Spain ranks 50th on Numbeo’s Crime Index by Country in 2025, reflecting relatively low perceived crime. Official figures for the first half of 2025 also show a small year‑on‑year fall in recorded offences, with the familiar pattern of higher rates in the biggest, most visited cities.
Spain crime snapshot from January to June 2025, according to INE and the Ministry of the Interior's crime report.
- Total recorded offences: 1,212,268
- Conventional crime (homicide, robbery, assault, drug offences, sexual offences, etc.) makes up 79.8% of the total
- Year‑on‑year trend: total crime down 0.9% versus the first half of 2024
Barcelona: Spain's most dangerous city
Barcelona sits at the top of Spain’s city ranking for recorded crime in the first half of 2025, with a rate of 8,563 offences per 100,000 residents, ahead of Madrid. The bulk of incidents are non‑violent and cluster in the busiest visitor corridors, where pickpocketing and phone snatches are the classic headaches. Be aware of the areas to avoid in Barcelona, neighbourhood safety and smart places to stay if visiting the city.
Rates are per 100,000 residents, which allows a fair comparison between cities of different sizes.
- Barcelona — 8,563
- Madrid — 7,980
- Seville — 6,450
- Valencia — 6,230
- Málaga — 5,875
- Palma de Mallorca — 5,540
- Bilbao — 5,300
- Alicante — 4,980
- Zaragoza — 4,730
- Granada — 4,500
The most dangerous regions in Spain
By total recorded conventional offences in the first half of 2025, Catalonia leads with 207,567 incidents, followed by Andalusia, the Community of Madrid and the Valencian Community. These are volumes rather than rates, and they broadly reflect population size, tourism flows and major transport hubs. Most offences are non‑violent and concentrate in the biggest metropolitan areas and tourist corridors, while many suburban districts and smaller towns see fewer day‑to‑day issues.
- Catalonia: 207,567
- Andalusia: 160,038
- Community of Madrid: 159,705
- Valencian Community: 114,086
- Provinces with the most recorded offences:
- Barcelona province: 160,164
- Madrid province: 159,705
- Valencia province: 59,003
Practical safety notes for travellers and residents
- Keep phones and wallets zipped away on metros and busy pavements, especially around Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella and Sagrada Família surroundings, Madrid’s Sol–Gran Vía, Valencia’s historic centre and Málaga’s old town.
- Beaches, nightlife areas and festival sites see more opportunistic theft. Use a cross‑body bag and avoid leaving belongings unattended.
- Public transport is broadly safe, but late‑night services are busy at weekends, so keep an eye on bags near doors.
- Emergency number: 112. To report an incident, file a denuncia with Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil.
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