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Crime Statistics
Official data on registered criminal offences
Producing criminal statistics helps prevent offences, respond to them effectively, and reduce the resulting harm through collaboration across different sector.
On one hand this kind of data helps make informed decisions on criminal policy and measure the efficiency of work done so far, on the other hand it is a data source for researchers and students, and gives an overview of crime statistics in Estonia to journalists and the general public.
The graphs are interactive. Click on the title of the graph to open a more detailed view and use the drop-down menus and legends to filter the data.
More detailed information on the application of offences can be found in the Penal Code
Most commonly registered offences in Estonia are offences against property, offences against the person and traffic offences. The graph shows the total amount of crimes registered in a year and the numbers of previously mentioned offences.
Most commonly registered offences in Estonia are offences against property, offences against the person and traffic offences. The graph shows the total amount of crimes registered in a year and the numbers of previously mentioned offences.
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There are many factors that make the comparison of data from different years difficult. For example changes in laws, the practice of how new cases are registered, the priorities of law enforcement agencies and the available resources. As well as the changes in how actively people report crimes to the police. This is why yearly victim surveys are an important supplement to the official data, although the data collected via the surveys and the official data are not directly comparable. For example an incident which the replicant considers a crime may not be so in the legal sense.
Half-year crime statistics give an overview of the crimes committed in the first 6 months of the year. The data shown on the graphs is sorted by chapters of the Penal Code and compares the first 6 months of the past 5 years.
Half-year crime statistics give an overview of the crimes committed in the first 6 months of the year. The data shown on the graphs is sorted by chapters of the Penal Code and compares the first 6 months of the past 5 years.
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County statistics are viewed as a ratio – for example, in the case of less populated counties, this methodology helps to better interpret the level of crime and compare the data with other, more densely populated counties.
County statistics are viewed as a ratio – for example, in the case of less populated counties, this methodology helps to better interpret the level of crime and compare the data with other, more densely populated counties.
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The number of crimes per 10 000 people is a better way to illustrate the geographical distribution of crimes than absolute numbers. It is assumed that the number of crimes committed is higher in areas with more densely populated areas.
Violence offences include Offences Against the Person from the Penal Code (except § 137-140 and 148-150), robbery (§ 200), aggravated breach of public Order (§ 263) and violence against representative of state authority (§ 274).
Violence offences include Offences Against the Person from the Penal Code (except § 137-140 and 148-150), robbery (§ 200), aggravated breach of public Order (§ 263) and violence against representative of state authority (§ 274).
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Sexual offences are broken down into contact and non-contact offences. Sexual offences against sexual self-determination are considered contact offences (Sections 141-145¹ of the Penal Code). The non-contact offences are mainly crimes of making and enabling child pornography and of sexual enticement of children (Sections 175¹, 178-179 of the Penal Code).
Sexual offences are broken down into contact and non-contact offences. Sexual offences against sexual self-determination are considered contact offences (Sections 141-145¹ of the Penal Code). The non-contact offences are mainly crimes of making and enabling child pornography and of sexual enticement of children (Sections 175¹, 178-179 of the Penal Code).
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Cases of physical abuse committed in a close relationship or relationship of subordination (section 121 (2) p. 2 of the Penal Code) represent the largest share of recorded domestic violence crimes: 83% in 2021, 87% in 2022, and 87% in 2023.
Cases of physical abuse committed in a close relationship or relationship of subordination (section 121 (2) p. 2 of the Penal Code) represent the largest share of recorded domestic violence crimes: 83% in 2021, 87% in 2022, and 87% in 2023.
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Crimes against property account for the largest share of recorded crimes. The most common crimes against property are theft, followed by fraud and embezzlement.
Crimes against property account for the largest share of recorded crimes. The most common crimes against property are theft, followed by fraud and embezzlement.
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The most common types of fraud are 'regular' fraud (§ 209 of the Penal Code) and computer-related fraud (§ 213). In recent years, however, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between the two, as scammers often exploit information technology in one way or another.
The most common types of fraud are 'regular' fraud (§ 209 of the Penal Code) and computer-related fraud (§ 213). In recent years, however, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between the two, as scammers often exploit information technology in one way or another.
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The infliction of property damage to another person according to § 209 of the Penal Code is treated as the most common type of fraud, which is executed by knowingly causing a misconception of the existing facts for the purpose of obtaining property benefits. In addition, the Penal Code distinguishes between computer-related frauds (§ 213 of the Penal Code) and benefit, investment and insurance frauds (§ 210-212 of the Penal Code). The latter three are not included in the official statistics due to the low amount of such crimes registered in a year.
The most common types of crime committed by minors are crimes against the person and offences against property. The number of crimes committed by minors has generally been the highest in Harju county, followed by Tartu and Ida-Virumaa counties.
The most common types of crime committed by minors are crimes against the person and offences against property. The number of crimes committed by minors has generally been the highest in Harju county, followed by Tartu and Ida-Virumaa counties.
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The most common misdemeanors committed by minors are usually related to the consumption of alcohol, traffic violations, petty theft and the damage of property. The number of misdemeanors is usually highest in Harju county, and they are most commonly committed by boys.
Data source: the police and border guard board.
The most common misdemeanors committed by minors are usually related to the consumption of alcohol, traffic violations, petty theft and the damage of property. The number of misdemeanors is usually highest in Harju county, and they are most commonly committed by boys.
Data source: the police and border guard board.
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In Estonia, criminal liability begins at age 14. Juvenile offences are often a result of the living conditions of the child being complicated in one way or another. The treatment of young victims or offenders in the criminal justice system can have a major impact on their future lives.
In Estonia, criminal liability begins at age 14. Juvenile offences are often a result of the living conditions of the child being complicated in one way or another. The treatment of young victims or offenders in the criminal justice system can have a major impact on their future lives.
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§ 224 of the Road Traffic Act enacts penalties for offences where the maximum permitted level of alcohol in the bloodstream is exceeded, but the intoxication is not criminal.
- Section 1: the level of alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.20–0.49 milligrams of alcohol per one gram of blood or whose alcohol content in one litre of exhaled air is 0.10–0.24 milligrams
- Section 2: the level of alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.50–1.49 milligrams of alcohol per one gram of blood or whose alcohol content in one litre of exhaled air is 0.25–0.74 milligrams
§ 224 of the Road Traffic Act enacts penalties for offences where the maximum permitted level of alcohol in the bloodstream is exceeded, but the intoxication is not criminal.
- Section 1: the level of alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.20–0.49 milligrams of alcohol per one gram of blood or whose alcohol content in one litre of exhaled air is 0.10–0.24 milligrams
- Section 2: the level of alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.50–1.49 milligrams of alcohol per one gram of blood or whose alcohol content in one litre of exhaled air is 0.25–0.74 milligrams
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Offences Relating to Narcotics
See more: Analysis: narcotics in wastewater*
*The page is only in Estonian.
The graph depicts the yearly statistics of most common registered crimes related to human trafficking.
The graph depicts the yearly statistics of most common registered crimes related to human trafficking.
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