Australia is ranked third highest of the fourteen countries in terms of overall victimisation, behind the other two non-European countries, the USA and Canada. In assaults involving force, sexual incidents, burglary and motor vehicle thefts, Australia ranked highest of all countries surveyed.
Crime levels
Australia reported 46.01 crimes per 100,000 citizens. Australia is ranked 69th out of 164 countries when it comes to crime in general while Canada did better with only 39.03 crimes per 100,000 and ranking 80th.
Crime rate by country 2025: 10 countries with the highest crime...
Homicide rate: Australia's homicide rate hovers around 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to the U.S. rate of approximately 6 per 100,000. Property crime: Both countries experience property crime, but Australia's rates are generally lower, and violent property crimes (like armed burglary) are less common.
Australia ranks as the 2nd safest country in the world for 2026 🇦🇺✨ New global safety findings highlight Australia's strong healthcare system, low crime levels, political stability, and high quality of life.
Iceland, New Zealand, and Ireland again lead with the world's lowest crime rates in 2025. Countries like Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and Singapore follow closely, powered by strong laws and social trust. Know more below about what makes these nations so safe.
Canberra is officially Australia's #1 safest city, with a crime index rating of 26 out of 100. That places it as the 49th safest city in the world. This ranking comes from Compare the Market Australia, which analysed 6 years of public data from Numbeo's crime index.
It is estimated that of all Australian adults: 11.3% (2.2 million) had experienced violence from a partner (current or previous cohabiting) 5.9% (1.1 million) had experienced violence from a boyfriend, girlfriend or date. 7.0% (1.4 million) had experienced violence from another family member (ABS 2023c).
Australia is the runner-up for the world's most desirable country to move to in 2025. Moving across the country is one of the biggest life decisions you'll ever make – but picking where exactly to settle down can be even trickier.
Hagan wrote that, "Probably the most important factor in the rate of motor vehicle theft is the number of motor vehicles per capita in the country." Using data supplied by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, New Zealand had the highest auto-theft rate for any fairly large country in the world, at 954.0 per ...
The top 10 most dangerous places
Crime statistics. Scholars have found that some racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African-Americans, are disproportionately represented in the arrest and victimization reports which are used to compile crime rate statistics in the United States.
Rockhampton. Rockhampton is the most dangerous city in Australia. According to the reports, it has a crime index of 67.2, which is one of the major contributors to the country's higher rate. It has a crime rate of 132 per 1000 people, with most of the cases for theft, burglary, and assault.
Safety and Crime Rate
Canada and Australia both rank as safe places.
The most common crimes in Australia include theft, assault, and property damage. According to recent Australian crime statistics, property-related offences like break-ins and motor vehicle theft remain prevalent, while cybercrime and domestic violence are increasingly reported.
Previous analyses, based on police statistics of crime reported, have concluded that the general level of Australian crime is much lower than that of America, although higher than comparable European states.
Sexual violence is possibly the most under reported crime in Australia, yet the impact creates serious and damaging psychological issues that can last a lifetime.
While each state did show an increase in acts intended to cause injury, these are largely modest. For example, NSW rose from 440 per 100,000 people aged 10–17 in 2013–14 to 498 in 2023–24. But despite this increase, it's actually a drop compared to 2022–23, which recorded 516 per 100,000 aged 10–17.
Ranked number one since 2008, Iceland remains the world's most peaceful nation, leading across all three domains: safety and security, ongoing conflict and militarisation. It even recorded a 2% improvement this year, widening the gap from the second-place country on the list.
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
Australia's Quiet Places
Iceland remains the most peaceful country in 2022, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark and Austria.
According to the latest 2025 CEOWORLD Health Care Index, Taiwan once again ranks as the country with the best healthcare in the world, maintaining its top position with an overall score of 78.72. South Korea (77.7) and Australia (74.11) remain in second and third place, respectively.
1. Venezuela Venezuela has a crime index of 82.1, the highest of any country in the world.