Belgium is a quite average European country when it comes to crime statistics. Maybe it is due to the fact that the country is half-way between northern and southern Europe. In general crime tends to be lower in colder countries, whatever the continent or culture. The high percentage of immigrants from poor countries (about 10% of the population, twice more than in the USA) translates in higher criminalities in the larger cities.
The USA are huge, much bigger that the whole EU in land area. It's better to compare US states to EU countries. In terms of population Belgium would be the 8th most populous US state (between Michigan and Ohio). In terms of land area, Belgium would be the 43rd (between Maryland and Hawaii).
Here are comparative statistics (number of crimes per 100,000 persons). The sources used are
US crime statistics by state (in 2004) on Wikipedia, and Crime statistics for Belgium (including 2004) from the Belgian national statistics institute. I have divided for Belgium the absolute numbers by 100 to obtain a rough "per 100,000 persons" value.
Violent Crimes
Interestingly, Belgium appears to have a higher rate of homicides (9.6) and assaults (649) than the US average (respectively 5.5 and 291).
For homicides, Belgium can be likened to Maryland. Only Louisiana and the District of Columbia have more homicides per capita. 2004 appears to have been an exceptionally bad year in Belgium. In 2000, the rate was only 6.7, like those of California or NYC. Yet, I cannot explain how Belgium has so many homicides.
According to this List of countries by intentional homicide rate, the homicide rate in Belgium is only of 1.5. Nationmaster also gives 1.5. That contradicts the official statistics of the Belgian government. The rate for the USA of 5.5 seems to be the same everywhere. So something must be wrong with Belgian stats somewhere.
As for assaults, the stats for Belgium agree with each others, but those for the USA don't this time. Nationmaster gives a rate of 756 per 100,000, against 291 on Wikipedia. That's 2.5 times higher ! If we trust Wikipedia only District of Columbia has more assaults per capita than Belgium. If we trust Nationmaster, Belgium is safer than the American average.
Rapes, however, are less common in Belgium (27 against 32 in the USA). Belgium would rank as the 15th safest state in that regard. Nationmaster gives a slightly lower rate for both Belgium (24) and the USA (30), because the year is not 2004 but 2002.
Property Crimes
The total rate of thefts in Belgium is of 4,234 per 100,000. This is a bit higher than the US average (3,517). However, the statistics are a bit misleading.
First of all, the Belgian statistics place robberies in the Property Crimes category, while it is under Violent Crime in the USA. But robberies are almost 4 times more common in the USA than in Belgium (136 against 36).
Motor vehicle thefts are also more frequent in America (421 against 273).
Interestingly, the rate of burglaries is also higher in the USA (730, against 607 in Belgium), despite the (false) sense of safety in that regard in many parts of the States, where people leave their (back)doors open. In Belgium almost everyone locks their doors. In spite of that, 20 US states experience proportionally less burglaries than Belgium (mostly northern states). North Dakota has the least burglaries of any US states, about half the rate of Belgium.
So what is left among thefts that makes the total number higher for Belgium ? Mostly bicycle thefts (almost a tenth of all thefts !), shoplifting, and thefts in cars (handbags, stereos, navigation systems, laptops).
In other words, serious thefts like robberies or car thefts are more widespread in the US, while pettier thefts predominate in Belgium.
The USA are huge, much bigger that the whole EU in land area. It's better to compare US states to EU countries. In terms of population Belgium would be the 8th most populous US state (between Michigan and Ohio). In terms of land area, Belgium would be the 43rd (between Maryland and Hawaii).
Here are comparative statistics (number of crimes per 100,000 persons). The sources used are
US crime statistics by state (in 2004) on Wikipedia, and Crime statistics for Belgium (including 2004) from the Belgian national statistics institute. I have divided for Belgium the absolute numbers by 100 to obtain a rough "per 100,000 persons" value.
Violent Crimes
Interestingly, Belgium appears to have a higher rate of homicides (9.6) and assaults (649) than the US average (respectively 5.5 and 291).
For homicides, Belgium can be likened to Maryland. Only Louisiana and the District of Columbia have more homicides per capita. 2004 appears to have been an exceptionally bad year in Belgium. In 2000, the rate was only 6.7, like those of California or NYC. Yet, I cannot explain how Belgium has so many homicides.
According to this List of countries by intentional homicide rate, the homicide rate in Belgium is only of 1.5. Nationmaster also gives 1.5. That contradicts the official statistics of the Belgian government. The rate for the USA of 5.5 seems to be the same everywhere. So something must be wrong with Belgian stats somewhere.
As for assaults, the stats for Belgium agree with each others, but those for the USA don't this time. Nationmaster gives a rate of 756 per 100,000, against 291 on Wikipedia. That's 2.5 times higher ! If we trust Wikipedia only District of Columbia has more assaults per capita than Belgium. If we trust Nationmaster, Belgium is safer than the American average.
Rapes, however, are less common in Belgium (27 against 32 in the USA). Belgium would rank as the 15th safest state in that regard. Nationmaster gives a slightly lower rate for both Belgium (24) and the USA (30), because the year is not 2004 but 2002.
Property Crimes
The total rate of thefts in Belgium is of 4,234 per 100,000. This is a bit higher than the US average (3,517). However, the statistics are a bit misleading.
First of all, the Belgian statistics place robberies in the Property Crimes category, while it is under Violent Crime in the USA. But robberies are almost 4 times more common in the USA than in Belgium (136 against 36).
Motor vehicle thefts are also more frequent in America (421 against 273).
Interestingly, the rate of burglaries is also higher in the USA (730, against 607 in Belgium), despite the (false) sense of safety in that regard in many parts of the States, where people leave their (back)doors open. In Belgium almost everyone locks their doors. In spite of that, 20 US states experience proportionally less burglaries than Belgium (mostly northern states). North Dakota has the least burglaries of any US states, about half the rate of Belgium.
So what is left among thefts that makes the total number higher for Belgium ? Mostly bicycle thefts (almost a tenth of all thefts !), shoplifting, and thefts in cars (handbags, stereos, navigation systems, laptops).
In other words, serious thefts like robberies or car thefts are more widespread in the US, while pettier thefts predominate in Belgium.
Last edited: