Crime in Slovakia

Slovakia is a country in Central Europe with a population of 5.4 million people. It has a history of having relatively low amounts of crime compared to many other countries that were once part of the communist world. Even though some types of crime increased after big changes in government happened in 1989, Slovakia still keeps its reputation for safety.

The country uses many police forces and special services to work against crime. However, studies show that many people in Slovakia do not fully trust these police and secret service groups, making them some of the least trusted institutions in the nation.

Crime by type

Murder

Further information: List of countries by intentional homicide rate

In 2018, Slovakia had a low murder rate of 1.37 per 100,000 people. In 2016, there were 57 murders in the country.

Violence and theft

Apart from a few shootings linked to organized groups, gun violence is uncommon in Slovakia. Each year, there are about 3,000 to 4,000 break-ins and 7,000 to 8,000 car thefts. There are also around 15,000 cases each year where people are hurt or their property is damaged.

Illegal drug trade

Slovakia follows international rules against illegal drugs and has strict laws. Possessing certain drugs is against the law, and punishments can be very serious. In the mid-1990s, Slovakia became an important route for moving drugs to Western Europe. The government created a special service to fight drug use and trafficking, and made changes to its laws.

Organized crime

Further information: Slovak mafia

There are groups in Slovakia involved in organized crime, mainly focused on security, construction, and nightlife. These groups are smaller and less powerful than crime groups from other countries. After the revolutions of 1989, organized crime became more noticeable in Slovakia.

Corruption

Main article: Corruption in Slovakia

According to a report, corruption is still a big problem in Slovakia.

Crime dynamics

In the 1990s, Slovakia had about 2,300 reported crimes for every 100,000 people. This was lower than nearby countries like Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria.

Between 1989 and 1999, the number of people who committed crimes went up a little, from over 35,000 to almost 45,000. Most of these people were not convicted. In the 2000s, the number of crime perpetrators went up a bit, and economic crimes increased a lot.