Crime statistics: The most dangerous places in Hungary

The 2023 crime statistics from Hungary reveal shocking trends, signalling a significant surge in criminal activity, marking the highest crime rates since 2018.

Analysis of crime statistics from the Central Statistical Office (KSH) by Penzcentrum.hu. reveals a 6 percent increase in nationwide crime compared to the preceding year. Amidst the bleak statistics, there is a glimmer of hope as the number of more serious crimes, such as murder, has decreased. However, there has been a notable rise in cases of fraud and theft reported to the police.

Pénzcentrum points out significant regional disparities in the distribution of crimes across the country, with some counties witnessing improved public safety, while others underperform in various areas.

Most affected counties: the most dangerous places to live in Hungary

In the eastern Hungarian county of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, the number of crimes surged dramatically, with a 40 percent jump from 2022 to 2023, rising from 5,525 to 7,748 cases.

Similarly, in Hajdú-Bihar County, situated in eastern Hungary, there was a notable uptick in criminal activity, with numbers escalating from 5,608 to 7,159, representing a 28 percent increase.

The third-largest boom was documented in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, another eastern county, with a 17 percent increase from 12,852 to 15,108 total cases. The crime statistics also reveal that, in absolute terms, the number of offences in this county was already disproportionality high.

Crime rates also soared by over 10 percent in the counties of Pest, Komárom-Esztergom, Vas, Tolna and Csongrád-Csanád.

On a positive note, Budapest saw only a marginal 2 percent increase in overall crime rates. Nonetheless, the capital registered a considerable 43,019 crimes in 2023, with Pest County reporting the highest number of offences among all counties, with 21,684 cases.

Conversely, the number of crimes fell in the counties of Nógrád, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Győr-Moson-Sopron as well as in Somogy, Veszprém and Baranya Counties.

Key insights from the latest crime statistics

Regarding physical assaults, there was a national improvement of 4 percent. However, the crime statistics reveal significant regional disparities, with Baranya County reporting an 18 percent increase in cases compared to 2022. Veszprém and Bács-Kiskun counties tied for second place, both with a 13 percent increase in their numbers of cases.

On the other hand, Budapest recorded a 2 percent decrease in physical assault cases, with Győr-Moson-Sopron County achieving the most significant improvement, with a remarkable 43 percent drop in reported assaults.

In 2023, there was a 7 percent drop in drunk driving incidents nationwide, with Budapest witnessing a 3 percent improvement in this regard. Nógrád and Heves Counties have also bettered their figures. However, Hajdú-Bihar County experienced a concerning 32 percent surge, with a total of 573 drunk drivers registered last year.

Based on the crime statistics, there was a 5 percent increase in theft nationwide in 2023, with Hajdú-Bihar County experiencing a staggering 37 percent rise. Pest County came in second place, with a 20 percent increase in the number of cases.

When it comes to thefts, Budapest recorded a 4 percent increase in related cases.

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Source: Pénzcentrum