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Changes in Immigrant Population Prevalence and High Violent Crime Rates in Swedish Municipalities

Author

Listed:
  • Jerzy Sarnecki

    (University of Gävle
    Stockholm University
    Mid Sweden University
    Insitute for Futures Studies)

  • Amber L. Beckley

    (University of Gävle
    Stockholm University
    Insitute for Futures Studies
    Örebro University)

  • Sofia Wikman

    (University of Gävle)

  • Lars Westfelt

    (University of Gävle)

  • My Lilja

    (Malmö University)

  • Hernan Mondani

    (University of Gävle
    Insitute for Futures Studies
    Umeå University
    Stockholm University)

  • Emy Bäcklin

    (University of Gävle)

  • Amir Rostami

    (University of Gävle
    Insitute for Futures Studies)

Abstract

Global evidence indicates minimal connection between immigration and crime. Nordic research, however, has been generally carried out on individuals and shows that immigrants are over-represented in crime. This has led to claims that high crime rates are due to immigration. We directed our study towards these claims by analyzing immigrant population prevalence, defined as the percent of foreign-born individuals, and violent crime in Swedish municipalities between 2000 and 2020. Nearly all municipalities had higher violent crime rates in 2020 relative to 2000. To discern whether drastic increases in municipality-level crime rates could be connected to municipality-level immigrant population prevalence, a retrospective case–control design was used to select 20 municipalities with the highest increase in reported violent crime rates and 20 municipalities with the lowest increase in reported violent crime rates. Immigrant population prevalence had little association with high rates of reported violent crime. The average association between immigrant population prevalence and violent crime rates calculated from all municipalities was also weak and non-significant (p > 0.05). Municipalities with a high increase in crime tended to have more crime correlates than municipalities with a low increase in crime. However, more research is needed on the impact of migration in small towns, especially those that have experienced economic and social stagnation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jerzy Sarnecki & Amber L. Beckley & Sofia Wikman & Lars Westfelt & My Lilja & Hernan Mondani & Emy Bäcklin & Amir Rostami, 2025. "Changes in Immigrant Population Prevalence and High Violent Crime Rates in Swedish Municipalities," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 1223-1243, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:26:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s12134-024-01221-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-024-01221-1
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