Portugal: crime and justice

Is crime rising in Portugal?

Reported crime in Portugal rose 3.1% in 2025, while violent and serious crime fell 1.6%, according to the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI) 2025 summarised by the Government of Portugal. Violent and serious crime made up about 4% of the total.

Property crime made up 50.5% of reports and crimes against persons 25%; theft was the most reported crime. Robbery made up 61.6% of violent crime. The RASI counts crimes reported to the police, so changes can reflect willingness to report as well as crime itself. Detailed recorded-crime tables are published by the Directorate-General for Justice Policy.

Official sources: Government of Portugal: RASI 2025 · DGPJ: Justice statistics

How many domestic violence cases are reported in Portugal?

Police in Portugal received 29,644 reports of domestic violence in 2025, 1.9% fewer than in 2024, according to the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI) 2025 summarised by the Government of Portugal. 69% of victims were women.

The figures count reports, not convictions, and a change in the number can reflect willingness to report as well as the number of cases.

Official sources: Government of Portugal: RASI 2025

How many people are in prison in Portugal?

Portugal had 12,507 people in prison in 2024, according to Eurostat, which uses figures from national justice ministries. The number was 12,321 in 2023 and 11,704 in 2021.

The count includes people serving sentences and people held before trial. Eurostat also publishes official prison capacity, which shows whether prisons hold more people than they were built for. National prison statistics are published by the Directorate-General for Justice Policy.

Official sources: Eurostat: Prisoners and prison capacity (crim_pris_cap) · DGPJ: Justice statistics

What is the murder rate in Portugal?

The latest figure from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, for 2022, is 0.7 per 100,000. Its high point since 2005 was 2013, at 1.4 per 100,000; its low point was 2016, at 0.6 per 100,000. It is 31st highest of 38 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 1.1 per 100,000. Of 99 countries with 2022 data, 83rd highest.

How many women are murdered in Portugal?

In 2022, the homicide rate for women in Portugal was 0.4 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Its high point since 2005 was 2013, at 0.9 per 100,000; its low point was 2016, at 0.3 per 100,000. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 0.7 per 100,000, and Portugal placed 36th highest of 39. Of 94 countries with 2022 data, 84th highest.

What is the male homicide rate in Portugal?

In 2022, the homicide rate for men in Portugal was 1.0 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Its high point since 2005 was 2007, at 2.6 per 100,000; its low point was 2019, at 0.8 per 100,000. Europe & Central Asia median: 1.4 per 100,000; Portugal is 27th highest of 39. Worldwide: 74th of 93.