Motor Vehicle Theft Rates by Country 2026
Motor vehicle theft is a significant property crime affecting millions of vehicle owners worldwide. This analysis presents vehicle theft rates per 100,000 population across 85 countries, based on official data reported to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Motor vehicle theft refers to the unlawful taking of a car, motorcycle, truck, or other motorized vehicle without the owner's consent. This includes: [TABLE2|title=Motor Vehicle Theft Rates by Country Per 100k Population] Vehicle theft rates correlate strongly with vehicle ownership rates and insurance penetration. Countries with more vehicles per capita naturally have more potential targets. Insurance requirements ensure most thefts are reported. Rates also reflect the effectiveness of anti-theft technology, law enforcement recovery rates, and the presence of organized vehicle trafficking networks. New Zealand recorded the highest rate at 952 per 100,000 in 2020, though recent data is unavailable. Chile showed a dramatic increase from 138 in 2020 to 499 in 2022, more than tripling in two years, indicating a significant vehicle crime wave. Uruguay (435), Israel (379), and Luxembourg (367) also show high rates in 2022. The United States recorded 288, while Canada reported 272. European countries show moderate rates: Italy (211), Switzerland (216), Sweden (162), Netherlands (150), and United Kingdom (116). Germany recorded a relatively low 58.52 despite high vehicle ownership. Asian countries report notably lower rates: Japan (10.92), South Korea (4.70), Singapore (1.79), and Hong Kong (10.19). These low figures reflect effective anti-theft measures and lower rates of organized vehicle crime. Malta showed an unusual drop from 281 in 2020 to 58.69 in 2022, possibly indicating improved security measures or changes in reporting.What is Motor Vehicle Theft?
Important Note on Interpreting This Data
Key Findings
Motor Vehicle Theft Rates by Country Per 100k Population
#
1
138
340
499
2
464
405
435
3
258
321
379
4
280
282
367
5
-
267
288
6
205
217
272
7
114
147
216
8
169
184
211
9
187
192
210
10
144
141
177
11
68.44
118
171
12
206
179
162
13
157
127
150
14
125
135
116
15
57.85
174
103
16
70.13
89.42
101
17
117
101
98.81
18
79.11
81.53
91.98
19
62.44
79.5
88.81
20
51.86
55.23
80.41
21
83.74
72.03
77.72
22
60.41
70.79
75.56
23
75.49
58.17
73.63
24
65.83
72.37
70.51
25
59.2
37.2
61.35
26
281
48.44
58.69
27
51.31
46.8
58.52
28
41.83
42.51
50.27
29
19.59
34.63
43.69
30
38.16
42.58
43.59
31
27.74
32.08
40.68
32
15.48
15.37
35.61
33
34.83
31.17
34.46
34
57.7
29.87
32.49
35
30.17
29.4
27.33
36
40.55
22.65
26.95
37
29.05
27.71
23.77
38
24.45
22.2
22.9
39
25.3
19.54
22.03
40
16.19
18.09
20.5
41
15.19
15.86
20.24
42
13.52
12.64
17.64
43
22.01
17.72
14.88
44
20.32
11.92
14.31
45
25.3
15.71
14.28
46
18
17.23
14.25
47
10.75
15.07
12.87
48
11.26
10.15
10.92
49
11.63
7.08
10.19
50
10.29
8.95
8.53
51
9.37
7.63
8.09
52
8.12
8.64
6.74
53
5.37
5.06
6.7
54
9.09
9.83
6.46
55
2.19
-
5.94
56
7.91
3.49
5.78
57
5.43
5.96
5.37
58
-
-
4.93
59
16.57
6.44
4.92
60
5.34
4.64
4.7
61
6.93
7.26
4.21
62
8.82
-
4.17
63
5.26
3.68
3.75
64
-
4.14
3.74
65
8.71
12.99
3.23
66
7.06
1.47
2.8
67
2.01
-
2.43
68
3.72
3.14
2.28
69
1.52
2.08
2.04
70
3.07
-
1.88
71
1.07
1.53
1.79
72
0.63
0.46
0.44
73
952
-
-
74
82.89
-
-
75
37.78
-
-
76
37
-
-
77
23.37
-
-
78
21.91
-
-
79
12.25
-
-
80
9.98
-
-
81
6.99
-
-
82
6.62
-
-
83
6.26
-
-
84
5.45
-
-
85
1.87
-
-
Data Source
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Chile's vehicle theft rate increase so dramatically?
Chile's vehicle theft rate more than tripled from 138 in 2020 to 499 in 2022. This surge is attributed to increased organized crime activity, economic pressures following the pandemic, and the growth of cross-border vehicle trafficking networks. Chile's proximity to countries with high demand for stolen vehicles and parts has made it a target for organized theft rings.
What makes some countries more vulnerable to vehicle theft?
Countries are more vulnerable to vehicle theft when they have: high vehicle ownership rates creating more targets, proximity to borders facilitating export of stolen vehicles, weak vehicle registration systems making resale easier, limited use of modern anti-theft technology, and presence of organized crime networks specializing in vehicle trafficking. Economic inequality also plays a role, as it creates both motivation for theft and markets for cheap stolen vehicles.
Data Disclaimer: Projected data (future years) are estimates based on mathematical models. Actual values may differ. Learn about our methodology →
Sources
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Updated: 08.12.2025https://dataunodc.un.org/dp-crime-corruption-offences
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