Overall crime trends in the country
In the first half of 2025, Spain recorded 1,212,268 offenses. Of this number, 967,077 cases involved traditional crimes such as homicide, theft, assault, drug trafficking, and offenses against sexual freedom. The remaining incidents were related to cybercrime. According to national statistics, the rate of traditional crime stands at 40.6 cases per thousand inhabitants, which is considered one of the lowest in the world. By comparison, cybercrimes occur at a rate of 9.7 per thousand people. Compared to the same period last year, the overall crime rate decreased by 0.9%.
Breakdown by autonomous communities
Catalonia ranks first in the number of reported crimes—207,567 cases over six months. It is followed by Andalusia (160,038), the capital region (159,705), and the Valencian Community (114,086). These regions have traditionally remained leaders in terms of offenses due to their high population density and economic activity.
Cities with the highest crime rates
The province of Barcelona once again tops the list for the number of crimes: from January to June 2025, 160,164 cases were recorded. Madrid follows closely with 159,705 crimes during the same period. Valencia ranks third with 59,003 incidents. When considering the rate per 100,000 inhabitants, Barcelona leads with 8,563 crimes, followed by Madrid at 7,980 and Seville at 6,450. Next are Valencia (6.23), Malaga (5,875), Palma de Mallorca (5.54), Bilbao (5.3), Alicante (4.98), Zaragoza (4.73), and Granada (4.5). Thus, the ten cities with the highest criminal activity are: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Bilbao, Alicante, Zaragoza, and Granada.
Regional Statistics Highlights
The largest number of offenses is recorded in major cities and tourist centers. This is explained not only by population size but also by the high influx of visitors and the economic attractiveness of these areas. Despite high absolute figures, the crime rate in Spain remains lower than in many other European countries. Authorities continue to implement measures to reduce the number of violations, with special focus on prevention and digital security.
