Finland: crime and justice

How many crimes are reported in Finland?

The police, customs and border guard recorded 261,500 offences against the Criminal Code in January to June 2026, 0.2% fewer than a year earlier, according to Statistics Finland's preliminary data. Reported assaults rose 11.8% to 23,600, and reports of sexual harassment rose 13.2% to 750.

These are offences reported to the authorities, so they reflect how willing people are to report crimes and how the police record them, as well as the amount of crime. Traffic offences are counted separately. Statistics Finland publishes the figures every quarter, with final annual figures in the spring.

Official sources: Statistics Finland: Offences and coercive measures, Q2 2026 · Statistics Finland: Offences and coercive measures

How many homicides are there in Finland?

42 offences against life were reported in January to June 2026, three fewer than in the same period of 2025, according to Statistics Finland's preliminary crime statistics.

Offences against life include murder, manslaughter, killing and infanticide as recorded by the police; the numbers are revised as investigations proceed. Final annual figures appear in Statistics Finland's offences and coercive measures statistics. Because the number is small, it varies noticeably from year to year.

Official sources: Statistics Finland: Offences and coercive measures, Q2 2026

How many prisoners are there in Finland?

The average number of prisoners in Finland was 3,545 in 2025, 189 more than in 2024, an increase of 5.6%, according to the Prison and Probation Service of Finland's Statistical Yearbook 2025. The service expects the prison population to grow by more than 5% in 2026.

The daily average number of foreign prisoners reached a record 839, up 22%, and there were on average 283 women in prison, 8% of the total. At the end of 2025 there were 27 prisons; about two-thirds of places were in closed prisons and one-third in open prisons. Violent offences were the most common principal offence among prisoners.

Official sources: Prison and Probation Service: Statistical Yearbook 2025 · Prison and Probation Service: Statistics

How common is domestic violence in Finland?

The police recorded 15,532 victims of domestic violence and intimate partner violence in 2025, according to Statistics Finland's offences and coercive measures statistics. Statistics Finland reports that the number of victims grew by 20% from 2024.

The figures count victims in offences reported to the police where the suspect is a family member or a current or former partner. Changes can reflect more reporting and recording as well as more violence; a large share of domestic violence is never reported, so survey-based measures give higher numbers.

Official sources: Statistics Finland: Offences and coercive measures

How many murders are there in Finland?

The latest figure from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, for 2023, is 1.0 per 100,000. No year since 2005 has been lower. Europe & Central Asia median: 1.0 per 100,000; Finland is 18th highest of 35. Of 79 countries with 2023 data, 55th highest.

How many women are killed in Finland?

In 2023, the homicide rate for women in Finland was 0.8 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.6 per 100,000 (2015) to 1.8 per 100,000 (2007). Europe & Central Asia median: 0.7 per 100,000; Finland is 14th highest of 36. World rank, highest first: 46th of 78.

How many men are killed in Finland?

In 2023, the homicide rate for men in Finland was 1.2 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.3 per 100,000, and Finland placed 22nd highest of 36. Worldwide: 59th of 78.