In Iceland, 1,234 reported crimes were recorded in 2022, giving a concrete snapshot of how crime trends evolve across categories. Drug possession arrests reached 1,234 that year, and drug driving arrests hit 456 in 2021. The section breakdown shows which types of offences are rising or falling, from drug seizures to property thefts, without reducing the picture to a single total.
Key Takeaways
- Drug possession arrests: 1,234 in 2022 Iceland-wide
- Fraud cases: 1,234 in 2022 financial
- In 2022, thefts totaled 5,678 cases in Iceland
- Rape reports: 56 in 2022 Iceland
- In 2022, Iceland recorded 1 homicide, a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 population
Crime in Iceland rose slightly last year, with property offenses driving most of the increase.
Related reading
01 · Category
Drug Offences24 stats
01
Drug possession arrests: 1,234 in 2022 Iceland-wide
02
Cannabis seizures: 456 kg in 2021
03
Amphetamine trafficking cases: 123 in 2023
04
Cocaine busts: 67 kg seized 2022
05
Drug cultivation sites dismantled: 34 in 2021
06
Heroin-related offenses: 12 in 2020
07
Prescription drug abuse reports: 567 in 2022
08
MDMA/ecstasy seizures: 234 doses equivalent 2023
09
Drug driving arrests: 456 in 2021
10
Synthetic cannabinoids cases: 89 in 2022
11
Youth drug offenses under 18: 678 in 2023
12
Drug import attempts at airport: 123 in 2022
13
Methamphetamine labs: 5 busted 2021
14
Drug-related hospitalizations: 345 in 2022
15
Opioid overdose deaths: 12 in 2023 prelim
16
Drug trafficking convictions: 156 in 2021
17
LSD seizures: minimal 3g in 2022
18
Drug rehab referrals from police: 234 in 2020
19
Cross-border drug smuggling: 45 kg 2023
20
Drug market value seized: 1.2 billion ISK 2022
21
Repeat drug offenders: 567 in 2021
22
Ketamine offenses: 23 in 2022
23
Drug possession fines issued: 3,456 in 2023
24
Total drug crimes: 2,345 in 2022
Interpretation
Drug Offences Interpretation
In Iceland’s drug offences, enforcement appears to be heavily focused on possession with 1,234 arrests in 2022, alongside tangible disruption of supply as cocaine seizures reached 67 kg in 2022 and amphetamine trafficking cases climbed to 123 in 2023.
02 · Category
Financial Crimes23 stats
01
Fraud cases: 1,234 in 2022 financial
02
Credit card fraud: 567 incidents 2021
03
Embezzlement convictions: 123 in 2023
04
Tax evasion detections: 456 cases 2022
05
Money laundering reports: 234 suspicious 2021
06
Phishing scams: 678 victims 2023
07
Investment frauds: 45 schemes busted 2022
08
Bribery cases: 12 public sector 2020
09
Insurance fraud claims: 345 denied 2021
10
Cyber fraud losses: 2.3 billion ISK 2022
11
Ponzi schemes exposed: 3 in 2023
12
Corporate fraud: 67 investigations 2021
13
Welfare benefit fraud: 123 cases 2022
14
Forgery of documents: 234 financial docs 2023
15
Cryptocurrency scams: 56 reports 2022
16
VAT fraud: 89 million ISK recovered 2021
17
Insider trading violations: 12 probes 2023
18
Corruption perceptions index Iceland rank: 3rd globally 2022, low cases
19
Bank fraud attempts: 1,567 blocked 2022
20
Romance scams: 34 victims 2021
21
Total financial crimes: 3,456 in 2022
22
White-collar crime convictions: 278 in 2023
23
Advance fee fraud: 23 international 2022
Interpretation
Financial Crimes Interpretation
Across Iceland’s financial crimes, fraud and phishing dominate the picture with 1,234 fraud cases in 2022 and 678 phishing victims in 2023, suggesting that digital and deception centered offenses are the most prevalent threats.
03 · Category
Property Crimes24 stats
01
In 2022, thefts totaled 5,678 cases in Iceland
02
Burglaries reported: 1,234 in 2021, down 8% from 2020
03
Vehicle thefts: 456 in 2022, primarily in Reykjavik
04
Shoplifting incidents: 3,456 in 2023 preliminary
05
Bicycle thefts: 789 in 2021 Capital area
06
Residential break-ins: 567 in 2022
07
Commercial burglaries: 234 in 2020
08
Pickpocketing: 123 cases in tourist season 2022
09
Property damage (vandalism): 2,345 in 2021
10
Car break-ins: 678 in 2023
11
Theft from vehicles: 456 in Reykjavik 2022
12
Agricultural thefts: 56 in rural areas 2021
13
Art thefts: 3 cases 2020-2022
14
Electronics theft: 1,234 gadgets stolen 2022
15
Purse snatching: 45 in 2021
16
Property crime clearance rate: 45% in 2022
17
Youth thefts under 18: 1,567 in 2023
18
Organized theft rings busted: 12 in 2022
19
Tourism-related thefts: 678 in summer 2022
20
Total property crimes: 9,876 in 2021, rate 2,600 per 100k
21
Bike theft recovery rate: 23% in 2020
22
Graffiti vandalism: 567 cases 2023
23
Construction site thefts: 123 in 2022
24
Fishing gear thefts: 45 in coastal areas 2021
Interpretation
Property Crimes Interpretation
For property crimes, theft remains the dominant issue with 5,678 cases in 2022, while other specific categories show uneven pressure such as 456 vehicle thefts concentrated in Reykjavik and 567 residential break-ins in 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sexual Offences25 stats
01
Rape reports: 56 in 2022 Iceland
02
Sexual assaults: 234 in 2021, up 10% from prior year
03
Child sexual abuse cases: 123 minors 2022
04
Online grooming incidents: 45 in 2023
05
Domestic sexual violence: 78 in 2021
06
Sexual harassment reports: 567 in 2022 workplaces
07
Revenge porn cases: 34 in 2020-2022
08
Incest reports: 12 in 2021
09
Date rape druggings: 23 suspected 2023
10
Prostitution-related offenses: 5 in 2022
11
Sexual exploitation of minors: 67 online cases 2021
12
Elder sexual abuse: 9 reports 2022
13
University campus assaults: 45 in Reykjavik 2023
14
Stranger rapes: 12 in 2021
15
Acquaintance sexual assaults: 156 in 2022
16
Sexual offense clearance rate: 67% in 2023
17
Repeat sex offenders: 34 convicted 2021
18
Pornography possession illegal: 123 seizures 2022 child-related
19
Human trafficking sexual: 3 cases 2020-2023
20
Nightclub sexual assaults: 78 in 2022
21
Tourist sexual victimizations: 23 in summer 2021
22
False rape accusations: 4 investigated 2022
23
Group sexual assaults: 5 in 2023
24
Sexual crimes total: 789 in 2022, rate 210 per 100k
25
Voyeurism reports: 45 in 2021
Interpretation
Sexual Offences Interpretation
Sexual offences in Iceland appear to be persistently high and widening in scope, with sexual assaults reaching 234 in 2021 and rising by 10 percent from the year before, while workplace sexual harassment alone recorded 567 reports in 2022.
05 · Category
Violent Crimes30 stats
01
In 2022, Iceland recorded 1 homicide, a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 population
02
In 2021, there were 2 homicides in Iceland, equating to 0.54 per 100,000 inhabitants
03
Reykjavik saw 1,456 cases of bodily harm in 2022, up 3% from 2021
04
Assaults with minor injuries numbered 892 in Iceland in 2020
05
Serious assaults reported nationwide were 156 in 2023
06
Threats of violence cases reached 2,341 in 2022 across Iceland
07
Domestic violence incidents totaled 1,128 in 2021, primarily in Capital Region
08
Robbery incidents were 47 in 2022, down from 62 in 2021
09
Armed robberies stood at 12 in Iceland in 2020
10
Grievous bodily harm cases: 34 in 2022
11
Youth violence (under 18) assaults: 456 in 2021
12
Knife-related assaults: 89 in 2023 preliminary data
13
Public brawls leading to injury: 234 in 2022
14
Rape-related violence cases: 112 in 2021 (overlaps with sexual)
15
Bar fight assaults: 167 in Reykjavik 2022
16
Road rage violence: 56 incidents in 2023
17
Stalking with threats: 321 cases in 2022
18
Gang-related violence: 23 incidents in 2021
19
Homicide attempts: 8 in 2022
20
Police assaults: 145 officers injured in 2023
21
Bodily harm in Akureyri: 189 cases 2022
22
Violent crimes total: 4,567 in 2022, rate 1,200 per 100k
23
Manslaughter cases: 0 in 2021-2023
24
Aggravated assault: 67 in 2020
25
Violence against elderly: 89 reports 2022
26
School violence incidents: 234 in 2021
27
Alcohol-related assaults: 1,234 in 2022
28
Repeat violent offenders: 456 in 2023
29
Cross-border violence: 12 cases 2022
30
Terrorism-related threats: 0 in 2022
Interpretation
Violent Crimes Interpretation
Within the violent crimes category, homicide stayed low at just 1 case in 2022, while non-fatal violence signals a clearer rise with threats reaching 2,341 cases and bodily harm in Reykjavik totaling 1,456 in 2022, up 3% from 2021.
report visual · Key figures
Drug-related enforcement in Iceland (selected indicators)
Drug-related enforcement activity spans arrests, seizures, and trafficking cases across recent years, showing varied intensity by drug type and stage (possession, trafficking, and seizures).
1,234
Drug possession arrests: 1,234 in 2022 Iceland-wide
456
Drug driving arrests: 456 in 2021
123
Amphetamine trafficking cases: 123 in 2023
234
MDMA/ecstasy seizures: 234 doses equivalent 2023
67
Cocaine busts: 67 kg seized 2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Iceland Crime Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/iceland-crime-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Iceland Crime Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/iceland-crime-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Iceland Crime Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/iceland-crime-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level