South African cities, Lagos rank among top crime hotspots in global index

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Several African cities have ranked among the world’s highest in crime levels, according to the latest Current Crime Index released by Numbeo (a crowd-sourced online database that provides information on cost of living, crime, healthcare, pollution, and quality of life across cities worldwide), highlighting growing safety concerns across parts of the continent.

In the rankings, Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria emerged as the two most crime-affected cities globally, with crime index scores of 81.9 and 81.7 respectively, alongside extremely low safety ratings.

Other South African cities also featured prominently, including Johannesburg (80.8), Durban (80.4), Port Elizabeth (78.3), and Cape Town (73.5), reinforcing concerns about persistent urban crime in Africa’s most industrialised economy.

In West Africa, Lagos ranked 28th globally with a crime index of 69.0 and a safety index of 31.0, placing it among the highest in the region.

Southern Africa also recorded high figures, with Windhoek posting a crime index of 67.4, while Harare recorded 61.8. In East Africa, Nairobi ranked 78th globally with a crime index of 59.1.

North African cities appeared relatively lower on the index, with Casablanca at 55.4, Cairo at 49.8, and Algiers at 50.8, suggesting comparatively moderate crime perception levels.

Globally, cities outside Africa also featured among the highest, including Caracas and Port Moresby, underscoring the widespread nature of urban crime challenges.

The index, which is based on user-contributed data measuring perceptions of crime levels, safety concerns, and experiences with property and violent crimes, indicates that many African urban centres continue to grapple with insecurity, economic pressures, and rapid urbanisation.

Analysts say the trend highlights the urgent need for strengthened policing, improved economic opportunities, and urban planning reforms to address crime and enhance public safety across the continent.

The report adds to ongoing debates about security and governance in Africa’s fast-growing cities, where population expansion continues to outpace infrastructure and social services.

At the lower end of the ranking, cities with the least perceived crime levels globally include Abu Dhabi (11.1), Ajman (12.6), and Ras Al Khaimah (14.6), reflecting significantly higher safety ratings compared to most urban centres worldwide.