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South Africa

South Africa Crime Stats

Background:

South Africa is one of the least lawful countries on earth, with the 5th highest number of total crimes reported in 2002. Some 32,000 of the 2.6 million crimes were murders with firearms, placing the country top of the global table, and 11,000 are manslaughters, the 2nd highest number. Unsurprisingly then, South Africa has an army of 101,000 in their police force.

Definitions

  • Age of criminal responsibility: The age at which a person is no longer excluded from criminal liability.  The lowest age is indicated for countries where there isn’t a single age limit, for example where different states have different regulations (such as the USA) or there is different limits for boy and girls (such as in Iran). The spectrum is specifically wide for the USA and Mexico (both 6-12 years). Several US states do not stipulate any minimal age for criminal responsibility at all. For further qualifications, exceptions and other notes, please refer to notes.
  • Assault rate: Number of assaults recorded by police per 100,000 population
  • Crime levels: Level of crime. Based on 0-50 contributions for Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria and 82 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria and 24 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Brazil, Canada and 17 more countries. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from July, 2011 to February, 2014. See this sample survey for the United States, respondents were asked "How serious you feel the level of crime is?". The higher the value, the more survey respondents believe it is high in their country.
  • Drugs > Annual cannabis use: Estimate of percentage of 15-64 year old population who use Cannabis.
  • Drugs > Opiates use: Annual prevalence.
  • Murder rate: Homicide rate per year per 100,000 inhabitants in various countries.
  • Police officers: Number of police officers per 100,000 population.
  • Rape rate: Number of rape incidents per 100,000 citizens in different countries. Figures do not take into account rape incidents that go unreported to the police.
  • Total crimes: Note: Crime statistics are often better indicators of prevalence of law enforcement and willingness to report crime, than actual prevalence.
  • Violent crime > Gun crime > Guns per 100 residents: Number of privately owned small firearms per 100 residents.
  • Violent crime > Intentional homicide rate: Homicides per 100’000 residents. Homicide is the death of a person purposefully inflicted by another person (it excludes suicides) outside of a state of war. Homicide is a broader category than murder, as it also includes manslaughter. The exact legal definition varies across countries, some of which include infanticide, assisted suicide, euthanasia and deaths caused by dangerous driving.
  • Violent crime > Murder rate: Intentional homicide, number and rate per 100,000 population.
  • Violent crime > Murder rate per million people: Intentional homicide, number and rate per 100,000 population. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Violent crime > Rapes: The number of recorded rapes. Large numbers of rapes go unreported. South Africa is estimated to have 500,000 rapes per year, Egypt 200,000, China 32,000 and the UK with 85,000 rapes per year.
  • Violent crime > Rapes per million people: The number of recorded rapes. Large numbers of rapes go unreported. South Africa is estimated to have 500,000 rapes per year, Egypt 200,000, China 32,000 and the UK with 85,000 rapes per year. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
STAT AMOUNT DATE RANK HISTORY
Age of criminal responsibility 10 2014 41st out of 58
Assault rate 1,188 2011 4th out of 93
Crime levels 86.27 2014 6th out of 93
Drugs > Annual cannabis use 4.3% 2008 13th out of 28
Drugs > Opiates use 0.3% 2004 9th out of 30
Murder rate 34 2009
Police officers 343.5 1995 18th out of 43
Rape rate 132.4 2010 1st out of 57
Total crimes 2.68 million 2002 7th out of 82
Violent crime > Gun crime > Guns per 100 residents 12.7 2014 48th out of 170
Violent crime > Intentional homicide rate 31 2012 4th out of 14
Violent crime > Murder rate 15,940 2010 3rd out of 86
Violent crime > Murder rate per million people 318.86 2010 11th out of 86
Violent crime > Rapes 66,196 2010 2nd out of 57
Violent crime > Rapes per million people 1,324.15 2010 1st out of 57

SOURCES: Wikipedia: Defense of infancy (Ages of criminal responsibility by country); European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control International Statistics on Crime and Justice, 2011; crime; https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2011/World_Drug_Report_2011_ebook.pdf, World Drug Report 2011, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2011, p. 217.; Wikipedia: List of countries by prevalence of opiates use ("World Drug Report 2011" . United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2011. "World Drug Report 2006" . United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2006. http://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2009/WDR2009_eng_web.pdf); UN Crime Stats; The Eighth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2002) (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention); Annexe I of the Small Arms Survey 2007 ; Wikipedia: List of countries by intentional homicide rate by decade; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Source tables; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Statistics : Crime : Sexual Violence (UNODC) and Crime Statistics : Sexual Violence Against Children and Rape, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Statistics : Crime : Sexual Violence (UNODC) and Crime Statistics : Sexual Violence Against Children and Rape, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.

Citation

South Africa Crime Profiles (Subcategories)

Death penalty 3 Prisoners 5
Drugs 3 Prosecutions 6
Fear of crime 9 Punishment 6
Perceived problems 4 Violent crime 8

0

It shocks me to learn that people still think that what is happening in SA is acceptable.
Wake up to the facts. I stil have family living their and I pray every day that they will survive another day in what I like to call " slow moving civil war" .

Posted on 19 Jun 2011

Gerrie

Gerrie

0

I was 3 years old when we overcame Apartheid, so I don't remember any of it. I know many people who have been affected by crime in some way. And yes, certain things in this country is corrupt. But show me one country that is 100% crime free and 100% non-corrupt.

Despite our situation, I love living in South Africa and I think it is the most beautiful country.

Posted on 26 Mar 2011

ProudlySA

ProudlySA

0

I am a South African and i love my country! In 1994 we overcame Apartheid. In 2010 we became the first African country to host a world cup (during which not a single tourist was harmed despite these statistics). And in 2020 we wish to host the 2020 Olympics. South Africa is coming up in the world

It hurts me to see so many South Africans leave. Instead of investing their skills and knowledge in their own country, and bettering their own country, they are choosing to invest it in other countries. How can we, as a Nation, move forward if our own people choose to abandon us? South Africa needs people who want change and who are willing to make that change happen!

Posted on 07 Feb 2011

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

0

It is so wonderful to sleep without any fear, drive to work without any fear, play outdside with your kids without any fear, and plan your future without any fear! Yes, it IS POSSIBLE! We have left with two suitcases each to the USA in 2002. SA is the most beautiful country with generally the most friendly/humble people, BUT nothing can compare to living in a safe place and secure future. GOD BLESS AMERICA, please help South Africa.

Posted on 16 Jan 2011

Thank heavens!

Thank heavens!

0

I woke up this morning in South Africa as I have been doing now for 25 years. I drove my car to work and was not hi-jacked, killed or raped. Worked throughout the day and was never held hostage, drove back home and got there safe and sound, as I have doing for the past 25 years! Bad things happen everywhere in the world, it is individuals who do these things, South Africa and its people as a collective is loving, warm people! As an added bonus, here in South Africa we may NEVER have to worry about Volcanoes, hurricanes and all other natural disasters. LOVE BEING HERE!

Posted on 12 Nov 2010

SA-B-GREAT

SA-B-GREAT

0

We left southern Africa to live in Australia, We left because we had been car jacked, robbed and shot at a numerous amount of time ... my mother was shot and my best friendssister was raped. Its such a shame . South Africa is such a beautifull country. :(

Posted on 14 Aug 2010

Keagan Roos

Keagan Roos

0

You stats are wrong for South Afriva

the deasth penalty doesnt even exist.

fin someone else to make look bad. shame on you

Posted on 07 Jul 2010

Croba

Croba

0

Sadly, South Africans are generally so gullible and naive!

Crime in South Africa in the political "Apartheid" era was largely restricted to the informal settlements and designated townships, ie. crimes amongst the black people. Now the barriers containing crime in those traditional areas have been removed and now freely roams the streets anywhere and everywhere.

White Caucasian settlements around the world benefit from lower crime rates - FACT! It's a genetic thing, but many would not understand this!

Posted on 06 Jul 2010

Henry

Henry

0

I'm a proud white South African. Please open your eyes and see that there is alot of people trying hard to make this country work. We are hosting a great World Cup and your bitterness is not needed.Yes i have been affected by crime.

Posted on 29 Jun 2010

Gideon Burger

Gideon Burger

0

Haha, I love all the idiots who now say it is time to leave SA due to the crime. You obviously thought it was all fine during the apartheid era when crime was covered up by white police, the infrastructure only had to support 5% of the population, and black school kids were shot amd murdered by police. In my estimation, I far prefer SA today than what it was.

Posted on 22 May 2010

Proud SA

Proud SA

0

This looks like one of the externally clean pots with dirts in the interior, I'm afraid...

Posted on 05 Apr 2010

Tola

Tola

0

It doesn't matter how much you love SOuth Africa. If you're white South Africa does not love you

Posted on 05 Apr 2010

scrambled

scrambled

0

You are right not to believe these statistics. The majority of crimes in SA are NEVER reported. Things are WORSE than this page can even say!! SA has gone to the dogs...

Posted on 07 Mar 2010

Hard Rain

Hard Rain

0

LOL... these are such lies man. yea the crime at home is bad but cumonnnn now.... 80 murders a day?... and even still, there's no place like home... S.A rocks man!!!!

Posted on 21 Feb 2010

siso N

siso N

0

Stats are based on incentives of the "expert" providing the stats. We know that between 1990 and 1996 Atlanta (US) under reported all its crimes stats and 22 000 doc on crime went missing. So, it depends how powerful a country you are and which "expert" is brown-nosed by who.

Posted on 09 Nov 2009

saproudly

saproudly

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