerto Rico | 61.7 | 38.3 |
| 25 | Bangladesh | 61.5 | 38.5 |
| 26 | El Salvador | 61.3 | 38.7 |
| 27 | Colombia | 61.2 | 38.8 |
| 28 | Zimbabwe | 60.9 | 39.1 |
| 29 | Dominican Republic | 60.5 | 39.5 |
| 30 | Libya | 60.4 | 39.6 |
| 31 | Guatemala | 59.5 | 40.5 |
| 32 | Chile | 59.3 | 40.7 |
| 33 | Fiji | 57.3 | 42.7 |
| 34 | Ivory Coast | 57.1 | 42.9 |
| 35 | Bahamas | 56.5 | 43.5 |
| 36 | Kenya | 56.4 | 43.6 |
| 37 | France | 55.3 | 44.7 |
| 38 | Maldives | 55.0 | 45.0 |
| 39 | Uganda | 55.0 | 45.0 |
| 40 | Tanzania | 54.5 | 45.5 |
| 41 | Kyrgyzstan | 54.0 | 46.0 |
| 42 | Mexico | 53.8 | 46.2 |
| 43 | Costa Rica | 53.7 | 46.3 |
| 44 | Belize | 53.0 | 47.0 |
| 45 | Cambodia | 52.8 | 47.2 |
| 46 | Mongolia | 52.4 | 47.6 |
| 47 | Nicaragua | 52.2 | 47.8 |
| 48 | Botswana | 52.2 | 47.8 |
| 49 | Uruguay | 52.2 | 47.8 |
| 50 | Algeria | 52.2 | 47.8 |
| 51 | North Korea | 51.7 | 48.3 |
| 52 | Paraguay | 50.9 | 49.1 |
| 53 | Belarus | 50.8 | 49.2 |
| 54 | Ethiopia | 50.8 | 49.2 |
| 55 | Malaysia | 50.7 | 49.3 |
| 56 | Myanmar | 50.4 | 49.6 |
| 57 | Iran | 49.5 | 50.5 |
| 58 | United States | 49.3 | 50.7 |
| 59 | Belgium | 49.2 | 50.8 |
| 60 | Sweden | 48.4 | 51.6 |
| 61 | Mauritius | 47.8 | 52.2 |
| 62 | New Zealand | 47.7 | 52.3 |
| 63 | United Kingdom | 47.4 | 52.6 |
| 64 | Italy | 47.3 | 52.7 |
| 65 | Egypt | 47.3 | 52.7 |
| 66 | Australia | 47.1 | 52.9 |
| 67 | Barbados | 47.1 | 52.9 |
| 68 | Ukraine | 46.9 | 53.1 |
| 69 | Greece | 46.7 | 53.3 |
| 70 | Ireland | 46.5 | 53.5 |
| 71 | Morocco | 46.5 | 53.5 |
| 72 | Lebanon | 46.4 | 53.6 |
| 73 | Zambia | 46.4 | 53.6 |
| 74 | Indonesia | 46.1 | 53.9 |
| 75 | Kazakhstan | 45.9 | 54.1 |
| 76 | Albania | 45.6 | 54.4 |
| 77 | Sudan | 45.4 | 54.6 |
| 78 | Canada | 45.2 | 54.8 |
| 79 | Moldova | 45.1 | 54.9 |
| 80 | Iraq | 44.7 | 55.3 |
| 81 | Tunisia | 44.4 | 55.6 |
| 82 | Panama | 44.3 | 55.7 |
| 83 | India | 44.3 | 55.7 |
| 84 | Ghana | 43.9 | 56.1 |
| 85 | Pakistan | 43.2 | 56.8 |
| 86 | Philippines | 42.8 | 57.2 |
| 87 | Vietnam | 42.2 | 57.8 |
| 88 | Palestine | 42.1 | 57.9 |
| 89 | Sri Lanka | 42.1 | 57.9 |
| 90 | Kosovo | 41.7 | 58.3 |
| 91 | Malta | 41.2 | 58.8 |
| 92 | North Macedonia | 41.0 | 59.0 |
| 93 | Turkey | 40.9 | 59.1 |
| 94 | Bosnia And Herzegovina | 40.9 | 59.1 |
| 95 | Jordan | 40.4 | 59.6 |
| 96 | Russia | 39.1 | 60.9 |
| 97 | Germany | 38.9 | 61.1 |
| 98 | Serbia | 38.3 | 61.7 |
| 99 | Montenegro | 38.0 | 62.0 |
| 100 | Thailand | 37.9 | 62.1 |
| 101 | Nepal | 37.7 | 62.3 |
| 102 | Latvia | 37.4 | 62.6 |
| 103 | Bulgaria | 37.1 | 62.9 |
| 104 | Spain | 36.2 | 63.8 |
| 105 | Luxembourg | 34.4 | 65.6 |
| 106 | Hungary | 33.7 | 66.3 |
| 107 | Romania | 33.7 | 66.3 |
| 108 | Cuba | 33.4 | 66.6 |
| 109 | Kuwait | 32.8 | 67.2 |
| 110 | Lithuania | 32.8 | 67.2 |
| 111 | Norway | 32.6 | 67.4 |
| 112 | Cyprus | 32.4 | 67.6 |
| 113 | Israel | 32.4 | 67.6 |
| 114 | Azerbaijan | 31.6 | 68.4 |
| 115 | Portugal | 31.2 | 68.8 |
| 116 | Slovakia | 31.1 | 68.9 |
| 117 | Poland | 30.7 | 69.3 |
| 118 | Uzbekistan | 30.5 | 69.5 |
| 119 | Brunei | 29.5 | 70.5 |
| 120 | Austria | 29.3 | 70.7 |
| 121 | Saudi Arabia | 26.9 | 73.1 |
| 122 | Czech Republic | 26.8 | 73.2 |
| 123 | Rwanda | 26.8 | 73.2 |
| 124 | Netherlands | 26.3 | 73.7 |
| 125 | Denmark | 26.3 | 73.7 |
| 126 | Finland | 26.3 | 73.7 |
| 127 | Georgia | 26.1 | 73.9 |
| 128 | Croatia | 26.0 | 74.0 |
| 129 | Iceland | 25.4 | 74.6 |
| 130 | Switzerland | 25.3 | 74.7 |
| 131 | China | 24.9 | 75.1 |
| 132 | South Korea | 24.9 | 75.1 |
| 133 | Slovenia | 24.2 | 75.8 |
| 134 | Bahrain | 23.9 | 76.1 |
| 135 | Estonia | 23.8 | 76.2 |
| 136 | Monaco | 23.6 | 76.4 |
| 137 | Singapore | 23.5 | 76.5 |
| 138 | Japan | 22.6 | 77.4 |
| 139 | Armenia | 22.4 | 77.6 |
| 140 | Hong Kong | 21.8 | 78.2 |
| 141 | Isle Of Man | 20.5 | 79.5 |
| 142 | Oman | 19.0 | 81.0 |
| 143 | Taiwan | 16.7 | 83.3 |
| 144 | Qatar | 16.0 | 84.0 |
| 145 | United Arab Emirates | 15.6 | 84.4 |
| 146 | Andorra | 12.9 | 87.1 |
The Most Dangerous Countries
Countries with a high Crime Index are often battling various socio-economic challenges, including poverty, political instability, and inadequate law enforcement infrastructure. Here are the nations leading the list for their high crime rates:
- Venezuela (Crime Index: 81.2, Safety Index: 18.8): Topping the chart, Venezuela’s high crime rate is attributed to political turmoil and economic distress.
- Papua New Guinea (Crime Index: 79.7, Safety Index: 20.3): With a significant rate of violent crimes, Papua New Guinea faces challenges related to tribal conflicts and urban crime.
- Afghanistan (Crime Index: 78.3, Safety Index: 21.7): Ongoing conflict and terrorism significantly impact Afghanistan’s crime rate.
Countries with Moderate Crime Rates
Mid-range countries on the Crime Index have varying degrees of crime, often influenced by regional stability and law enforcement effectiveness:
- Brazil (Crime Index: 65.6, Safety Index: 34.4): Despite its vibrant culture, Brazil struggles with high rates of violent crime and theft.
- South Africa (Crime Index: 75.4, Safety Index: 24.6): Known for its stunning landscapes, South Africa faces challenges with violent crime and property crime.
The Safest Countries
On the other end of the spectrum, several countries boast low crime rates, offering their citizens and visitors a high degree of safety and security:
- Iceland (Crime Index: 25.4, Safety Index: 74.6): With its low population density and strong social welfare policies, Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world.
- Japan (Crime Index: 22.6, Safety Index: 77.4): Japan’s strict laws, societal norms, and effective law enforcement contribute to its low crime rate.
- Switzerland (Crime Index: 25.3, Safety Index: 74.7): Known for its neutrality, Switzerland enjoys a high level of safety due to its comprehensive social policies and effective policing.
Factors Influencing Crime Rates
Several key factors influence a country’s placement on the Crime Index, including:
- Economic Stability: Countries with stable economies tend to have lower crime rates, as employment and social services reduce the need for criminal activity.
- Law Enforcement: Effective and community-focused policing can significantly reduce crime rates by deterring potential criminals and solving crimes more efficiently.
- Social Welfare: Nations with strong social welfare systems provide safety nets for their citizens, reducing the desperation that can lead to crime.
Regional Crime Trends
The Crime Index also reveals regional trends, with certain areas of the world experiencing higher crime rates due to regional conflicts, economic instability, or weak governance structures. Conversely, regions with strong social policies, stable economies, and effective law enforcement enjoy lower crime rates.
The Crime Index by Country is a vital tool for understanding the global safety landscape. It highlights the complex interplay between socio-economic factors, governance, law enforcement, and cultural norms in determining the safety and security of nations. As the world continues to evolve, monitoring these trends is crucial for policymakers, researchers, and citizens alike, aiming to create safer communities worldwide.
Sources
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