Crime Rates Drop Nearly Everywhere, for a Safer World

In most countries, crime reduction measures have been successfully put in place, and numbers in the last decade show that the world is getting safer thanks to political will.

The world’s safest country is Japan with an astonishing 0.10 murders per 100,000 population as the Asia Pacific region is known for its low homicide rates.

Slovenia, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland join Japan as the safest nations, all developed members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Out of its 38 members, 20 have murder rates below one per 100,000. Comparatively, the OECD had 15 countries reached that rate 10 years ago, and only five 30 years ago. Outside of the OECD, things are also looking up. Low homicide levels – below 0.8 murders per 100,000 population – have been reached in Bahrain, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Qatar, Malta, China, and Malaysia. Thanks to the World Bank’s database, it is possible to observe both long-term and short-term trends since the organization’s data goes back to 1990. Progress is notable over the last decade, showing that the measures put in place have been successful.