Sweden: crime and justice

How many murders are there in Sweden?

There were 84 confirmed cases of lethal violence in Sweden in 2025, 8 fewer than in 2024, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå). Over 2016 to 2025, the number ranged between 84 and 124 a year.

Firearms were used in 42 cases, 50% of the total, and knives in 27. Brå reviews every police report of lethal violence to remove cases later found to be suicides or accidents, so this count is lower than the number of reported offences. In 25 cases the victim was a woman or girl; 13 cases involved a current or former partner.

Official sources: Brå: Konstaterade fall av dödligt våld

Are people in Sweden more worried about crime?

45% of people in Sweden worried to a great extent about crime in society in 2026, down from 54% in 2025, according to the National Crime Survey (NTU) 2026 from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå). The share was 28% in 2014.

Brå says self-reported exposure to assault, threats, robbery, vehicle theft, bicycle theft and harassment continued to fall. The NTU is a postal and web survey of a sample of 200,000 people aged 16 to 84. Because it asks people directly, it captures crimes not reported to the police.

Official sources: Brå: Nationella trygghetsundersökningen 2026

How many people are in prison in Sweden?

Sweden had 11,235 prisoners in 2024, up from 9,748 in 2023 and 7,776 in 2021, according to Eurostat.

The count includes people serving sentences and people held in custody before trial. Eurostat also publishes official prison capacity, which shows whether prisons hold more people than they were built for. Statistics on the prison and probation service are also published by Brå.

Official sources: Eurostat: Prisoners and prison capacity (crim_pris_cap) · Brå: Kriminalvård

What is the murder rate in Sweden?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime puts the intentional homicide rate in Sweden at 1.1 per 100,000 in 2023. The peak was 1.2 per 100,000 in 2007 and the low 0.7 per 100,000 in 2012. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.0 per 100,000, and Sweden placed 14th highest of 35. World rank, highest first: 50th of 79.

What is the female homicide rate in Sweden?

In 2023, the homicide rate for women in Sweden was 0.6 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.4 per 100,000 (2012) to 0.8 per 100,000 (2009). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 0.7 per 100,000, and Sweden placed 21st highest of 36. Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 56th highest.

How many men are murdered in Sweden?

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the homicide rate for men in Sweden was 1.7 per 100,000 in 2023. The peak was 1.9 per 100,000 in 2020 and the low 1.0 per 100,000 in 2012. It is 16th highest of 36 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 1.3 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 50th of 78.