Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Crime in Spain – statistics & facts
In 2023, Spain witnessed an increase in crime, which rose by six percent. This year recorded the highest number of criminal offenses reported since 2010, at nearly 2.5 million crime reports. Conventional crimes, such as thefts, made up the bulk of these cases. However, cybercrime saw a sharp rise, with 427,000 incidents reported, making it the second most common crime in that year. Criminal activities using digital devices have been growing in the Iberian country, and in 2022 amounted to 16.1 percent of all crimes.
Femicide and sexual offenses are also a concern for the Iberian country. Although the number of femicides has decreased compared to the beginning of the century, in 2023, 58 women were killed in gender violence attacks. In addition, the number of sexual crimes continues to rise. The total number felonies of this type reached 18,731 in 2022, including nearly 4,000 cases of sexual assault with penetration. However, this growth can partly be attributed to victims being more prone to report such crimes.
Although overall crime rates provide a general picture of the country’s criminal map, the types of crime committed differ across regions. Andalusia, for instance, recorded the highest number of homicides in Spain in 2022, with 79 deaths, followed by Catalonia with 55 occurrences. Andalusia and Catalonia also led in reported sexual violence cases in 2022, each registering over 3,000 incidents. This is a trend that repeats in multiple indicators for these autonomous communities, which are the most populous of Spain. Unlike Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, despite having the highest crime rate of the country, recorded no deaths by homicide in 2022.
Violent crime in Spain
Spain's intentional homicide rate has remained relatively low and stable over the past decade, with 0.68 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants recorded in 2022. This value represents a slight increase from the country's lowest rate of 0.61 in 2021, but still maintains Spain's position as one of the safest countries in Europe in terms of violent crime. However, there are notable differences between regions, with large urban areas such as the province of Barcelona and Madrid leading the country with 46 and 33 intentional homicides, respectively.Femicide and sexual offenses are also a concern for the Iberian country. Although the number of femicides has decreased compared to the beginning of the century, in 2023, 58 women were killed in gender violence attacks. In addition, the number of sexual crimes continues to rise. The total number felonies of this type reached 18,731 in 2022, including nearly 4,000 cases of sexual assault with penetration. However, this growth can partly be attributed to victims being more prone to report such crimes.
The regionality of crime
The crime rate in Spain's autonomous communities varied in 2022. While popular tourist destinations like the Balearic Islands and Catalonia experienced higher crime rates, namely of more than 60 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants, rural regions such as Extremadura reported significantly lower criminal incidents.Although overall crime rates provide a general picture of the country’s criminal map, the types of crime committed differ across regions. Andalusia, for instance, recorded the highest number of homicides in Spain in 2022, with 79 deaths, followed by Catalonia with 55 occurrences. Andalusia and Catalonia also led in reported sexual violence cases in 2022, each registering over 3,000 incidents. This is a trend that repeats in multiple indicators for these autonomous communities, which are the most populous of Spain. Unlike Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, despite having the highest crime rate of the country, recorded no deaths by homicide in 2022.
