Albania, among the countries with the highest murder rate in Europe, relative to its population

Albania ranks among the top 10 countries in Europe for the high number of intentional homicides relative to its population, according to data published by Eurostat.

In 2024, 41 intentional homicides were recorded in the country (a figure published by Eurostat), which, in relation to that year’s population, equals 1.71 murders per 100,000 inhabitants (calculated by Monitor).

At this level, Albania ranks eighth, after Lithuania (2.63), Latvia (2.4), Turkey (2.27), Montenegro (1.92), Estonia (1.82), Iceland (1.82), and Finland (1.78).

Compared to a year earlier, when the country had 1.27 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, there has been a noticeable increase in this indicator for Albania for two reasons. First, the number of murders rose from 35 to 41, according to Eurostat. Second, the calculations for 2024 are based on the population from the new Census, at 2.39 million inhabitants, down from 2.76 million in 2023.

The highest number of murders in the country was recorded in 2016, with 71 victims, according to historical data from Eurostat, or 2.46 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

Europe

According to Eurostat, in 2024, 3,953 intentional homicides were recorded in the EU, marking a slight increase of 1% compared to 2023, or 56 more criminal offenses recorded by the police. Compared to 2014, when 4,448 intentional homicides were recorded, the number has decreased by 11%.

During the period 2014–2024, the number of intentional homicides has fluctuated. The highest level was recorded in 2015, with 4,616 reported cases. From 2016 onwards, the trend declined, reaching 3,735 cases in 2019. In 2020, this decline was interrupted and intentional homicides rose slightly to 3,820, before dropping again to the lowest level of the series in 2021, with 3,645 cases.

After 2021, the trend reversed direction, increasing every year, from 3,838 cases in 2022 to 3,897 in 2023 and 3,953 in 2024. Despite this recent increase, the 2024 level remains lower than the mid-decade peak, about 14% less than in 2015.

Overall, the ranking shows that the highest levels of murders per 100,000 inhabitants are concentrated in the Baltic countries and in some Balkan countries. In the Baltic states, such as Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, the higher indicators are linked to historical and social factors, such as the legacy of the post-Soviet transition, high alcohol consumption, family and personal conflicts, as well as social inequalities.

The smaller population size also means that a relatively limited number of cases has a greater impact on the rate per 100,000 inhabitants, according to reports from the World Health Organization, OECD, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which have published global studies on homicides.

Turkey, ranked third with 2.27 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, represents a distinct case due to its large population and internal social, political, and regional factors. The relatively high level is linked to domestic violence, personal conflicts, regional inequalities, as well as the influence of organized crime in certain areas, according to global reports.

In the Balkans, including Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, higher levels are more closely related to factors such as personal, property, and family conflicts, blood feuds, the circulation of weapons, weaknesses in law enforcement, and the influence of organized crime in certain areas. After Montenegro and Albania comes Kosovo (1.57 for 2020, the latest available data), North Macedonia (1.1), and the lowest rate is in Serbia (0.8).

Finland may be the happiest country in the world according to the World Happiness Report, but this does not exclude the presence of specific social issues reflected in violence statistics, placing it among the top ten. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, Finland’s relatively higher level is not linked to general insecurity in public spaces, but rather to the structure of homicides. Studies and data for the country show that a large share of cases are related to interpersonal violence, family violence, or between people who know each other, often accompanied by alcohol use.

For Iceland, in small countries, a limited number of cases can significantly increase the rate per 100,000 inhabitants from one year to another. Although Iceland ranks high in this list for 2024, it remains among the safest and most peaceful countries in the world in international indices, according to local reports.

In the middle group are countries such as Belgium, France, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Croatia, where homicide rates are above or close to 1 per 100,000 inhabitants. In these countries, cases are more related to urban crime, domestic violence, social tensions, and in some cases, the influence of organized crime or trafficking networks.

At the bottom of the ranking are countries such as Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Portugal, and Poland, where rates are below 0.7 per 100,000 inhabitants. These countries are generally characterized by more consolidated institutions, more effective law enforcement, stronger gun control, more developed social systems, and earlier intervention in family or community conflicts.

“KORÇA BOOM”