Overview

• Violent crimes in Germany rose by 1.5% in 2024, totaling 217,277 cases—the highest figure since 2007, with sexual offenses increasing by 9.3%.
• Knife-related crimes accounted for 6.3% of violent incidents, with a 10.8% increase in knife-related bodily harm cases reported.
• Youth involvement in violent crimes surged, with an 11.3% rise in child suspects and a 3.8% increase in juvenile suspects, attributed partly to lingering psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Non-German suspects made up 41.8% of violent crime cases, reflecting a 7.5% increase from 2023, linked to demographic factors such as a higher proportion of young male migrants.
• The partial legalization of cannabis in April 2024 contributed to a 1.7% overall decline in crime, primarily by reducing drug-related offenses.