Beyond the stunning landscapes and laid-back culture lies a stark reality: Australia's 2022 crime statistics reveal a nation grappling with sobering rates of homicide, assault, sexual violence, and fraud that demand a closer examination.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Australia recorded 287 homicide victims
- Homicide rate in Australia was 0.87 per 100,000 population in 2021
- New South Wales had 67 homicides in 2022
- Australia recorded 402,780 assault victims in 2022
- Assault rate was 1,567 per 100,000 in 2022
- NSW assaults: 134,000 in 2022
- Australia sexual assault victims: 35,971 in 2022
- Sexual assault rate 138 per 100,000 in 2022
- NSW sexual assaults: 9,500 in 2022
- Australia burglary victims 177,451 in 2022
- Burglary rate 689 per 100,000 in 2022
- Theft victims total 703,962 in 2022
- Australia drug offences recorded 140,000 in 2022
- Cannabis offences 65% of drug crimes in 2022
- Amphetamine detections 25,000 in 2022
Australia's crime rates vary by region and type, with violent crimes declining but fraud rising significantly.
Assaults
1Australia recorded 402,780 assault victims in 2022
Verified2Assault rate was 1,567 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified3NSW assaults: 134,000 in 2022
Verified4Victoria assaults increased 7% to 78,000 in 2022
Directional5Queensland assaults: 82,000 victims in 2022
Single source6WA assaults: 45,000 in 2022
Verified7SA assaults rose 10% to 28,000 in 2022
Verified8Tasmania assaults: 4,500 in 2022
Verified9NT assaults: 12,000 per 100k rate in 2022
Directional10ACT assaults: 3,200 in 2022
Single source11Family and domestic assaults: 52% of total assaults 2022
Verified12Serious assault victims: 143,000 nationally 2022
Verified13Assaults with injury: 25% of cases in 2022
Verified14Youth assault victims aged 10-14: highest rate 2022
Directional15Alcohol-related assaults: 40% in NSW 2022
Single source16Assault victimisation rate males 2,100 per 100k 2022
Verified17Public order assaults up 5% nationally 2022
Verified18Residential assaults: 35% of total 2022
Verified19NSW assault rate 1,600 per 100k 2022
Directional20Victoria assault rate 1,300 per 100k 2022
Single source21QLD assault rate 1,500 per 100k 2022
Verified22WA assault rate 1,600 per 100k 2022
Verified23SA assault rate 1,500 per 100k 2022
Verified24TAS assault rate 800 per 100k 2022
Directional25NT assault rate 9,000 per 100k 2022
Single source26ACT assault rate 700 per 100k 2022
Verified27Assaults declined 2% from 2021 in Victoria
VerifiedAssaults Interpretation
While Australia's overall assault rate paints a grim picture of one incident for every 64 people, the Northern Territory's staggering rate of 9,000 per 100,000 suggests that if crime were the Olympics, they'd be unfairly competing in a different, far more violent sport altogether.
Drug Offences
1Australia drug offences recorded 140,000 in 2022
Verified2Cannabis offences 65% of drug crimes in 2022
Verified3Amphetamine detections 25,000 in 2022
Verified4NSW drug offences 45,000 in 2022
Directional5Victoria drug possession 28,000 cases 2022
Single source6Queensland drug driving offences 35,000 in 2022
Verified7WA drug offences up 8% to 22,000 2022
Verified8SA drug trafficking 1,200 detections 2022
Verified9Tasmania cannabis offences 2,500 in 2022
Directional10NT drug offences rate 1,500 per 100k 2022
Single source11ACT drug use/possess 3,000 in 2022
Verified12Heroin offences 5,000 nationally 2022
Verified13Drug manufacture/cultivate 12,000 cases 2022
Verified14Indigenous drug offence rate 4x non-Indigenous 2022
Directional15Drug offence court finalisations 110,000 in 2021-22
Single source16Diversion for drug possession 60% of cases 2022
Verified17Methamphetamine seizures 15 tonnes in 2022
Verified18Cocaine detections up 20% to 4,500 in 2022
Verified19NSW cannabis possession 30,000 in 2022
Directional20Victoria amphetamine offences 7,000 in 2022
Single source21QLD drug supply offences 8,000 in 2022
Verified22WA cannabis offences 12,000 in 2022
Verified23SA methamphetamine offences 3,500 in 2022
Verified24TAS drug offences 3,200 in 2022
Directional25NT cannabis use rate high 2022
Single source26ACT drug trafficking 400 cases 2022
Verified27Drug offences stable nationally 2021-2022
VerifiedDrug Offences Interpretation
It seems Australia has a serious case of preferring its own home-grown green, while still battling a methamphetamine shadow and a troubling equity gap, all while the justice system tries to sort the users from the profiteers.
Fraud and Cyber
1Fraud victims 179,000 in Australia 2022
Verified2Fraud rate 702 per 100,000 in 2022 up 9%
Verified3Cybercrime reports 68,000 to ACCC in 2022
Verified4Identity fraud cases 40,000 in 2022
Directional5NSW fraud 50,000 victims 2022
Single source6Victoria investment scams $200m losses 2022
Verified7Queensland cyber fraud up 25% 2022
Verified8WA fraud offences 18,000 in 2022
Verified9SA scams 12,000 reports 2022
Directional10Tasmania fraud 2,500 cases 2022
Single source11NT cybercrime reports 1,200 in 2022
Verified12ACT fraud rate 900 per 100k 2022
Verified13Phishing scams top cybercrime 30% in 2022
Verified14Romance scams losses $40m in 2022
Directional15Business email compromise $100m losses 2022
Single source16Online shopping fraud 15,000 cases 2022
Verified17Elderly fraud victims 25% higher rate 2022
Verified18Cryptocurrency scams $200m losses 2022
Verified19Job scams 8,000 reports 2022
Directional20NSW cyber reports 15,000 to police 2022
Single source21Victoria fraud up 12% 2022
Verified22QLD investment fraud 5,000 victims 2022
Verified23WA scam losses $50m 2022
Verified24SA identity theft 3,000 cases 2022
Directional25TAS online fraud 800 reports 2022
Single source26NT fraud rate 1,200 per 100k 2022
Verified27ACT phishing 500 cases 2022
Verified28National cybercrime losses $3.1 billion in 2022
VerifiedFraud and Cyber Interpretation
In 2022, Australia's digital landscape proved so treacherously inventive that criminals, from pilfering pensions with a romantic flourish to hijacking corporate emails with bureaucratic glee, collectively swindled a staggering $3.1 billion, proving the most successful "business" model was often just an old-fashioned scam wearing a very new, phishing-resistant hat.
Homicides
1In 2022, Australia recorded 287 homicide victims
Verified2Homicide rate in Australia was 0.87 per 100,000 population in 2021
Verified3New South Wales had 67 homicides in 2022
Verified4Victoria recorded 62 homicide victims in 2022
Directional5Queensland reported 48 homicides in 2022
Single source6Western Australia had 39 homicides in 2022
Verified7South Australia recorded 25 homicides in 2022
Verified8Tasmania had 4 homicides in 2022
Verified9Northern Territory reported 27 homicides in 2022
Directional10Australian Capital Territory had 5 homicides in 2022
Single source11Firearm homicides accounted for 13% of total homicides in 2021
Verified12Domestic homicides made up 38% of all homicides in 2020-21
Verified13Homicide victims aged 25-34 numbered 72 in 2021
Verified14Indigenous homicide victim rate was 5.5 per 100,000 in 2021
Directional15Homicides declined by 6% from 2021 to 2022 nationally
Single source16Manslaughter cases totalled 45 in Australia 2022
Verified17Drive-by homicides were 2 in 2021
Verified18Child homicide victims under 1 year: 12 in 2021
Verified19Homicide clearance rate was 92% in 2021
Directional20Multiple homicide incidents: 8 in 2021
Single source21NSW homicide rate 0.8 per 100k in 2022
Verified22Victoria homicide rate 0.9 per 100k in 2022
Verified23QLD homicide rate 0.9 per 100k in 2022
Verified24WA homicide rate 1.4 per 100k in 2022
Directional25SA homicide rate 1.3 per 100k in 2022
Single source26TAS homicide rate 0.7 per 100k in 2022
Verified27NT homicide rate 10.5 per 100k in 2022
Verified28ACT homicide rate 1.1 per 100k in 2022
Verified29Homicides by knife: 22% in 2021
Directional30Australia homicide victims 2020: 324
Single sourceHomicides Interpretation
While Australia's overall homicide rate remains enviably low at 0.87 per 100,000, the stark and sobering reality is that this national average cruelly masks a profound and persistent inequality, as evidenced by the Northern Territory's rate being twelve times higher and the continued disproportionate tragedy faced by Indigenous communities.
Property Crimes
1Australia burglary victims 177,451 in 2022
Verified2Burglary rate 689 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified3Theft victims total 703,962 in 2022
Verified4Motor vehicle thefts 59,912 in 2022 up 23%
Directional5NSW burglaries 38,000 in 2022
Single source6Victoria burglaries down 5% to 22,000 in 2022
Verified7Queensland thefts 150,000 in 2022
Verified8WA property crimes 65,000 in 2022
Verified9SA break and enters 12,000 in 2022
Directional10Tasmania thefts 8,000 in 2022
Single source11NT property theft rate high 5,000 per 100k 2022
Verified12ACT motor thefts 1,200 in 2022
Verified13Unlawful entry with intent burglaries 70% of property crime 2022
Verified14Retail thefts 120,000 incidents 2022
Directional15Bike thefts 25,000 nationally 2022
Single source16Property crime clearance rate 15% average 2022
Verified17Residential burglaries 55% of total 2022
Verified18Commercial burglaries down 10% 2022
Verified19NSW theft rate 2,500 per 100k 2022
Directional20Victoria theft rate 2,000 per 100k 2022
Single source21QLD theft rate 2,700 per 100k 2022
Verified22WA theft rate 2,300 per 100k 2022
Verified23SA theft rate 2,100 per 100k 2022
Verified24TAS theft rate 1,400 per 100k 2022
Directional25NT theft rate 8,000 per 100k 2022
Single source26ACT theft rate 1,800 per 100k 2022
Verified27Property crimes overall down 3% 2021-2022 except vehicles
Verified28Robbery victims 16,845 in Australia 2022
VerifiedProperty Crimes Interpretation
While Australia's overall property crime dipped slightly, the alarming 23% surge in car thefts and a dismal 15% clearance rate suggest criminals have upgraded their business model to a drive-away service with remarkably low risk of prosecution.
Sexual Offences
1Australia sexual assault victims: 35,971 in 2022
Verified2Sexual assault rate 138 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified3NSW sexual assaults: 9,500 in 2022
Verified4Victoria sexual assaults up 15% to 6,800 in 2022
Directional5Queensland sexual assaults: 5,200 in 2022
Single source6WA sexual assaults: 2,900 in 2022
Verified7SA sexual assaults: 1,800 in 2022
Verified8Tasmania sexual assaults: 450 in 2022
Verified9NT sexual assaults: 650 rate 250 per 100k 2022
Directional10ACT sexual assaults: 350 in 2022
Single source11Female sexual assault victims 85% of total 2022
Verified12Child sexual assault victims under 18: 60% in 2022
Verified13Unlawful sexual intercourse victims: 12,000 in 2022
Verified14Sexual assault reporting rate low at 15-20%
Directional15Family sexual assaults: 25% of cases 2022
Single source16Sexual assault rate females 240 per 100k 2022
Verified17Acquaintance perpetrators 70% in sexual assaults 2022
Verified18Sexual assaults in residential locations 45% 2022
Verified19NSW sexual assault rate 110 per 100k 2022
Directional20Victoria sexual assault rate 110 per 100k 2022
Single source21QLD sexual assault rate 90 per 100k 2022
Verified22WA sexual assault rate 110 per 100k 2022
Verified23SA sexual assault rate 100 per 100k 2022
Verified24TAS sexual assault rate 80 per 100k 2022
Directional25NT sexual assault rate 250 per 100k 2022
Single source26ACT sexual assault rate 80 per 100k 2022
Verified27Sexual offences up 10% nationally 2021-2022
VerifiedSexual Offences Interpretation
The sobering reality is that over 35,000 Australians were victims of sexual assault in 2022, but this harrowing national figure is just the visible tip of an iceberg, as most survivors suffer in silence with only a fraction of these crimes ever reported.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 2AICaic.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 3BOCSARbocsar.nsw.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 4CRIMESTATISTICScrimestatistics.vic.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 5POLICEpolice.qld.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 6POLICEpolice.wa.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 7POLICEpolice.sa.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 8POLICEpolice.tas.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 9PFESpfes.nt.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 10AFPafp.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 11CRIMINALLINTELLIGENCEcriminallintelligence.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 12ACCCaccc.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 13SCAMWATCHscamwatch.gov.auVisit source