Analytics, Crime, Estonia, Legislation

While in 2005 a total of 55,586 offenses were registered in Estonia and in 2008 the indicator still exceeded 50,000, in the present decade the number of crimes has remained below 50,000 and is declining.

In 2011, the number of offenses registered was 42,567, a year later 40,816, in 2013 it totaled 39,631, a year later it was 37,787 and last year 32,575, statistics of the Ministry of Justice show.

At the same time the percentage of solved crimes increased. Last year investigative bodies solved 20,472 offenses or 63% of all registered crimes. A year earlier the indicator was 52%, in 2013 and 2012 it was 52% and a year earlier 55%.

Altogether 40 people lost their lives as a result of a murder or manslaughter in Estonia during 2015, tentative figures made available by the Justice Ministry on Wednesday show. The ministry said the figure marks a new low.

Together with attempted murders and manslaughters the number was 38 for manslaughters and 12 for murders. In 2014, manslaughters numbered 42 and murders 13 inclusive of attempts and the number of deaths resulting from them was 42, two bigger than in 2015.

In 2013 murders and manslaughters totaled 62 and 52 people lost their lives. The respective numbers were 80 and 64 a year earlier, and 100 and 65 in 2011.

In 2005, for instance, manslaughters numbered 137 and murders 19 and the number of lives lost was 123.