The latest up-to-date ABS crime figures show Australia is getting safer over time. In 2020-21, the Australian police department prosecuted 359,975 criminals, a considerable decline from the previous year's 413,025 prosecutions (by 4%).
One of the most prevalent crimes in Australia is sexual assault, with the largest proportion of victims being female.
Overall, the national homicide rate has dropped steadily from a rate of 1.88 per 100,000 people in 1992-93 to 0.82 in 2020-21 – a decrease of 55% over nearly 30 years.
Crime Victimisation, Australia
In 2021-22: 386,000 persons (1.9%) experienced physical assault. 441,900 persons (2.2%) experienced face-to-face threatened assault. 194,100 households (2.0%) experienced break-in.
In 2022, the crime index of vandalism, break-ins, and theft increased, making Alice Springs the most dangerous city in Australia.
1. Canberra – Australia's Capital City. Nestled between Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra is not only the capital but also Australia's safest city. With a low crime rate and a small-town vibe, Canberra offers an attractive blend of city living and peaceful suburban life.
New South Wales had the most murders with 85, followed by Victoria with 66. The Northern Territory had the biggest increase of 60% compared to the previous period, although the number of incidents remained small at just eight.
Crime rate in Australia – an overview
These declining Australia crime rates can be attributed to factors such as a reduction in alcohol abuse amongst young people (in response to rising alcohol prices), and the fall in heroin dependence, amongst many others.
Identity crime has become one of the most common and fastest growing crimes in Australia. Each year around five percent of the adult population, or about 900,000 people, report being a victim of identity crime resulting in a financial loss.
In 2020 there were 1,093 road deaths in Australia (source: Department for Transport). This equates to 4.3 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 2.3 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2020. Driving laws and regulations differ in each state/territory.
The homicide rate in Australia in 2021 was 0.86 per 100,000, which was lower than New Zealand's 1.0 per 100,000 and 1.3 per 100,000 in the United Kingdom. In comparison to North America in 2021, the United States and Canada had homicide rates of 3.8 and 2.2 per 100,000, respectively.
MOUNT DRUITT
The postcode was one of six postcodes that had the highest number of homicides in NSW last year with three homicides recorded. The suburb also had the state's highest number of recorded incidents of malicious damage to property with 866 incidents in 2022.
Over the last 10 years about 10% remain unsolved on average each year, despite clearances of 100% in some years. The small number that remain unsolved annually build up over time and there are now over 113 cases in South Australia that remain unsolved dating back to the 1950s.
Cause 1: Ischaemic heart disease
Ischaemic heart disease was the leading single cause of deaths in Australia, responsible for 17,331 deaths in 2021, about one in 10 of total deaths that year. Males were more prone to the disease, accounting for 10,371 (59.8%) of the deaths compared to 6,960 (40.2%) for females.
A nuanced state of affairs
Tasmania, with the highest average wellbeing score of 76.1, comes out on top, followed closely by Victoria and South Australia. Western Australia, on the other hand, has the lowest average wellbeing score at 75, just below that of New South Wales and Queensland.
Tasmania. Tasmania was named the 'bogan capital of Australia' with Taswegians earning four spots in the final. On the island of Tasmania, half the population has literacy and/or numeracy difficulties, and the unemployment rate is higher than it is in mainland Australia.