Unlawful Computer Access Rates by Country 2026

Unlawful access to computer systems, commonly known as hacking, is a growing cybercrime threat affecting individuals, businesses, and governments worldwide. This analysis presents unauthorized computer access rates per 100,000 population across 57 countries, based on official data reported to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

[TABLE2|title=Unlawful Computer Access Rates by Country Per 100k Population]

What is Unlawful Computer Access?

Unlawful access to a computer system refers to intentionally accessing a computer system without authorization or exceeding authorized access. This includes:

• Hacking – Breaking into systems to steal data or cause damage
• Unauthorized access – Accessing systems without permission
• Password cracking – Using tools to bypass authentication
• Exploiting vulnerabilities – Taking advantage of security flaws

Important Note on Interpreting This Data

Computer crime statistics depend heavily on detection capabilities, reporting awareness, and legal frameworks. Many intrusions go undetected or unreported. Countries with advanced cybersecurity infrastructure and mandatory breach reporting laws show higher rates. The data captures reported incidents, not actual intrusion attempts, which are far more numerous.

Key Findings

Malta leads with 81.98 cases per 100,000 population in 2022, nearly doubling from 42.26 in 2020. The Netherlands (79.11) follows closely, reflecting strong cybercrime reporting systems in both countries.

Italy showed significant growth from 29.31 in 2020 to 54.52 in 2022, indicating either increased attacks or improved detection. Belgium (47.21) and Finland (33.94) also rank high among European nations.

Singapore's rate decreased from 52.01 in 2020 to 33.77 in 2022, possibly reflecting improved security measures or changes in classification.

Denmark showed a dramatic drop from 10.77 in 2021 to 1.07 in 2022, suggesting significant changes in reporting methodology.

Asian countries show varying rates: Thailand (12.9), Japan (1.76), and Mongolia (7.65). Many developing countries report very low rates, likely indicating limited detection rather than fewer attacks.

Unlawful Computer Access Rates by Country Per 100k Population

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#	Country	2020	2021	2022
1	Malta	42.26	50.73	81.98
2	Netherlands	63.87	82.6	79.11
3	Italy	29.31	33.23	54.52
4	Belgium	48.28	40.65	47.21
5	Finland	20.78	27.65	33.94
6	Singapore	52.01	50.23	33.77
7	Lithuania	13.06	18.86	29.22
8	Czech Republic	12.2	17.72	26.68
9	Austria	9.15	10.62	19.85
10	Germany	11.92	15.83	14.59
11	France	12.72	14.48	13.65
12	Thailand	-	4.46	12.9
13	Spain	9.76	11.19	11.66
14	Israel	16.18	9.96	11.28
15	Estonia	11.66	11.41	10.59
16	Switzerland	8.06	9.25	9.59
17	United Kingdom	6.06	9.12	8.57
18	Mongolia	4.44	4.52	7.65
19	Greece	3.39	3.64	7.45
20	Romania	3.53	4.69	5.7
21	Liechtenstein	2.58	5.12	5.09
22	Honduras	-	0.55	4.77
23	Slovenia	4.28	3.26	4.21
24	Ecuador	1.66	2.31	2.01
25	Japan	2.22	1.21	1.76
26	New Zealand	2.52	2.23	1.42
27	Ireland	1.16	1.43	1.23
28	Denmark	9.24	10.77	1.07
29	Poland	0.65	0.92	1
30	Bulgaria	0.69	0.71	0.89
31	Albania	0.7	0.6	0.88
32	Croatia	0.48	0.82	0.72
33	Slovakia	0.49	0.68	0.51
34	Mexico	0.18	0.39	0.32
35	Chile	0.34	1.16	0.32
36	Costa Rica	0.14	0.1	0.28
37	Armenia	0.14	0.17	0.24
38	Guatemala	0.18	0.17	0.17
39	Serbia	0.32	0.15	0.15
40	Moldova	0.03	0.07	0.13
41	Latvia	0.16	0.21	0
42	Mauritius	28.6	26.73	-
43	Colombia	14.27	16.39	-
44	Panama	5.64	13.85	-
45	Macau	10.98	13.54	-
46	Malaysia	0.72	1.14	-
47	United Arab Emirates	1.45	1.02	-
48	Bosnia and Herzegovina	-	0.43	-
49	Montenegro	-	0.33	-
50	Algeria	0.21	0.32	-
51	Morocco	-	0.26	-
52	Peru	0.15	0.18	-
53	Qatar	0.14	0.11	-
54	Oman	-	0.04	-
55	Kyrgyzstan	-	0.04	-
56	El Salvador	0.05	0.03	-
57	Azerbaijan	0.02	0.01	-

Data Source

• Source: UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) – Corruption and Economic Crime Statistics
• Unit: Rate per 100,000 population
• Years covered: 2020, 2021, 2022
• Countries included: 57 countries with available data