The rates of violent crime in South Africa are among the highest in the world. Crime regularly makes headlines in the international and local press, shaping perceptions and attitudes.

A Google trend search shows that people in South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom have been the most likely to search for the word “crime” in news stories over the last 15 years. This report provides a brief analysis of crime in South Africa and offers an estimation of the impact of crime on the South African economy, focusing on economically motivated crimes.

Report by the World Bank