Development of crime in Finland 1950-2022

The number of criminal offenses recorded in Finland increased sharply from 1960 onwards, peaking at roughly 505 thousand in 1990. Thereafter, the number of offenses showed a fairly constant downward trend. In 2022, approximately 413 thousand crimes were reported, an increase from the previous year.

Overall crime rate

Until recent years, the crime rate in Finland has been in an almost steady decline. Despite this positive trend, 2020 saw a considerable increase in criminal offenses, resulting in the highest crime rate recorded in the country since 2011. As of 2022, there were 85.54 criminal offenses reported per 1,000 population, compared to roughly 87 per 1,000 inhabitants in the previous year. The region of Uusimaa, including Finland’s capital and largest city had one of the highest crime rate of 93.46 per 1,000 population. The lowest figure of 61.65 was recorded in Ostrobothnia.

What are the most common types of offenses in Finland?

Of all the criminal offenses and violations, property offenses comprise around half and traffic offenses a quarter of all reported crime in Finland. In 2021, the total number of offenses and infractions amounted to roughly 501 thousand, while criminal offenses totaled almost 483 thousand. Theft offenses occur typically in urban environments, and the most common stolen objects are bicycles. Since the beginning of the 2000’s, car theft has seen a downward trend. Furthermore, traffic-related offenses and infractions have declined, which has led to an improvement in traffic safety and fewer fatalities.