Safest countries in Europe revealed in new report

Croatia

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has just published its latest report on crime and violence.

In the Eurostat report, which used data from 2023, Croatia has been named the safest country in the European Union, boasting the lowest rates of reported crime, violence, or vandalism.

Only 1.2% of Croatians at risk of poverty reported crime, violence or vandalism in their neighbourhoods, marking the lowest percentages across all EU member states.

The situation was similar for people not at risk of poverty with 1.5% of Croatians not at risk reporting such issues in their neighbourhoods, again the lowest across all EU member states.

Croatia’s Minister of the Interior, Davor Božinović, praised the country’s safety record, stating, “This is yet another international study that highlights the high level of security and the effectiveness of the measures we are implementing in Croatia.”

How Does the Rest of the EU Compare?

Looking across the EU, about one in ten people (10%) said they’d faced crime, violence, or vandalism near their homes in 2023. For those struggling with poverty, that number jumped to 12.3%, while it sat at 9.6% for others.

Some countries didn’t fare as well as Croatia. Among people at risk of poverty, Greece topped the list at 23.7%, followed by the Netherlands (21.1%) and Belgium (19.5%).

For those not at risk, Greece again led with 20.2%, trailed by the Netherlands (16.1%) and Bulgaria (14.6%). Meanwhile, Croatia stood alongside Poland (2.4%) and Lithuania (3.6%) at the bottom of the pile – in a good way, of course.

Migration Concerns on the Horizon

While Croatia basks in its safety crown, some locals are worried it might not last. Recent incidents involving migrants have sparked chatter, especially after a big uptick in foreign worker applications in 2024.

286,000 residence and work permits were requested – up 22% from 2023. But authorities found that some workers never showed up or used their visas to slip into other Schengen countries.

Božinović isn’t taking it lightly. “Croatia’s safety isn’t a given,” he said last week. “We’re living in tricky times – think Ukraine, NATO uncertainties, and rising populism. Plus, recent attacks in Germany and Austria show threats are still out there. We’ve made Croatia safe, and we’re determined to keep it that way.”

Keeping Croatia Secure

In 2023, 10% of people in the EU reported experiencing crime, violence or vandalism in their neighbourhood⚠️🚓

Highest shares in:
🇬🇷Greece (20.9%)
🇳🇱Netherlands (16.7%)

Lowest in:
🇭🇷Croatia (1.4%)
🇱🇹Lithuania (2.7%)

👉https://t.co/YyEXNBYeju#VictimsOfCrimeDay pic.twitter.com/mWfu31BTf0

— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) February 22, 2025

The government is rolling out changes to the Foreigners Act to tighten up migration rules and protect jobs. The police are also stepping up, with Božinović giving clear orders: more inspections of foreign workers’ housing, keeping an eye on dodgy online platforms, and cracking down on employers breaking the law.

Right now, Croatia’s got 113,504 foreign workers with valid permits, mostly in construction, tourism, hospitality, and transport. The biggest groups hail from Bosnia and Herzegovina (38,100), Nepal (35,635), and Serbia (nearly 28,000), with others from places like India, the Philippines, and Bangladesh.