China Crime Stats
Author: Edsel.G
The actual crime rate in China has so far been difficult to assess and confirm. Official statistics from the Chinese government says that crime in China is significantly lower than that of more advanced nations, including and especially the United States. Official estimates say that murder rate in China, for instance, is 5 times lower than that of the US.
Nonetheless, it is safe to say that China is relatively safe for visitors and for locals. The judicial system of the country is efficient enough to convict at least 98% of its criminal cases. The extensive prison system of the country has the second highest number of prisoners (1.55 million prisoners) and the death penalty in the country is the largest all over the world. Although a criminal death through the death penalty has significantly dropped last year to less than 500, it is still by far the largest anywhere. The highly severe punishments for even the most petty crimes and the police visibility in all important areas are usually enough to deter commission of most crimes.
However, terrorism does exist in the country. The huge disparity between rich and poor continues to feed crimes like theft, burglary, and counterfeit money. Rebellion and terrorism also abound in some regions especially in the Xinjiang province seeking more autonomy from the Chinese communist government. Corruption in many levels of the government also abound. Rough official estimates say that around 50 billion dollars are being funneled out of the country every year by corrupt officials. The current President of China, Xi Jinping, has taken serious and significant steps to eradicate the corruption problem with the conviction of key party and military officials accused of the crime.
Background:
Definitions
- Age of criminal responsibility: The age at which a person is no longer excluded from criminal liability. The lowest age is indicated for countries where there isn’t a single age limit, for example where different states have different regulations (such as the USA) or there is different limits for boy and girls (such as in Iran). The spectrum is specifically wide for the USA and Mexico (both 6-12 years). Several US states do not stipulate any minimal age for criminal responsibility at all. For further qualifications, exceptions and other notes, please refer to notes.
- Assault rate: Number of assaults recorded by police per 100,000 population
- Believes crime increasing in the past 3 years: Crime increasing in the past 3 years. Based on 0-50 contributions for Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria and 82 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria and 24 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Brazil, Canada and 17 more countries. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from July, 2011 to February, 2014. See this sample survey for the United States, respondents were asked "In the past three years would you say the level of crime in your community has increased, stayed about the same, or decreased?". The higher the value, the more survey respondents believe it is high in their country.
- Burglaries: Number of burglaries recorded by police in that country per 100,000 population.
- Crime levels: Level of crime. Based on 0-50 contributions for Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria and 82 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria and 24 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Brazil, Canada and 17 more countries. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from July, 2011 to February, 2014. See this sample survey for the United States, respondents were asked "How serious you feel the level of crime is?". The higher the value, the more survey respondents believe it is high in their country.
- Drugs > Opiates use: Annual prevalence.
- Justice system > Punishment > Capital punishment (last execution year): Year of last use.
- Murder rate: Homicide rate per year per 100,000 inhabitants in various countries.
- Robberies: Number of robberies recorded by police in that country per 100,000 population.
- Violent crime > Gun crime > Guns per 100 residents: Number of privately owned small firearms per 100 residents.
- Violent crime > Intentional homicide rate: Homicides per 100’000 residents. Homicide is the death of a person purposefully inflicted by another person (it excludes suicides) outside of a state of war. Homicide is a broader category than murder, as it also includes manslaughter. The exact legal definition varies across countries, some of which include infanticide, assisted suicide, euthanasia and deaths caused by dangerous driving.
- Violent crime > Murder rate: Intentional homicide, number and rate per 100,000 population.
- Violent crime > Murder rate per million people: Intentional homicide, number and rate per 100,000 population. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
- Violent crime > Murders: Intentional homicide, number and rate per 100,000 population.
- Violent crime > Murders per million people: Intentional homicide, number and rate per 100,000 population. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
SOURCES: Wikipedia: Defense of infancy (Ages of criminal responsibility by country); European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control International Statistics on Crime and Justice, 2011; crime; European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control International Statistics on Crime and Justice, 2011; Wikipedia: List of countries by prevalence of opiates use ("World Drug Report 2011" . United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2011. "World Drug Report 2006" . United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2006. http://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2009/WDR2009_eng_web.pdf); Wikipedia: Capital punishment in Europe (Abolition); Annexe I of the Small Arms Survey 2007 ; Wikipedia: List of countries by intentional homicide rate by decade; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Source tables; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.
Citation
China Crime Profiles (Subcategories)
| Drugs 4 | Prosecutions 4 |
| Fear of crime 9 | Punishment 6 |
| Perceived problems 4 | Violent crime 6 |
| Prisoners 3 |
- China ranked first for prisoners amongst Emerging markets in 2002.
2
The actual crime rate in China has so far been difficult to assess and confirm. Official statistics from the Chinese government says that crime in China is significantly lower than that of more advanced nations, including and especially the United States. Official estimates say that murder rate in China, for instance, is 5 times lower than that of the US.
Nonetheless, it is safe to say that China is relatively safe for visitors and for locals. The judicial system of the country is efficient enough to convict at least 98% of its criminal cases. The extensive prison system of the country has the second highest number of prisoners (1.55 million prisoners) and the death penalty in the country is the largest all over the world. Although a criminal death through the death penalty has significantly dropped last year to less than 500, it is still by far the largest anywhere. The highly severe punishments for even the most petty crimes and the police visibility in all important areas are usually enough to deter commission of most crimes.
However, terrorism does exist in the country. The huge disparity between rich and poor continues to feed crimes like theft, burglary, and counterfeit money. Rebellion and terrorism also abound in some regions especially in the Xinjiang province seeking more autonomy from the Chinese communist government. Corruption in many levels of the government also abound. Rough official estimates say that around 50 billion dollars are being funneled out of the country every year by corrupt officials. The current President of China, Xi Jinping, has taken serious and significant steps to eradicate the corruption problem with the conviction of key party and military officials accused of the crime.
Posted on 06 Apr 2014
Edsel.G
247 Stat enthusiast