Daily Life

Spain — Living: Safety

Spain is broadly considered a safe country, ranking 25th of 163 nations on the 2025 Global Peace Index. Cross-referenced Ministerio del Interior/INE data for 2025 puts the national crime rate at 40.4 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants. Interior and northern regions (Extremadura, Galicia, Asturias) are consistently the safest autonomous communities, with provinces like Teruel, Cáceres, and Lugo recording the lowest rates. Among cities, Pozuelo de Alarcón, San Sebastián, and Tres Cantos rank as the safest (Pozuelo under 19 crimes per 1,000 residents), while El Prat de Llobregat, Castellón de la Plana, and Torrevieja have the highest municipal crime rates. Petty theft/pickpocketing in dense tourist areas (central Madrid, Barcelona's Las Ramblas) is the most common risk for expats and visitors, rather than violent crime.

Ministerio del Interior — Portal Estadístico de Criminalidad · Last verified 2026-07-18

Key Facts

  • Spain ranks 25th of 163 countries on the 2025 Global Peace Index.
  • National crime rate (2025): 40.4 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants (Ministerio del Interior / INE).
  • Safest autonomous communities: Extremadura, Galicia, Asturias; safest cities: Pozuelo de Alarcón, San Sebastián, Tres Cantos.
  • Petty theft/pickpocketing in tourist-dense areas (central Madrid, Barcelona) is the most common risk, not violent crime.

Related Topics

emergency-numbersmajor-cities
← Back to Spain guides