Crime statistics show that Lausanne has the highest rate of violence among Swiss municipalities in a certain populaton category. But it this true?
The data, from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), indicates that the Vaud capital tops the list of cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants for violent crimes.
City officials, however, are putting these findings into perspective, arguing that the FSO’s definition of “violence” aggregates a wide variety of offences, including minor ones.
Some experts agree with his view.
For instance, Marcelo Aebi, Professor of Criminology at the University of Lausanne, pointed out that differences in recording methods and penal policies distort comparisons.
He conceded, however, that there has been an increase in certain crimes in Lausanne, partly linked to incidents of youth violence.
One such notable incident happened in August 2025, when hundreds of hooded and masked youths went on a rampage in the city, throwing pyrotechnics at the police, setting garbage cans on fire, and damaging a public transport bus.
READ ALSO: What’s behind the violent unrest in Swiss city of Lausanne?
Advertisement
Different studies, different results
Could it be true that the city, which has been consistently popular among foreign nationals, is the most dangerous in the country?
Another study, carried out in August, indicated that Lausanne was not given that title.
Instead, Solothurn, with the population of just below 17,000 people, was found to be most dangerous community in the country.
It was followed by Interlaken, Bern, and Basel.
Lausanne was nowhere to be found in that study.
Advertisement
Should residents of Lausanne – or other cities mentioned in these studies – be worried?
Reading about these alarming statistics probably doesn’t fill you with confidence regarding your personal security.
But you should not worry – other statistics indicate that, in comparison with other countries, Switzerland is very safe.
Depending on the kind of metrics used, Switzerland consistently ranks among the least risky nations in the world, both in terms of personal safety and overall crime rate.
READ ALSO: Just how safe is Switzerland as a country to live in?
