Crime: The most dangerous cities in Switzerland

Each year, police statistics provide an overview of crime in Switzerland. The 2024 edition reveals some sometimes surprising figures: some small municipalities report a much higher number of crimes per capita than larger cities. This has reignited the debate on urban safety and how to interpret this data.

Updated November 10, 2025:

Is Lausanne at the top of the list of the most violent cities? The municipality downplays the claim.

According to the latest statistics from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Lausanne will have the highest rate of violent crime in Switzerland in 2024, with 14.3 offenses per 1,000 inhabitants. This figure places the capital of Vaud ahead of other cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants.

But the Municipality is urging caution. The "violence" category used by the FSO includes a wide variety of offenses – ranging from street fights to domestic violence – and does not take into account small municipalities, among which Solothurn would rank first.

When questioned by 24 heures, Marcelo Aebi, professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lausanne, also qualified the significance of the ranking:

«"Differences in how offenses are recorded, criminal policies, or even the attractiveness of large cities can skew the comparison."»

The researcher acknowledges, however, a real increase in violent acts in Lausanne, which he links in particular to the youth of the population and the impact of French-speaking social networks, where videos of urban violence circulate.

The Canton of Vaud, for its part, has noted an increase in domestic violence and drug trafficking. Aware of a certain "security resurgence," State Councillor Vassilis Venizelos (Greens) announced the creation of a Crime Observatory.

«"I am hopeful that, in time, we will be able to better understand these phenomena and deconstruct certain myths about crime in Vaud," said Vassilis Venizelos.

Solothurn tops the rankings

The city of Solothurn ranks first, with approximately 270 recorded crimes per 1,000 inhabitants. This figure is partly explained by the high number of commuters and visitors, which artificially inflates the ratio. Nevertheless, it places the Baroque city at the top of the ranking.

Interlaken and its tourist influx

Second in the ranking, Interlaken has nearly 211 crimes per 1,000 residents. This represents an increase of more than 40% compared to the previous year. Mass tourism, with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, plays a significant role in these statistics.

Major cities: Bern, Basel and Lausanne

Among major cities, Bern records approximately 176 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants, ahead of Basel with 163. These cities account for a significant proportion of thefts, assaults, and drug-related offenses. Lausanne, for its part, stands out for its high rate of violent offenses, placing it just behind Basel in this specific area.

Other municipalities in the top 7

Olten, Egerkingen, and Biel are also among the most affected municipalities, with rates ranging from 141 to 151 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants. Here again, the small population size and certain local contexts can exaggerate the statistics.

A ranking to be interpreted with caution

These figures do not necessarily mean that these cities are dangerous for their residents on a daily basis. In tourist towns or those heavily frequented by commuters, crime rates relative to the number of inhabitants sometimes give an exaggerated picture of insecurity. For large cities, the figures mainly help identify the most common types of crime: theft, violent offenses, or drug-related offenses.

Crime in Switzerland remains generally low compared to other countries, but these statistics highlight that realities vary greatly from one region to another. Do you think this ranking reflects your feelings about safety in your city or when traveling?