European Cities with the Highest Crime Rates

Numbeo has updated its data on the crime index in European cities in 2024. The top ten cities with the highest crime index include 4 French cities, including the capital of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Paris.

The current crime index from the Numbeo service assesses the overall crime level in a given city. According to this source, the crime level gradation is as follows: crime level below 20 is very low; from 20 to 40 is low; from 40 to 60 is moderate; from 60 to 80 is high; above 80 is very high.

10 European Cities with the Highest Crime Rates in 2024

As can be seen from the diagram, 8 out of 10 cities have a crime rate of 60 to 65, which is the lower limit of a high crime rate. Thus, Marseille, which took 1st place among European cities in terms of crime rate, is in 40th place in the world list. The first place in the world list of cities with the highest crime rate belongs to Caracas — the crime rate in the capital of Venezuela is 82, which is classified as very high.

A little about the cities from the unfavorable top:

1. Marseille, France

Marseille is not only the second-largest city in France but also the oldest city in the country, with a history of over 2,600 years. In addition, Marseille is a major port city in France.

The high crime rate in Marseille is due to the following factors: socio-economic inequality, high poverty levels, drug trafficking, migration flows through the city, and a high concentration of migrants. In France, Marseille has the unfortunate name of “the center of the French drug industry.”

The most common types of crime are pickpocketing and theft, car theft and break-ins, drug trafficking and related crimes. There is also a high level of gang activity in the city, whose activities are not limited to robberies and drug trafficking — gangs can often engage in shootouts both among themselves and with the authorities.

2. Coventry, UK

Coventry is located in central England in the West Midlands region.

Coventry is a city in central England, in the West Midlands region. It is particularly famous for its automotive industry.

The most common types of crime are drug trafficking, theft and robbery, and violent crimes. The city continues to be active in gangs that attract young people to their ranks. The latter join the street gang due to the high level of poverty and unemployment.

3. Birmingham, UK

Birmingham is the second-largest city in the UK after London and was once the center of the Industrial Revolution. Despite its crime rate, Birmingham is a popular tourist destination and is known for its vibrant culture and nightlife.

The most common crimes in Birmingham are violent and sexual crimes, followed by theft and robbery, and car theft. Like Coventry, Birmingham still has a problem with drug dealing and street gangs.

4. Naples, Italy

Naples is the third-largest city in Italy after Rome and Milan. It is the capital of the Campania region and is located on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city is known for its pizza, historic center, and proximity to Vesuvius. In turn, the Campania region is the birthplace of the Camorra – the Italian mafia.

Naples is a city where mafia-related crimes are common – smuggling, corruption, extortion, and blackmail; criminal connections and organized crime; pickpocketing, robbery, and car theft.

Naples is a popular tourist destination, and for ordinary tourists, it is no more dangerous than most European cities, and the most common crime that tourists may be subjected to is pickpocketing.

Naples ranks fourth in the ranking of the most criminal cities in Europe due to its organized crime, but it has virtually no impact on tourism.

5. Montpellier, France

Montpellier is the capital of the Hérault department and the second-largest city in the Occitanie region of southern France. It is located 12 km from the Mediterranean coast. The historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its narrow streets and medieval buildings.

Montpellier is a popular tourist destination and is safe if certain rules are followed. This means being careful and guarding against petty theft, avoiding unfavorable areas, and avoiding certain places at night.

The main types of crimes are pickpocketing, robbery, car theft and burglary, and drug trafficking.

6. Catania, Italy

Catania is a port city on the island of Sicily, as well as its administrative center. Catania is very popular among tourists due to its attractions, such as Mount Etna, the Ancient Theatre, the Duomo Square, and others.

Catania, like Naples, has a history of organized crime – the mafia. The most common crimes in Catania are organized crime crimes – corruption, drug trafficking, extortion, pickpocketing, and robbery. Most likely, Catania got into this rating because of the mafia and its criminal activities, but for the average tourist, taking basic precautions, Catania is unlikely to be dangerous.

7. Grenoble, France

Grenoble is the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. It is located at the foot of the Alps, between the Drac and Isère rivers. Grenoble was an important center of the textile industry in the Middle Ages. It was also a major center of the resistance movement during World War II. At the beginning of 2024, Grenoble was named the “French Silicon Valley” and included in the list of the most desirable cities to live in the country.

The most common crimes in Grenoble are thefts and robberies and drug trafficking. Due to its relative proximity to Marseille, drug trafficking has been thriving in Grenoble for several decades, and crimes are committed on its basis.

8. Liege, Belgium

Liège is the capital of the province of Liège in Wallonia, Belgium. It is located on the Meuse River, about 90 km east of Brussels.

The most common crimes in the city of Liege are thefts, robberies, and drug-related crimes.

Liege has a crime rate of 60, which is the border between moderate and high crime.

9. Paris, France

Paris, the capital of France, is one of the most famous and visited cities in the world. It welcomes tens of millions of tourists every year, and in 2024 it became the capital of the 33rd Summer Olympic Games.

Paris has had a security problem for many years. Some crime reports refer to Paris as the “city of love, lights, and theft,” thus highlighting the main type of crime in the city.

The main types of crime in Paris are pickpocketing and petty robbery (most common in tourist areas); fraud; car theft and break-ins; violent crime; and drug-related crimes. Cybercrime is also increasingly common in Paris, but this trend is typical for rest of the world. It is also worth noting that France has been facing a growing terrorist threat in recent years, but it is important to understand that almost all countries in Western and Southern Europe face similar threats.

The list of crimes that occur in Paris is huge, but most of these crimes are typical for the disadvantaged areas of the city. Tourists most often encounter petty theft and fraud, but this can be avoided if you take appropriate safety measures.

10. Malmö, Sweden

Malmö is the third-largest city in Sweden, located in the country's southernmost administrative region, Skåne. The city is known for its historical landmarks and also because it hosted the 21st Eurovision Song Contest in 2024.

Malmö serves as the main entry point for most migrants who want to live in Sweden. This has resulted in a high concentration of migrants in the city, and with it, problems with their integration and unemployment.

The main crimes in Malmö are violent crime, drug trafficking, theft, and robbery.

Malmö remains popular with tourists and is generally considered safe for tourists, provided that standard precautions are taken.

Afterword

Although the above-mentioned cities are among the top ten most dangerous cities in Europe, most of them are popular with tourists due to their historical and cultural attractions. The quality of life in these cities also remains at a fairly high level, and most serious crimes are committed in socially disadvantaged areas of the city.