According to an internal analysis conducted by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), non-German nationals are disproportionately represented in the statistics of violent crime suspects compared to German citizens. The analysis, reported by the “Spiegel” magazine, indicates that the criminal burden for these offenses is 4.1 times higher among non-German suspects. The BKA evaluated data on suspects aged eight and older who reside in Germany.
The analysis reveals that individuals from countries such as Algeria, Guinea, Gambia and Syria are the most frequently associated with violent offenses, based on their proportion of the population. On the other hand, people from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are the least likely to be involved in such crimes, with lower rates than Germans. The BKA states that 40% of these differences can be attributed to demographic factors, as nationalities with high crime rates tend to have a larger proportion of young men.
Non-Germans are also found to be 2.6 times more likely to be at risk of poverty, which increases the likelihood of committing crimes. Additionally, the BKA highlights that the criminal burden is higher for nationalities with a high proportion of refugees, particularly those who rarely receive refugee protection. Risk factors include experiences of violence, psychological stress and a lack of opportunities.
The BKA acknowledges that non-German nationals are “systematically overrepresented” in the statistics due to a higher willingness to report crimes against them. However, the analysis emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to violent offenses and the importance of addressing the root causes to reduce crime rates. Further research and targeted interventions are needed to address the specific challenges faced by different nationalities and mitigate the disparities observed in the statistics.