25 African Countries with the Highest Crime Rates

In this article, we will list 25 African countries with the highest crime rates. Let’s first look at the types of crimes and the effect of crime on the economy.

According to Cornell Law School, crime is a behavior that is punishable as a public offense. Experts group crime into five categories. Violent crimes are considered to be the most serious type and involve physically hurting someone. Sexual assaults and homicides are a form of violent crime. The second type of crime is property crime. It entails taking possession of someone else’s property unlawfully. Burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle thefts are all types of property crimes. The third type is a white-collar crime, which is carried out by a person of respectability in the course of his occupation. Employee theft, professional fraud, and healthcare fraud are all examples of white-collar crimes. White-collar crimes are more common in corporations. The fourth type is Consensual crime, in which both parties take place with mutual agreement. An example of consensual crime is supplying drugs to someone. The fifth type is organized crime. It refers to the criminal activities of groups or organizations. Terror attacks by terrorist organizations and planned crimes committed by gangs are types of organized crimes.  

 It is no secret that crime, especially violent ones, has an adverse effect on the economy. Businesses do not want to operate in an environment that risks their assets. In the years following the coronavirus, violent crimes in the United States rose. Data from the Council of Criminal Justice shows that in 2020, homicides increased by 30% compared to last year. Although the rate of violent crime has been falling ever since it is still not to the pre-pandemic levels. However, it seems that nonviolent crimes, such as theft and larceny, are having a negative impact on businesses in the United States. In 2021, retailers in the United States lost a combined $94.5 billion to inventory loss and shrinkage. Weeks after Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) shut down its only store in Portland, it announced the closure of its store in Chicago. Its CEO cited theft as one of the reasons for closing stores. In addition, Target Corp (NYSE:TGT)’s CEO also hinted at closing stores and warned that violence and organized retail crimes are hurting their profitability. 

The negative relationship between business and economy seems more obvious when we look at countries such as Singapore, Denmark, and New Zealand. They have some of the lowest crime rates in the world and simultaneously have high ease of doing business scores. Over 4,500 US-based corporations have invested in Singapore in the last decade. One of the leading companies in terms of investments in SIngapore is Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), which has invested up to $850 million in SIngapore on data centers. 

On the other end of the spectrum are African countries, where crime rates in general are high. These countries struggle to attract foreign investments and according to the Nations-Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), investment flows to African nations decreased by $45 billion in 2022. 

With that in mind, it is also worth looking at which country has the highest crime rate in Africa. Our list will uncover the African countries with the highest crime rates and also shed some light on what crimes are most common in African countries. 

Methodology 

For this list, we used the Global Organized Crime Index of 2023 and filtered it according to the continent. Then, we looked at the Global Crime Index of each African country and listed them accordingly. Global Crime Index is a measure of the level of criminality for 193 countries. It has three key pillars against which it asses the levels of criminality: criminal markets, criminal actors, and resilience. 

25 – Zimbabwe

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.47

Zimbabwe, once regarded as a destination country, now serves as a transit point for human trafficking carried out by criminal networks along the route to South Africa. It also serves as a transit country for the trade of heroin to South Africa and Europe. In addition, there is also a surge in cyber crimes. 

24 – Liberia

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.5

Like Zimbabwe, Liberia also serves as a destination country for human traffickers. The country’s porous borders with Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast have also enabled a moderate level of firearm and ammunition smuggling. In addition, forced labor is common in the country because of economic hardships and lack of birth registrations. 

23 – Chad

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.5

Human trafficking is prevalent in Chad along the borders of Sudan and Libya. The country also sees a high number of irregular migrants who are often internally displaced and are vulnerable to trafficking. The country also faces dangers from armed groups such as Boko Haram, which carry out extortion as well. 

22 – Senegal

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.52

Senegal serves as a source and destination for children trafficking from Guinea-Bissau to Senegal. It also serves as a hub for labor agencies that work for the Gulf, the Middle East, and Europe. There is also considerable prevalence of forced sex work in the country. Recently, Senegal has also become a transit hub for cocaine trafficking into Europe. 

21 – Madagascar

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.58

There is significant internal circulation of arms in Madagascar, which is linked to cattle-rustling bandits in the country. The proliferation of small arms and light weapons has made these groups dangerous. Recent reports have indicated that there is a rise in heroin consumption across regions in Madagascar. Financial crimes such as tax evasion and customs fraud are some of the major issues in the country. Madagascar also acts as a source and destination country for human trafficking, most concerning of which comes in the form of sexual exploitation of children and forced labor. 

20 – Angola

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.58

There is a significant presence of forced labor in construction, agriculture, the diamond mining sector, and prostitution in the country. It also faces threats from Angolan secessionists in the Cabinda province, which is rich in oil. These secessionists are driving the demand for firearms and ammunition, which is enabling the smuggling of these items into the country. 

19 – Ethiopia

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.68

Ethiopia, the 19th country on the list of African countries with the highest crime rates, is located in the Horn of Africa. This location makes it a source and transit route for arms trafficking across porous borders with Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya. The ongoing destructive rhetoric of politicians in the country has also raised demands for illegal small arms. In addition, the illegal trafficking of wildlife and plants is also common in the country. Ethiopia also serves as a transit country for heroin trade to West African, European, and American markets. 

18 – Niger

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.7

Violent extremist groups in Niger regularly carry out illicit activities such as kidnapping and extortion. Niger also acts as a source and destination for human traffickers who smuggle women and girls for sex trafficking and labor exploitation. Niger has traditionally acted as a transit country for arms trafficking. However, recently, the deteriorating security situation of the country has led to a rise in domestic demand for weapons.  

17 – Ghana

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.8

Major cities of Ghana, such as Kumasi, Accara, and Takoradi are hotspots for human trafficking for forced labor, child trafficking, and sexual exploitation. Smugglers from Ghana also play a significant role in the development of West Africa’s human smuggling industry. Kumassi and Accara also serve as key markets for arms trafficking. 

16 – Burkina Faso

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.92

Burkina Faso is one of the most dangerous countries in Africa. Child exploitation is quite common in the mining industry, and there is a significant presence of organized child begging. The country also serves as a destination for arms trafficking, thanks to its deteriorating security situation and the emergence of several armed groups.

15 – Mali

Global Organized Crime Index – 5.93

Mali serves as a source and destination for human trafficking, encompassing forced labor and sex trafficking. Kidnapping for ransom is also prevalent in the country. Recently, there has been a rise in cyber crimes, such as data breaches. 

14 – Cote d’Ivoire

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.02

Human trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation is common in Cote d’Ivoire. The country also faces a significant presence of extortion and armed robberies. There is also a high circulation of arms within the country, making it vulnerable to violent crimes. 

13 – Somalia

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.13

Human Trafficking is the most common crime in African countries. In Somalia too, it continues to be a significant area of concern, with men, women, and children being trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation. There is a major presence of armed and terrorist groups such as ISIS-Somalia, which use extortion and protection racketeering as their major source of income. There is also a substantial presence of illegal weapons, which range from pistols to machine guns.

12 – Tanzania

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.2

Cartel-type gangs operating in border towns and port cities in Tanzania carry out transnational and domestic human trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation. Its long and porous borders with countries such as Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo have proliferated small arms in the country. 

11 – Mozambique

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.2

Mozamiqian and foreign nationals brought to the country by way of human trafficking are subjected to labor and sexual exploitation in the country. Mozambique also serves as a transit point for human trafficking within the continent. One of the growing crimes in Mozambique is kidnapping for ransom, which targets affluent businessmen and families from South Africa. There is an insurgency in the northern part of the country, which is enabled by locally sourced weapons. The country also plays a key role in the global heroin trade. 

10 – Cameroon

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.27

Conflict between terrorist groups in the north has internally displaced thousands of citizens in Cameroon, who remain vulnerable to human trafficking. The country acts as a source, transit, and destination for men, women, and children subjected to sex and forced labor trafficking. Many armed groups in the country fund themselves through extortion and protection racketeering. Cameroon is also considered to be a transit and destination market for the heroin trade, the use of which has grown significantly recently within the country. 

9 – South Sudan

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.32

Like most African countries in this list, human trafficking is rife in South Sudan. In addition, the violent conflict with Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is forcing millions of South Sudanese to leave the country. The country also trafficks arms to various groups around the world. 

8 – Sudan

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.37

According to some analysts, human trafficking in Sudan is linked to corrupt state-embedded actors. The country is the source, transit, and destination for the victims of human trafficking. Sexual exploitation, debt bondage, and forced labor are common in the country. More recently, there has also been a rise in extortion. In addition, the heroin trade and cannabis production has also increased recently in the country. 

7 – Uganda

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.55

Uganda, the 7th African country with the highest crime rates, serves as a safe haven for smugglers. There is a significant presence of human trafficking within the country, where men, women, and children are subjected to forced labor and sexual exploitation. The country also serves as a hub for arms trafficking. 

6 – Central African Republic

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.75

Central African Republic is one of the most dangerous African countries, mainly because of the absence of state authorities. Conflicts and violence are commonplace in the country and have forced many people to leave. The country also has a very high prevalence of human trafficking. 

5 – Libya

Global Organized Crime Index – 6.93

Irregular migration in the country has paved the way for human trafficking. Sub-Saharan individuals do not have any legal status in Libya, which makes them vulnerable to labor and sexual exploitation. There is also a rise in human smuggling as people use Libya’s coast to depart for Europe. There is also a significant presence of armed groups which use extortion as their source of income. 

4 – Kenya

Global Organized Crime Index – 7.02

Kenya is fourth in the list of African countries with the highest crime rates. It is home to many criminal gangs known to carry out extortion and protection rackets. The criminal gangs in Kenya are so powerful that they have the ownership of local transport industry, waste disposal, and water and electricity. These gangs seem to operate with impunity and offer protection to politicians in exchange. The country is also a source, destination, and transit for human trafficking. It is also a transit country for the heroin trade around the world. 

3 – South Africa

Global Organized Crime Index – 7.18

It may be surprising to see South Africa, a developed country, ranked third in the list of African countries with the highest crime rates. However, it serves as a source and destination for human trafficking. Among the prevalent criminal practices in South Africa, extortion and protection racketeering are the most common. Millions of firearms are in circulation within the country. There is also considerable poaching of high-value species, such as lions and rhinos from its national parks. The use and sale of heroin is prevalent in the country. Recently, it has also become a hub for cyber crimes. 

2 – Nigeria

Global Organized Crime Index – 7.28

Human trafficking is the most common crime in African countries, and Nigeria is no different. The traffickers in Nigeria specialize in sex trafficking. However, the most pressing of Nigeria’s concerns are kidnapping for ransom and protection racketeering. In addition, people of the LGBTQ+ community are targeted specifically for extortion. The country also serves as a major transit point for the heroin trade and is the country of origin and transit for cannabis. 

1 – Democratic Republic of Congo

Global Organized Crime Index – 7.35

The country with the highest crime rate in Africa is the Democratic Republic of Congo. While human trafficking is widespread in the country, extortion, and protection racketeering also pose significant threats. Various illegal armed groups operate within the country and are known for their predatory and rapacious nature. There is also a significant prevalence of arms trafficking and the circulation of illegal arms within the country. The country is also a source of illegal ivory trade, and elephant poaching is a significant issue. In addition, it is a transit country for the heroin trade and a source country for cannabis. 

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Disclosure: none. 25 African Countries with the Highest Crime Rates is originally published on Insider Monkey.