Crime in Barcelona 50% higher than in Madrid 

The crime rate in Barcelona was 50% higher than in Madrid in the first half of 2024, according to data from Spain's interior ministry analyzed by the Catalan News Agency (ACN). 

In the Catalan capital, the ratio was 48 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants, while in Madrid it was 31.  

Theft is the most common crime in both cities, but the rate in Barcelona, 24 cases per 1,000 inhabitants, is nearly double that of Madrid, 12.8. 

Moreover, the number of violent and intimidating home and business robberies is twice as high in Barcelona as in Madrid.

Mirroring the crime statistics in each city, Barcelona's residents perceive public insecurity as the city's main problem.

In the first annual survey of the year,  27% of respondents identified insecurity as their main concern, a percentage that has not fallen below 20% in recent years.

In contrast, public insecurity ranked fourth in Madrid in 2023, with only 8% of respondents citing it.

Experts suggest several reasons for Barcelona's higher crime rate compared to Madrid, with tourism being the primary factor as the Catalan capital attracts more international visitors each year.  

Another reason is the saturation of courts. Barcelona has fewer courts per capita; Madrid has 39 criminal courts, while Barcelona has only 29.  

Barcelona's chief judge Cristina Ferrandoexplains that the main problem with the city's courts is the backlog of "fast trials" that end up being held months later than scheduled.   

Ferrando points out that for minor crimes (thefts of up to €400), the courts are currently unable to cope with the high volume of cases, which means that cases that should be processed within two weeks can take up to eight months.

However, despite the differences in the number of courts, the number of police officers is identical. Both Barcelona and Madrid have 6 police officers per 1,000 inhabitants, although Madrid has almost twice the population of Barcelona.