Violence in Sweden more equal thanks to immigration

Published 18 May 2024 at 11.25

Domestic. Sweden is at a higher level compared to the rest of Europe when it comes to fatal violence against young men, especially immigrant-related gang violence. But the lethal violence is at a lower level when it comes to men's violence against women. This is shown by a new report from the Crime Prevention Council, Brå.

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Today there are three categories that dominate among violent incidents with a fatal outcome in Sweden; it is deadly violence in a criminal environment, but it is also deadly violence within the family (including partner violence) and finally deadly violence in connection with spontaneous fights and various disputes.

Fatal violence against young men, 15–29 years, has increased significantly, and a large part of the increase can be linked to fatal shootings in a criminal environment. The level is now significantly higher in Sweden than for Europe as a whole, corresponding to 42 deaths per million inhabitants in 2021, compared to 28 deaths in the same group per million inhabitants in Europe.

At the same time, the level is lower in Sweden when it comes to fatal violence against women within the family, compared to Europe as a whole – with 2.9 deaths in Sweden and 6 deaths in Europe, respectively, per million inhabitants in 2021. And women's share of the dead is decreasing as other crime categories increase.

– An almost as large category as deadly violence in a criminal environment are various types of spontaneous fights and disputes with a fatal outcome. It can arise, for example, in circles of addicts, but it can also be about conflicts connected to alcohol and entertainment, youth violence or jealousy disputes. About a quarter is fatal violence within the family, and partner violence is also included in that category, says Klara Hradilova Selin, investigator, Brå.