Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Crime in Luxembourg - Statistics & Facts
Almost 43,000 crimes were recorded by the police in Luxembourg in 2021, one of the highest number of crimes in over two decades. The incarceration rate, however, has been decreasing for the last decade, and fewer than one in a thousand people were incarcerated in Luxembourg.
The budget of the Luxembourg police (Grand Ducal Police) has also been increasing in the past decade, and as of 2021 reached close to 300,000 euros, while over 2,500 people work in the police. The Luxembourg police experienced a clearance rate of 53.2 percent in the most recent year, indicating that in over half of all crimes recorded a charge was being made.
Drugs are an additional concern for the police, with drug related offences increasing in recent years, reaching over 4,600 cases in the year 2020. The number of burglaries, on the other hand, has been fluctuating significantly, stabilizing at around 3,000 burglaries in the year 2021. Cases of vandalism decreased somewhat in the past decade, as less than 4,200 cases of vandalism were recorded in 2021.
In terms of reported assaults, Luxembourg ranks relatively highly,with 103.76 per hundred thousand inhabitants in 2019. Belgium, however, was significantly higher again with 556.36, over five times as high as in Luxembourg. At 46.16, Luxembourg's rate of reported sexual violence was around the median of European countries, but still significantly lower compared to its neighboring countries of France, Belgium and Germany.
The budget of the Luxembourg police (Grand Ducal Police) has also been increasing in the past decade, and as of 2021 reached close to 300,000 euros, while over 2,500 people work in the police. The Luxembourg police experienced a clearance rate of 53.2 percent in the most recent year, indicating that in over half of all crimes recorded a charge was being made.
Types of crime Luxembourg
A total of four people were victims of intentional homicide in the most recent period recorded, which equates to a homicide rate of 0.65 per hundred thousand inhabitants. Moreover, 76 people were victims of rape in 2019, while 18 people were convicted of rape in the same year.Drugs are an additional concern for the police, with drug related offences increasing in recent years, reaching over 4,600 cases in the year 2020. The number of burglaries, on the other hand, has been fluctuating significantly, stabilizing at around 3,000 burglaries in the year 2021. Cases of vandalism decreased somewhat in the past decade, as less than 4,200 cases of vandalism were recorded in 2021.
Crime compared to other European countries
The crime rate of Luxembourg is relatively low compared to other European countries. With a homicide rate of only 0.32 in 2020, Luxembourg is the lowest in relation to 37 other European countries. Compared to its neighbor Belgium, which experienced a homicide rate of 1.23, Luxembourg's homicide rate was almost a quarter of that.In terms of reported assaults, Luxembourg ranks relatively highly,with 103.76 per hundred thousand inhabitants in 2019. Belgium, however, was significantly higher again with 556.36, over five times as high as in Luxembourg. At 46.16, Luxembourg's rate of reported sexual violence was around the median of European countries, but still significantly lower compared to its neighboring countries of France, Belgium and Germany.
