Norway: crime and justice

How many crimes are reported in Norway?

348,508 offences were reported to the police in Norway in 2025, according to Statistics Norway. Property theft accounted for 116,387, violence and maltreatment for 47,366, traffic offences for 45,590, drug and alcohol offences for 28,584 and sexual offences for 7,112.

SSB counted 172,973 people as victims of reported offences, including 39,742 victims of violence and maltreatment. Reported offences depend on how willing people are to report and on police priorities, as well as on the amount of crime. The statistics were last updated on 10 June 2026.

Official sources: SSB: Offences and victims reported to the police

How many murders are there in Norway?

Kripos registered 18 homicide cases with 19 victims and 23 perpetrators in Norway in 2025, according to its National Homicide Overview 2025. Kripos says fewer than 20 people killed in a year has not been recorded before in its overview, which goes back to 1990. Someone has been charged in every case from 2025.

Kripos warns that because the numbers are small, they can change sharply in percentage terms from year to year. 74% of the killings took place in a home, and a knife was used in 47% of cases. The overview includes solved and unsolved cases and is updated as investigations and court cases proceed.

Official sources: Police: National Homicide Overview 2025 (PDF, Norwegian)

How many people are in prison in Norway?

3,359 people were in prison in Norway on 1 January 2024, according to Statistics Norway. Of these, 752 were in custody on remand and 2,446 were serving prison sentences. During 2024 there were 8,827 new imprisonments and 8,619 discharges.

The figures include people in custody awaiting trial, those serving sentences and other types of imprisonment. SSB's next update, with figures for 2025, is due on 10 November 2026. The Norwegian Correctional Service runs the prisons.

Official sources: SSB: Imprisonments

What is the murder rate in Norway?

0.7 per 100,000: that is the intentional homicide rate in Norway for 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.5 per 100,000 (2015) to 2.2 per 100,000 (2011). Europe & Central Asia median: 1.0 per 100,000; Norway is 27th highest of 35. World rank, highest first: 66th of 79.

What is the female homicide rate in Norway?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime puts the homicide rate for women in Norway at 0.7 per 100,000 in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.3 per 100,000 (2018) to 2.1 per 100,000 (2011). It is 19th highest of 36 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 0.7 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 54th of 78.

How many men are murdered in Norway?

In 2023, the homicide rate for men in Norway was 0.8 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Its high point since 2005 was 2011, at 2.4 per 100,000; its low point was 2015, at 0.4 per 100,000. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.3 per 100,000, and Norway placed 32nd highest of 36. Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 69th highest.