BERLIN, Oct. 19, 2025 — A new analysis of Germany’s 2024 Police Crime Statistics (Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik, PKS) reveals a striking gap between actual crime data and how it is reported in the media. Researchers found that violent crimes committed by foreigners are covered far more frequently than their statistical share, reinforcing stereotypes and fueling political debate.
Crime Statistics: Citizens vs. Foreigners
According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA):
- Violent crime suspects (2024):
- German nationals: 66%
- Foreign nationals: 34%
- Sexual offenses (rape and sexual assault, 2024):
- Total suspects identified: 11,329
- German nationals: 6,892 (≈61%)
- Foreign nationals: 4,437 (≈39%) germanytimes.com
This means that while foreigners make up around 14% of Germany’s population, they accounted for 34% of violent crime suspects and 39% of sexual offense suspects in 2024.
Media Coverage vs. Reality
The study by Macromedia University of Applied Sciences found that:
- 56% of violent crime reports in national media focused on foreign suspects, despite their 34% share in police data.
- Sexual offenses involving foreigners were reported at nearly twice their statistical occurrence, while crimes committed by Germans were comparatively underreported.
Professor Thomas Hestermann, who led the study, described this as a “drastic distortion,” warning that the media’s emphasis on nationality risks inflaming public fears and stigmatizing migrant communities.
Broader Context
Independent research by the ifo Institute has shown that districts with higher numbers of foreigners do not necessarily experience higher crime rates, challenging the narrative that migration inherently drives insecurity.
Nonetheless, the overrepresentation of foreigners in certain crime categories — combined with disproportionate media coverage — has fueled political rhetoric, particularly from far-right parties, who cite such cases as evidence of failed immigration policy.
Conclusion
The data shows a real but limited statistical overrepresentation of foreigners in violent and sexual crime. However, the media amplifies this gap, presenting foreigners as responsible for a majority of violent crime when in fact most suspects are German nationals. Experts warn that this distortion risks undermining social cohesion and calls for more balanced reporting practices that reflect the true proportions in crime statistics.
Key Stats (2024):
- Violent crime suspects: 66% Germans, 34% foreigners.
- Sexual offense suspects: 61% Germans, 39% foreigners.
- Media coverage: 56% of violent crime reports focused on foreigners, far above their statistical share.
Sources: German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) 2024 Police Crime Statistics; Mediendienst Integration / Macromedia University study; ifo Institute analysis Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) germanytimes.com.
