Security — Italy · Synthesis
One of the lowest homicide rates in Europe, but a major specificity: organised crime (mafias), a security, economic and democratic challenge with no equivalent elsewhere.
Citoyen synthesis for the Security category in Italy. Grounded in the sector's quantitative data (ISTAT, Ministry of the Interior, Eurostat, UNODC). All values are the latest realized observation available — never a forecast. Assessments are kept distinct from sourced facts; recorded data also depend on the filing of complaints. Data last updated: June 2026.
1. State of play — where security stands
One of the lowest homicide rates in Europe. The homicide rate stands at around 0.5 to 0.6 per 100,000 inhabitants (ISTAT / UNODC), one of the lowest in Europe, below France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Lethal violence has declined sharply over the decades, including in regions historically marked by the mafias.
Organised crime, a national specificity. Italy stands out for the weight of organised crime (Cosa Nostra, 'Ndrangheta, Camorra, mafias), a security issue but also an economic one (infiltration of the legal economy, public contracts) and a democratic one (corruption, intimidation). The Calabrian 'Ndrangheta has become one of the most powerful criminal organisations in the world.
Violence against women. Femicide and gender-based violence are a major subject of mobilisation and public policy, with enhanced statistical monitoring (ISTAT, Ministry of the Interior) — as across the rest of Europe.
Property crime. Thefts and burglaries follow contrasting trends, broadly declining over the long term, with regional variations.
Cybercrime and the sense of security. Fraud and cybercrime are rising, as everywhere. Italians' sense of security is broadly high compared with the perceived threat from organised crime, a sign of a gap between facts and perceptions.
“Italy has one of the lowest homicide rates in Europe — far removed from the image conveyed by organised crime.”
2. Outlook — where security is heading
The fight against the mafias. Anti-mafia action (seizures, legislation on confiscated assets, combating economic infiltration) remains a national priority and a model studied internationally (legislation, specialist magistrates). Its stakes go beyond security to touch the economy and democracy.
Gender-based violence. Strengthening prevention and protection against violence against women is a stated priority, with detailed statistical monitoring.
Cybercrime. Adapting to the rise of fraud and cybercrime calls for enhanced investigative resources and European cooperation.
Corruption and the legal economy. Fighting corruption and mafia infiltration of the legal economy (public contracts, PNRR funds) is a cross-cutting challenge, monitored in the context of the recovery plan's implementation.
The open questions. Three issues will shape the period: (1) containing organised crime and its economic infiltration; (2) reducing gender-based violence; (3) adapting the response to cybercrime.
“Organised crime (mafias) remains a major national issue, at once a security, economic and democratic challenge.”
3. International comparison — Italy among its peers
Placed in its environment, Italy presents lethal violence among the lowest in Europe, despite powerful organised crime — a paradox relative to its image.
Three takeaways. (1) Homicides: the lowest in the panel. At ≈ 0.5–0.6 per 100,000, Italy's rate is below France (≈ 1.2), Germany (≈ 0.9) and the United Kingdom (≈ 1).
(2) A criminal specificity. The weight of organised crime is a national characteristic with no direct equivalent among comparators, whose impact (economic, democratic) goes beyond ordinary crime statistics.
(3) Comparisons beyond homicides are difficult. Definitions and recording practices differ; Eurostat and UNODC harmonise mainly homicides.
International comparison — homicides
| Country | Homicides per 100,000 | Specificity | Cybercrime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | ≈ 0.8–1.0 | — | rising |
| United Kingdom | ≈ 1.0–1.2 | knife crime | dominant |
| European Union | ≈ 1.0 | — | rising |
| France | ≈ 1.2 | — | sharp rise |
| Italy | ≈ 0.5–0.6 | organised crime | rising |
Sources: Eurostat (intentional homicides), UNODC, ISTAT. Only homicides are reasonably comparable; the "specificity" column is qualitative. "≈" denotes a rounding.
Data mobilized (data-journalism base)
| Data | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | ≈ 0.5–0.6 per 100,000 | ISTAT / UNODC (Citoyen chart) |
| Organised crime | major national challenge | DIA / Ministry of the Interior |
| Gender-based violence / femicide | enhanced monitoring | ISTAT (Citoyen chart) |
| Property crime | long-term decline | ISTAT (Citoyen chart) |
| Cybercrime | rising | Polizia Postale |
Sources (national analyses and references)
Istituto nazionale di statistica (ISTAT — crime, homicides, gender-based violence) · Ministero dell'Interno · Direzione investigativa antimafia (DIA) and Direzione nazionale antimafia (DNA) · Eurostat (crime statistics) · UNODC (intentional homicides).
Methodological note — the synthesis keeps sourced facts distinct from assessments, stays neutral, dates each figure, and does not extrapolate beyond the sources. Distinction between recorded offences (dependent on complaint filing) and perception. International comparisons limited to homicides. All values are the latest realized observation available. Note generated by AI, human review required. Same safeguards as the rest of the observatory.