During the last year, 4 out of 10 cases were resolved, and the rate of detained or investigated for every thousand infractions rose to 240.

The crime rate in the Balearic Islands stands at 65.6 crimes per thousand inhabitants, according to the annual balance of the Ministry of the Interior corresponding to 2023. This indicator remains below the average values recorded before the pandemic; in 2020 i 2021 crime was reduced to rates of 51 i 52 crimes per thousand inhabitants, respectively, due to the effect of confinements i of mobility restrictions, while in 2019 this rate rose to 67.6 crimes per thousand inhabitants.

From January to December, 78,531 criminal offenses were recorded in the archipelago, in a period in which, in addition, the resolution indicator exceeded last year’s levels; 240 people were arrested and investigated for every thousand criminal offenses that occurred and about four out of 10 cases were clarified. Overall, the volume of criminal offenses in the archipelago rose by 3.4%, while in 2022 this increase exceeded 27% compared to the previous year.

By typology, theft was the most common crime in the islands, although its incidence was reduced, with 23,009 cases in 2023 compared to 24,460 recorded in 2022. Robberies with force in homes, establishments and other facilities also fell by 8.7%, while 52 seizures have been recorded in farms or livestock, 12 less than in the previous year. The rest of the typologies have different degrees of incidence; last year there were 8 homicides -five more than in 2022-, and especially the crimes related to drug trafficking -24%-, against sexual freedom -about 16%- and vehicle theft -16.7%-. With regard to computer-related crime, reports of fraud have increased by 36.8%, while the rest of cybercrimes have decreased by 6.6% overall.

Rate per islands

By islands, the cumulative crime rate of the last twelve months is 65.6 crimes or misdemeanours per thousand inhabitants in Mallorca; 78 in Ibiza; 46.7 in Menorca and 58.4 in Formentera.

In Palma the crime rate was 82.4 cases per thousand inhabitants and, overall, the number of offences was reduced by 0.6%. Among the other municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants in the islands, the number of crimes decreased in Calvià (7.8%), Sant Josep de sa Talaia (2.4%) and Santa Eulària des Riu (3.1%), while in Sant Antoni de Portmany the percentage with respect to the previous year remained unchanged. The others – Alcúdia, Ciutadella, Eivissa, Inca, Llucmajor, Maó, Manacor and Marratxí – experienced increases in the number of criminal offenses of between 5 and 20%, according to the municipality.

The Crime Balance published by the Ministry of the Interior reflects the evolution in Spain of the criminal acts known to the National Police and the Civil Guard, the bodies that depend on the autonomous communities and the local police that provide their data to the statistical system. The report can be consulted at the following link: Quarterly crime balance.