Foreign nationals dominate theft convictions in Swiss crime statistics for 2025
Switzerland's 2025 crime data show that the majority of people convicted of theft hold foreign passports, with asylum seekers and so-called criminal tourists contributing significantly.
The Federal Statistical Office published its 2025 statistics on criminal convictions, separating offenders by nationality. Across all offences, Swiss citizens remain the largest group, but theft convictions are markedly different, with foreign-born individuals forming the majority. Criminologists attribute this to two main groups: asylum seekers lacking stable prospects and so-called criminal tourists attracted by the country's wealth.
The data also show that men are convicted at a much higher rate than women, and among both genders, foreign nationals predominate. Regional burden rates highlight that citizens from countries such as the Congo, Angola, Somalia and Algeria have the highest conviction ratios relative to their resident populations. Researchers caution that factors like education, age and gender also influence crime rates, which the statistics can only partially capture.
Why it matters
The figures highlight how immigration status and socioeconomic factors shape crime patterns in Switzerland.
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