Estonia: crime and justice

What is the homicide rate in Estonia?

Police in Estonia recorded 25 intentional homicides in 2024, a rate of 1.82 per 100,000 people, according to Eurostat. Eurostat's figures come from police data supplied by national authorities.

With a population of about 1.36 million, a few cases more or less change the rate noticeably, so several years should be read together. The Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs' criminal policy department publishes yearly crime analysis on kriminaalpoliitika.ee, mostly in Estonian.

Official sources: Eurostat: Recorded offences by offence category · Criminal policy department

How many prisoners are there in Estonia?

Estonia held 1,637 prisoners in 2024, or 119.08 per 100,000 inhabitants, down from 1,841 (134.78 per 100,000) in 2023, according to Eurostat.

Prisons are run by the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs. Prison counts are snapshots on one reference day and include people held before trial as well as those serving sentences. Eurostat publishes the figures from data supplied by national authorities.

Official sources: Eurostat: Prison capacity and number of persons held

What is the murder rate in Estonia?

1.5 per 100,000: that is the intentional homicide rate in Estonia for 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2007 it has ranged from 1.5 per 100,000 (2022) to 7.2 per 100,000 (2007). Europe & Central Asia median: 1.0 per 100,000; Estonia is 7th highest of 35. Worldwide: 42nd of 79.

How many women are killed in Estonia?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime puts the homicide rate for women in Estonia at 0.8 per 100,000 in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.6 per 100,000 (2022) to 3.9 per 100,000 (2005). Europe & Central Asia median: 0.7 per 100,000; Estonia is 12th highest of 36. World rank, highest first: 44th of 78.

How many men are murdered in Estonia?

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the homicide rate for men in Estonia was 2.3 per 100,000 in 2023. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 7th highest of 36 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 1.3 per 100,000. Worldwide: 40th of 78.