Scotland's most dangerous areas named by government as major city tops list
Scotland's areas with the highest crime rates have been revealed, with a major city found to be the area of the country with the highest proportion. On June 24, the Scottish Government shared its annual Recorded Crime in Scotland report.
The new report reveals the number of crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland in 2024-25. The total crime rate in Scotland was revealed to be 545 per 10,000 population over the past year, down from 546 in 2023-24. Over the past 10 years, total recorded crime in the country has decreased by two per cent.
The area of Scotland with the highest crime rate over the past year is Glasgow City. In Scotland's largest city, there were found to be 829 crimes per 10,000 population recorded.
Following behind as the area in Scotland with the second highest crime rate is Dundee City. According to the Scottish Government, there were 783 crimes per 10,000 population in Dundee in 2024-25.
The City of Edinburgh was revealed as the area of Scotland with the third highest crime rate across the past year. The Recorded Crime in Scotland report states that there were 728 crimes recorded per 10,000 people in the Scottish capital.
Rounding out the top five areas with the highest crime rates in Scotland are West Dunbartonshire and Aberdeen City. The former had 657 crimes per 10,000 population recorded in 2024-25, while Aberdeen City was found to have a crime rate of 629.
On the other hand, the area of Scotland with the lowest crime rate over the past year is the Shetland Islands. In Shetland, there were just 180 crimes recorded per 10,000 people in 2024-25.
The area of the country with the second lowest crime rate is Na h-Eileanan Siar, according to the Recorded Crime in Scotland report. Also known as the Western Isles, there were 220 crimes recorded per 10,000 population in the region.
Completing the top five areas of Scotland with the lowest crime rates are the Orkney Islands, East Dunbartonshire, and East Renfrewshire. The crime rates in the three council areas were revealed to be 234, 242, and 264 per 10,000 population respectively.
Overall, between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crime decreased in 21 local authorities, increased in seven, and remained stable in four. East Renfrewshire saw the biggest percentage increase, up 9 per cent, while the Shetland Islands experienced the largest decrease—down 17 per cent.
The majority of crimes committed in Scotland over the past year, making up 37 per cent of the total, were crimes of dishonesty. This includes shoplifting, other theft, fraud, and housebreaking.
Meanwhile, non-sexual crimes of violence made up 24 per cent of all crimes recorded in 2024-25. Crimes against society are third with 21 per cent, followed by damage and reckless behaviour with 13 per cent and sexual crimes with five per cent.
See below for the full list of the areas of Scotland with the highest and lowest crime rates between 2024 and 2025. More information can be found on the Recorded Crime in Scotland report on the Scottish Government website.
Total number of recorded crimes per 10,000 population in each area of Scotland
Glasgow City — 829
Dundee City — 783
City of Edinburgh — 728
West Dunbartonshire — 657
Aberdeen City — 629
North Ayrshire — 569
North Lanarkshire — 567
West Lothian — 546
Dumfries and Galloway — 534
East Ayrshire — 533
Renfrewshire — 518
Inverclyde — 515
Clackmannanshire — 509
Fife — 506
Falkirk — 506
Midlothian — 504
South Lanarkshire — 489
South Ayrshire — 462
Highland — 434
Moray — 418
East Lothian — 418
Angus — 408
Stirling — 399
Perth and Kinross — 398
Argyll and Bute — 395
Scottish Borders — 390
Aberdeenshire — 290
East Renfrewshire — 264
East Dunbartonshire — 242
Orkney Islands — 234
Na h-Eileanan Siar — 220
Shetland Islands —180
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