Why China Is One of the Safest Countries in the World

Executive Summary

China is consistently ranked among the world’s safest countries, with objective metrics—such as intentional homicide rates, violent crime figures, and public perception of safety—showing a substantial gap with major Western nations. This article uses 2024–2025 official data from China’s Ministry of Public Security, the U.S. FBI, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Gallup’s Global Safety Report to compare China with the United States, the European Union, and Japan across four dimensions: violent crime, gun control, public security governance, and transnational crime prevention. It also addresses limitations in cross-national data comparison and emerging challenges, providing a balanced, evidence-based analysis for global readers, especially travelers and investors.

1. Violent Crime: A World of Difference in Core Metrics

1.1 Intentional Homicide Rate

Intentional homicide is the most internationally comparable crime indicator, as defined by the UNODC.

• China’s performance: The rate has remained in the global bottom tier for years, dropping from 0.46 in 2023 to 0.44 in 2024.
• U.S. contrast: The U.S. rate is 13–15 times that of China. In 2024, there were 16,935 murders nationwide, with a violent crime rate of 359.1 per 100,000 people.
• EU and Japan: Even Japan, known for low crime, has a homicide rate 1.6 times higher than China’s.

1.2 Overall Violent Crime & Public Perception

• China: In 2025, criminal cases fell by 12.8% year-on-year (a new low this century), and public security cases dropped by 3.5%. The public sense of security has stayed above 98% for six consecutive years.
• U.S.: Over 14 million reported crimes in 2024, including 1.22 million violent crimes. A violent crime occurred every 26 seconds, and a murder every 31 minutes.
• Global perception (Gallup 2025 Global Safety Report): Based on surveys of 145,000 adults in 144 countries:
  • China’s Law and Order Index: 93 points (4th globally), with 94% of residents feeling safe walking alone at night (3rd globally).
  • U.S. Law and Order Index: 84 points (53rd–54th globally), with 71% of residents feeling safe walking alone at night (61st globally).
  • UK and Germany ranked 46th and 24th, respectively, on the Law and Order Index.

2. Gun Control: The Institutional Divide in Violent Crime Prevention

Firearms are a key driver of violent crime severity. China and the U.S. represent two extremes in global gun control.

Key Observations / 核心结论

1. China’s “preemptive control”: The Firearms Administration Law and 21 consecutive years of anti-gun campaigns have kept gun-related crimes at an ultra-low level, a foundational pillar of its low violent crime rate.
2. U.S. “structural dilemma”: Firearms were used in three-quarters of murders. Despite a 57% drop in active shooter casualties in 2024, the 24 incidents still reflect systemic risks.
3. EU middle ground: Countries like Germany and France have stricter gun laws than the U.S. but more lenient than China, with gun homicide rates between 0.2 and 0.5 per 100,000 people—lower than the U.S. but higher than China’s de facto near-zero rate.

3. Public Security Governance: Combining Top-Down Coordination with Bottom-Up Prevention

China’s safety stems from a holistic governance model centered on the Overall National Security Concept, while Western countries rely more on decentralized law enforcement.

3.1 Governance Structure

• China: A centralized national security leadership system (Central National Security Commission) coordinates cross-agency efforts, enabling rapid responses to risks (e.g., 57,000 cross-border telecom fraud suspects repatriated in 2025).
• U.S.: Decentralized law enforcement (federal, state, local levels) with fragmented coordination. For example, D.C. had a homicide rate of 26 per 100,000 in 2024—59 times China’s national average.
• EU: Supranational coordination (Europol) coexists with national autonomy, leading to uneven implementation. Southern European countries have higher theft and robbery rates than Northern Europe.

3.2 Prevention & Technology Integration

• China’s “human-machine hybrid” model: Grid-based community management + 24/7 intelligent security systems (AI cameras, big data risk mapping). In 2025, 3.6 billion scam calls and 3.3 billion scam texts were blocked, with 217.07 billion yuan in fraudulent funds frozen.
• U.S. focus on post-incident response: Heavy investment in police and prisons, but weaker prevention. Property crime (e.g., theft, motor vehicle theft) accounted for 89% of total reported crimes in 2024.
• Japan’s community policing: Similar to China’s grid management, but with less technological integration, resulting in slightly higher theft rates than China.

4. Transnational Crime: Proactive Global Cooperation

Against the backdrop of globalized crime, China has strengthened cross-border law enforcement cooperation, while Western countries face challenges with illegal immigration and transnational gangs.

Key Data & Cases

1. China’s cross-border crackdown: In 2025, a decisive operation against the “Four Major Families” in northern Myanmar led to the repatriation of 57,000 telecom fraud suspects. Since 2021, 1.739 million telecom fraud cases have been solved, with substantial economic losses recovered.
2. U.S. transnational crime challenges: Transnational drug trafficking and gang violence remain severe. In 2024, 11,679 hate crimes were reported, with illegal immigration-related crimes straining local law enforcement.
3. Global recognition: China’s Global Security Initiative has been endorsed by 119 countries and written into 123 bilateral/multilateral documents, facilitating joint operations against cross-border crime.

5. Balanced Perspective: Limitations and Emerging Challenges

5.1 Limitations in Cross-National Comparison

1. Data definition differences: China’s “criminal cases” include minor offenses, while the U.S. distinguishes between felonies and misdemeanors—direct volume comparisons may be misleading.
2. Reporting rates: High public trust in police in China leads to higher reporting rates for minor crimes, while underreporting of sexual assault and domestic violence is common in some Western countries.
3. Contextual factors: The U.S. has a more diverse population and higher gun ownership rates, while China’s demographic and social structure contribute to lower crime risks.

5.2 Emerging Challenges for China

1. Digital crime: Telecom fraud and cybercrime remain persistent, requiring continuous upgrades to technical defenses.
2. Tourism security: With 40.6 million foreign visitors in 2025 (up 27.2% year-on-year), customized security services for international travelers need improvement.
3. Urban-rural gaps: While major cities are highly safe, rural areas face challenges like left-behind elderly and children, requiring targeted governance.

Conclusion

China’s status as one of the world’s safest countries is not accidental but the result of strict gun control, a holistic governance system, proactive law enforcement, and strong public trust. Cross-national data from the UNODC, FBI, and Gallup consistently show that China’s violent crime rates are far lower than those of the U.S. and most EU countries, with public perception of safety reaching exceptional levels.

At the same time, China faces emerging challenges such as digital crime and tourism security, and cross-national data comparison has inherent limitations. For global travelers and investors, China’s safety is a tangible, data-backed reality—one that coexists with ongoing efforts to adapt to a changing world.

References

1. Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China. (2026). 2025 National Public Security Situation Report.
2. Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China. (2025). Press Conference on “High-Quality Completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan”.
3. State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China. (2025). National Security in the New Era (White Paper).
4. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (2025). 2024 Crime in the United States & 2024 Active Shooter Incidents Report.
5. Gallup, Inc. (2025). 2025 Global Safety Report: Law and Order Index.
6. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2024). Global Study on Homicide.
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). WISQARS Firearm Injury Data.