Theft Rates by Country 2026
Theft is the most common property crime globally, encompassing a wide range of offenses from pickpocketing to shoplifting. This analysis presents theft rates per 100,000 population across 95 countries, based on official data reported to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Theft refers to the unlawful taking of someone's property without their consent and without the use of force. This category excludes burglary (which involves unlawful entry) and motor vehicle theft (tracked separately). Common forms include: Theft statistics are heavily influenced by reporting behavior. Many minor thefts go unreported, especially in countries without insurance incentives. Tourist destinations often show higher rates due to pickpocketing targeting visitors. Urban areas consistently report more theft than rural regions due to population density and anonymity. Uruguay leads with 3,417 thefts per 100,000 population in 2022, the highest rate globally. Sweden (2,849), Luxembourg (2,489), Denmark (2,484), and Grenada (2,321) follow closely. Nordic countries show consistently high rates: Finland (2,241), Norway (1,820), reflecting comprehensive reporting systems rather than necessarily higher actual theft. Major economies show varying rates: United States (1,458), France (2,011), Germany (1,241), United Kingdom (1,283), and Japan (297). The significant difference between Western and East Asian countries is notable. Turkey recorded 279 in 2022, relatively low compared to European averages. Asian countries generally report lower figures: Japan (297), South Korea (352), Singapore (135), and Hong Kong (245). Palestine showed a dramatic drop from 243 in 2020 to 20.11 in 2022, likely indicating changes in reporting or data collection rather than actual crime reduction.What is Theft?
Theft Rates by Country Per 100k Population
1
3,417
2
2,849
3
2,489
4
2,484
5
2,321
6
2,241
7
2026
8
2011
9
1820
10
1682
11
1581
12
1458
13
1417
14
1393
15
1356
16
1302
17
1283
18
1241
19
1219
20
1158
21
1132
22
1077
23
1072
24
1019
25
898
26
887
27
816
28
704
29
686
30
683
31
679
32
646
33
604
34
595
35
530
36
529
37
514
38
502
39
480
40
455
41
447
42
414
43
407
44
399
45
380
46
358
47
352
48
342
49
330
50
326
51
315
52
313
53
309
54
297
55
284
56
279
57
259
58
248
59
245
60
244
61
225
62
150
63
146
64
135
65
111
66
109
67
96.32
68
94.05
69
90.79
70
86.93
71
55.32
72
47.02
73
46.04
74
45.73
75
42.94
76
28.25
77
27.15
78
27.13
79
25.15
80
24.09
81
20.11
82
5.63
83
-
84
-
85
-
86
-
87
-
88
-
89
-
90
-
91
-
92
-
93
-
94
-
95
-
Important Note on Interpreting This Data
Key Findings
Theft Rates by Country Per 100k Population
#
1
3,493
3,317
3,417
2
3,004
2,774
2,849
3
1468
1703
2,489
4
2,436
2,128
2,484
5
2,349
2,238
2,321
6
2,438
2,240
2,241
7
1883
1896
2026
8
1736
1787
2011
9
1608
1463
1820
10
1361
1443
1682
11
1404
1350
1581
12
-
1363
1458
13
1022
1176
1417
14
1733
1554
1393
15
1198
1175
1356
16
1161
1038
1302
17
1110
1103
1283
18
1114
998
1241
19
979
886
1219
20
779
986
1158
21
1401
988
1132
22
934
866
1077
23
950
816
1072
24
1162
858
1019
25
956
1009
898
26
550
713
887
27
835
581
816
28
628
615
704
29
506
589
686
30
570
557
683
31
659
668
679
32
343
471
646
33
498
416
604
34
516
564
595
35
441
444
530
36
474
493
529
37
673
419
514
38
517
437
502
39
482
-
480
40
-
371
455
41
569
533
447
42
390
355
414
43
253
322
407
44
408
350
399
45
219
260
380
46
351
366
358
47
346
321
352
48
338
277
342
49
232
270
330
50
433
256
326
51
258
286
315
52
254
257
313
53
320
335
309
54
295
274
297
55
263
263
284
56
230
243
279
57
220
254
259
58
257
220
248
59
271
255
245
60
198
239
244
61
171
194
225
62
178
172
150
63
98.64
160
146
64
126
119
135
65
97.34
110
111
66
47.85
78.03
109
67
111
97.41
96.32
68
103
87.74
94.05
69
27.34
-
90.79
70
110
117
86.93
71
52.64
55.81
55.32
72
-
-
47.02
73
39.39
40.01
46.04
74
28.35
-
45.73
75
30.62
35.35
42.94
76
20.98
-
28.25
77
29.76
39.85
27.15
78
16.68
22.1
27.13
79
-
24.06
25.15
80
17.14
19.48
24.09
81
243
50.74
20.11
82
5.83
-
5.63
83
2,646
-
-
84
645
-
-
85
464
-
-
86
270
-
-
87
263
-
-
88
241
-
-
89
235
-
-
90
155
-
-
91
109
-
-
92
40.78
-
-
93
27.22
-
-
94
18.49
-
-
95
0.32
-
-
Data Source
Frequently Asked Questions
How does urbanization affect theft rates?
Urbanization significantly increases theft rates. Cities provide more opportunities for theft due to crowded public spaces, anonymous environments, and concentration of valuable targets like shops and tourists. Urban areas typically report 3-5 times higher theft rates than rural regions. Public transportation hubs, tourist attractions, and shopping districts are particularly vulnerable to pickpocketing and bag snatching.
Why does Japan have such low theft rates compared to Western countries?
Japan's low theft rate (297 per 100,000) compared to Western countries reflects several cultural and social factors: strong social cohesion and community surveillance, cultural emphasis on honesty and shame associated with theft, high police presence and quick response times, and lower economic inequality. Additionally, Japan's lost-and-found system is remarkably effective, with items often returned to owners.
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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