Is Norway a safe place to live or visit? We take a look at the facts and figures behind Norway's crime rate to try and give you an answer.
Together with the other Nordic countries, Norway frequently sits near the top of the World Happiness Report. Although not a direct factor in the criteria, crime levels are an important barometer to consider when gauging the “happiness” of a nation.
For instance, if a country has a low crime rate then people will feel safe and this ultimately results in a happier society. Of course, there are many other factors to consider too.
The crime rate in Norway
Norway’s fight against crime is headed up by almost 200 police officers per 100,000 people.
In 2023, there were 328,000 offences reported to the Norwegian police across the length and breadth of Norway.
This is 7.7% more than the previous year, bringing the numbers back to the 2018 level. A significant part of this increase is due to more reports from businesses.
For the second consecutive year, the total number of reported crimes and their victims increased. Nearly 23,400 more crimes were reported in 2023 than in 2022.
So, how does that number look when broken down into categories? We've dug into the statistics to bring you this guide to the facts and figures of crime in Norway.
When reading these figures, remember to consider Norway’s population. As of January 2024, that figure stood at about 5.5 million people.
Murder / Homicides in Norway
By global standards, Norway’s murder rate is very low. In 2023, the country recorded just 35 homicides, although that was significantly higher than the rolling ten-year average.
Data also reveals that killings are predominantly carried out by men and that the perpetrators know their victim. Norway’s murder rate is roughly half that of Sweden.
Theft & Vandalism
The 111,600 reported thefts in 2023 are 11,900 more than the previous year, now accounting for one-third of all registered crimes.
“The increase in theft reports accounts for half of the total rise in reported crimes from 2022. Relative to population growth, the extent has more than reversed the decline during the pandemic years, reaching the highest level since 2015,” said Susanne Fjelldalen, senior advisor at Statistics Norway.
While 2022 saw a significant increase in thefts from individuals, thefts from shops and other businesses saw the most significant increase in 2023.
The 23,400 shop thefts (including minor and serious) are 25% more than the previous year, with minor shop thefts contributing most to this increase.
Additionally, there are 1,800 more reports of thefts from other industries and public services, which, combined with the increase in reported shop thefts, account for over half of the total increase in thefts from the previous year.
Nearly one in four thefts from shops and other industries occur in Oslo.
The significant increase in reported thefts from businesses is also reflected in the 27,700 police reports where a business is the victim, more than 22% higher than the previous year.
There are also 2,400 more reports of vandalism with a business as the victim, a large portion of which are reports of vandalism against transportation means within Oslo's public transport system.
Together, the increase in reports from businesses accounts for well over a third of the total increase in reports in 2023, and is also just over 16% higher than the average of the five preceding years.
From the previous year, reported thefts from homes and vacation homes, including serious cases, also increased by 17%, primarily due to more thefts from storage units, garages, and other areas associated with homes and vacation homes.
Violence & Abuse
Reports to the police show an increase for almost all types of violence and abuse offenses in 2023. A total of 37,000 different individuals are registered as victims of these crimes.
This corresponds to 6.7 victims per 1,000 inhabitants – up from 6.3 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022. For comparison, between 2004 and 2021, there were between 5.7 and 6.2 victims of violence and abuse per 1,000 inhabitants each year.
There are more victims in most counties, but particularly in Oslo and Troms and Finnmark.
In 2023, the increase in registered victims of violence and abuse particularly affects those whose main offense type is:
- Assault (including severe): up 5.5% (+570 in number)
- Bodily harm (including severe): up 7% (+140 in number)
- Threats (including severe): up 5% (+280 in number)
- Robbery and extortion: up 50% (+640 in number)
- Reckless behavior and stalking: up 11% (+750 in number)
The number of victims of domestic abuse remains nearly unchanged from the previous year.
The significant increase in victims of robbery and extortion mainly affects men, while the increase in reckless behavior is greatest for women.
Fraud
The increase in fraud reports seen in 2022 continues, but the rise is not as pronounced in 2023.
Based on the main offense, 21,600 people were victims of fraud (including minor and serious), which is 13% more than in 2022, the highest recorded in years with comparable victim statistics.
More than 13 percent of all individuals who were victims of a crime in 2023 were victims of fraud.
Considering population composition, the largest increase is among those aged 70 or older, as in the previous year. Men are most affected, and the increase is also greatest among men in 2023.
As an American observing Norway from the inside, I have personally never felt safer (perhaps only Japan compares).
I attribute it partly to the small village mentality that Norway still has. Like, outside of cities like Oslo, everyone somehow knows everyone else or has some tenuous connection.
After a few minutes of chatting with anyone, I could discover someone that we both know (it is uncanny). If you steal a bike or car, where are you going to go? A bompoenger camera will likely photograph you leaving the town or someone that you know would see you.
Also, Norway is mostly a cashless society now.
And finally, I do think that Norway has a good sense of community and good citizenship (in that people tend to do things for the common good rather than other motives).
My feeling since my first stay, just before the oil & gas discoveries.
Still, there is a hard drug problem and kids may be raised in a far too liberal way. Otherwise, an almost perfect country. Far too good for me actually.
I find it interesting that people compare Norway to the US. Do they realize that Norway’s population is less than the state of Minnesota. We have 22 states with higher populations than Norway. The state of Georgia is double the population. So a little tough to compare these two countries.
There are quite a few comparisons to higher crime rates in Sweden but no mentioning that the country has double the population of Norway too.
David, Do not forget how Lillhammer, the Olympic Village, 1992 got its name. I think the Police Service in Norway are more Community minded. There is heavy drinking and that is risky; potential for crime.
This is a nice article! Thanks for sharing it with us! So if I understand it correctly, Norway is a very safe place? But what if I walk by night in Oslo? Or if I bought some items at the shop and have to walk home for 20 minutes, how great is the chance I’ll be attacked? Just to have an idea 🙂 I’m from Belgium, working in Brussels, and there you really can’t walk 2 steps or they attack you and steal everything, even your clothes. It’s a very very dangerous city. Please if possible, with an email 🙂 would like to hear your opinion
Hi, it’s impossible to give you a percentage chance that you will be attacked on the street, sorry.,
I was living there for over 6 six years, very bad experience. Police swept under the table serious organized crime about muslim gang who sexually abusing drugged women. I was only witness and this gang destroy my credibility as a witness and made me drug addict and crazy. Dont fall into fake safe country. Norway sold themself to immigrants influence and Police cant handle organized crimes because they are afraid. That’s because everyone knows eachother and immigrants use their kindness to take control over the country. Stealing a bike or car is not serious crime. Its only safe because people and government are afraid to say the truth.
Norway’s police has increased even more now and crime is lower by 30% in 2023