In 2025, German prosecutors initiated 4.98 million criminal proceedings, representing a decrease of 1.6 percent compared to the previous year. Data published by the Federal Statistical Office indicates a continuation of a downward trend observed since 2016, with the exception of the pandemic period. The largest decline was recorded in the category of property crimes, while the number of cases concerning domestic violence and sexual offenses remains high. The statistics also show an increase in proceedings related to tax fraud and economic crimes.
Decline in Number of Proceedings
German prosecutors initiated 4.98 million criminal proceedings in 2025, representing a decrease of 1.6 percent compared to 2024. This continues a long-term downward trend observed since 2016.
Property Crimes
The largest decline in the number of proceedings was recorded in the category of property crimes, such as theft and burglary. This group saw a decrease of 4.6 percent compared to the previous year.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses
The number of proceedings concerning domestic violence and sexual offenses, including sexual abuse, remains high. These indicators show no significant decline, pointing to an ongoing social problem.
Increase in Tax Fraud
An increase was recorded in the number of proceedings concerning tax fraud and other economic crimes. This trend may reflect increased efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat this type of crime.
German prosecutors recorded a decrease in the number of initiated criminal proceedings in 2025. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, the figure stood at 4.98 million, representing a 1.6 percent drop compared to 2024. This continues a long-term downward trend observed since 2016, with the exception of the coronavirus pandemic period when case numbers temporarily increased. Criminal statistics in Germany have been collected and published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) for decades. This data serves as a key indicator for internal security policy and is analyzed by the government, police, and non-governmental organizations. A downward trend in overall crime has been recorded in many Western countries since the 1990s, often linked to improved living standards, demographic changes, and the development of security technologies. Analysis of the data shows varied dynamics across different crime categories. The largest decline, amounting to 4.6 percent, was recorded in the area of property crimes, which includes theft and burglary. Conversely, the number of proceedings concerning domestic violence and sexual offenses, including sexual abuse, remains high and shows no significant decline. At the same time, the statistics note an increase in proceedings related to tax fraud and other economic crimes. Trend in Number of Criminal Proceedings in Germany: 2021: 5.05, 2022: 5.12, 2023: 5.06, 2024: 5.06, 2025: 4.98 Experts point out that the decline in the overall number of proceedings may result from various factors, including societal changes, police effectiveness, and the evolution of crime forms. The increase in the economic crimes category may be linked to intensified investigative efforts in this area. The publication of this data provides an important reference point for public debate on security and the effectiveness of the justice system in Germany. However, the statistics do not cover all aspects of crime, such as the so-called dark figure of crime, meaning offenses not reported to law enforcement.