Latvia: crime and justice

What is the crime rate in Latvia?

37,373 criminal offences were recorded in Latvia in 2025, up from 36,080 in 2024, according to CSB table NOR010, compiled from the Interior Ministry's Information Centre register. In 2024 the rate was 193 recorded crimes per 10,000 residents; the 2025 rate had not yet been published in the table.

Recorded crime depends on reporting and on changes to the Criminal Law, so year-to-year shifts do not always mean changes in actual crime. The table breaks offences down by type, such as theft, bodily injury and traffic offences.

Official sources: CSB table NOR010: Number of recorded crimes

How many murders are there in Latvia?

53 murders under sections 116 to 118 of the Criminal Law were recorded in Latvia in 2025, down from 80 in 2024, according to CSB table NOR010. In 2024 that was 0.4 per 10,000 residents.

Eurostat's police-recorded offences data, which use the international definition of intentional homicide, give 45 victims in Latvia in 2024, or 2.40 per 100,000 people, against 1.82 in Estonia. Counts differ between sources because of definitions and whether attempts are included.

Official sources: CSB table NOR010: Number of recorded crimes · Eurostat: Police-recorded offences by category

How many prisoners are there in Latvia?

There were 3,588 prisoners in Latvia at the end of 2025, up from 3,505 a year earlier, according to CSB table TSI010. 853 of them were held before trial, down from 1,001.

Eurostat's prison statistics put Latvia's 2024 prison population at 186.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, against 119.1 in Estonia and 99.9 in Cyprus. Counts are taken at the end of the year. The Latvian Prison Administration runs the prisons.

Official sources: CSB table TSI010: Prison population · Eurostat: Prison capacity and persons held

How many murders are there in Latvia?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime puts the intentional homicide rate in Latvia at 2.5 per 100,000 in 2023. Since 2012 it has ranged from 2.5 per 100,000 (2013) to 4.4 per 100,000 (2018). It is 4th highest of 35 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 1.0 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 36th of 79.

How many women are killed in Latvia?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime puts the homicide rate for women in Latvia at 2.9 per 100,000 in 2023. Since 2012 it has ranged from 2.2 per 100,000 (2013) to 4.1 per 100,000 (2018). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 0.7 per 100,000, and Latvia placed 1st highest of 36. Worldwide: 17th of 78.

What is the male homicide rate in Latvia?

The latest figure from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, for 2023, is 2.1 per 100,000. That is the lowest since at least 2012. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.3 per 100,000, and Latvia placed 9th highest of 36. World rank, highest first: 42nd of 78.