Police in Switzerland recorded 564,000 criminal offences in 2024 — around 8 percent more than in 2023, according to new data published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on March 24.
The rise in serious violent crimes is particularly striking: 2,456 cases were reported, which is 19.4 percent more than in 2023 — and the highest figure since the statistics started to be recorded by the FSO in 2009.
On the positive side, the number of homicides fell by 15 percent when compared with 2023.
Which offences were most frequent in 2024?
Among serious violent crimes, cases of sexual assault had jumped the most: up by 29.4 percent, which translates to 247 more offences than in 2023.
Next is aggravated robbery — that is, theft with the use, or threat, of force — up by 21.6 percent (11 more cases) as compared to the previous year.
There was also a 16.9-percent hike (149 cases) in aggravated bodily harm, a term which means physical force was used and injuries were inflicted.
What else do the FSO figures reveal?
They show who the perpetrators were: 42.3 percent were Swiss citizens and the remaining 57.7 percent were foreign nationals.
Among the latter group, 31.4 percent were residents in Switzerland; 6.7 percent were asylum seekers, and the remaining 19.6 percent consisted of ‘other’ foreign nationals — for instance, tourists or people living in the country illegally.
Where in Switzerland are crime rates highest?
Not surprisingly, cities can claim this dubious distinction more often than small towns or, even less so, rural areas.
Basel-City gets this dubious distinction because, according to the FSO, 151.6 crimes were committed there for 1,000 people — the highest rate in Switzerland.
Lausanne is next — 120.1 /1,000
Zurich and Lucerne share the third place: 111.3 cases for 1,000 people in both cities, followed by Biel/Bienne (103.5).
Geneva’s rate is 95.2 /1,000
Interestingly, the more south and eastward one goes, the less risk there is of being a victim of crime.
There are no communities in those parts of the country where rates exceed 100 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants. Instead, they range between 20 and 30 incidents / 1,000
For instance your risk of being a crime victim are low in Ticino, Valais, Schwyz, Uri, and Graubünden, where rates per-1,000 don't exceed 35.
Therefore, if you live (or visit) those parts of Switzerland, you can feel pretty safe there.
Wait: does this mean that Swiss cities are not safe?
That’s not the case, according to the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders of Switzerland (CCPCS), who said that “crime figures should be interpreted with caution.”
"Generally speaking, we can consider the country to be safe."
This statement is supported by recent data released by the World Population Review.
It places Switzerland in seventh of all 37 European nations, in terms of safety.
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