France faced a troubling surge in crime throughout 2024, with shocking spikes in homicides, sexual violence, and robberies underscoring the nation’s deepening security issues.
According to the Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security (SSMSI), as reported by Le Figaro, the grim statistics paint a stark picture: every day in 2024, France saw an average of three murders, 600 burglaries, and 330 sexual assaults or armed robberies.
The total number of homicides reached 1,186, marking a 28% rise since 2016, alongside 4,000 reported attempted murders. Sexual violence climbed dramatically, with 123,210 offenses recorded last year—a staggering 137% jump since 2016, the year before President Macron assumed office. Experts warn the real numbers could be even higher due to widespread underreporting.
Property crimes also remain significant, with over 220,000 burglaries documented in 2024. While non-violent thefts saw an 11% decline, drug-related offenses fueled broader criminal trends, with drug use up by 12% and trafficking rising 5%. “The country has once again passed above the symbolic threshold of a thousand murders in a year,” noted criminology expert Alain Bauer of the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (Cnam).
The soaring crime rates have overwhelmed France’s prison system. Facilities built for 62,000 inmates now house 80,000, creating severe overcrowding. Promises to expand capacity—such as the construction of 15,000 new prison spaces originally slated for completion in 2017—have faced long delays, with the earliest projection now set for 2029. Overcrowding has hampered rehabilitation efforts, further compounding the crisis.
Urban suburbs in cities like Paris and Marseille have become hotbeds of criminal activity, with a significant portion linked to migrant communities. Former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged in 2022 that foreign nationals were responsible for nearly half of all crimes in Paris (48%), 55% in Marseille, and 39% in Lyon. “Of course, the foreigner is not by nature a criminal, but we have a problem with foreign delinquency,” Darmanin remarked at the time.
Soaring crime has eroded public confidence in law enforcement and heightened fears about personal safety. A recent survey conducted by L’Équipe revealed that 92% of French women feel unsafe jogging outdoors. Shockingly, 38% of respondents reported experiencing harassment—physical or verbal—while exercising, prompting nearly half to give up outdoor activities altogether.
As these figures prepare for public release on January 30, the data paints an urgent picture of a country grappling with escalating crime and struggling to address its root causes.
