Statistics vs. Feeling: How Safe Are Vienna's Residential Areas Really?

Whether it's a Gründerzeit district, a municipal housing complex, or a new development on the outskirts of the city – the question of safety in one's own living environment concerns many people in Vienna. Between police presence, urban development, and social change, it is often the interplay of many factors that determines how safe a neighborhood really is.

Living Safely in Vienna: Crime Statistics vs. Feeling of Security

The official crime statistics from the Ministry of the Interior show a decrease in residential burglaries in Vienna from 3,591 in 2023 to 3,124 in 2024 (in 2010, the number was 9,298). Thefts of passenger cars decreased from 374 in 2023 to 365 in 2024 (1,763 car thefts in 2010), and pickpocketing and trick thefts also declined from 6,416 in 2023 to 5,908 in 2024 (29,037 in 2010) in the federal capital. However, the number of reports of violent crimes increased from 29,485 to 31,006, and robbery offenses also rose from 1,180 in 2023 to 1,394 cases in 2024. Nevertheless, Vienna compares very well internationally and records lower crime rates than other major European cities such as Berlin, Paris, or Rome.

While Vienna is among the safest major cities in Europe, differences are evident in people's subjective sense of security. A security study by the Association of Security Companies in Austria (VSÖ) shows that only three-quarters of respondents feel very or somewhat safe in Vienna, while in the rest of Austria it is 87 percent. Additionally, 55 percent state that the security situation in Austria has been developing in the wrong direction since 2020. In an IFES/WienXtra study from the previous year, about one-third of approximately 2,000 children and adolescents surveyed said they do not feel safe or rather unsafe, with the figure for 16- and 17-year-olds being almost half. The young people wish for increased lighting and more police presence.

Vienna's Security Initiative Aims to Strengthen Feeling of Security

The city of Vienna is responding to this development with a security initiative to strengthen the sense of security among the residents of Vienna and to take consistent action against rule violations. As part of the "Safe Vienna 2025" campaign, focus actions have already been carried out in several districts this year, including at Reumannplatz, Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof, and in Meidling. Mixed teams consisting of police, municipal task forces, social workers, and Wiener Linien staff are checking parks, streets, and subway stations.

Weapon prohibition and protection zones have been established, most recently at Yppenplatz in Ottakring or at Reumannplatz in Favoriten, and an alcohol ban at Franz-Jonas-Platz and the Praterstern has been imposed. Additionally, further security measures have already been taken in public transport. Four million euros have been invested in the technical upgrade of underground tram stops, and the entire interior lighting of the vehicles is being modernized. The number of security personnel is also being increased.

State Police President Gerhard Pürstl recently stated, that weapon prohibition zones are only effective if they are also strictly controlled. And a functioning criminal police is needed to ensure the investigation and punishment of committed acts of violence.

Conclusion: Security is More Than Statistics

Vienna remains a safe city in international comparison. Nevertheless, it becomes clear: security is not just a matter of numbers. What is crucial is how safe people feel in everyday life – on the way home at night, in the subway, or in the park. This is exactly where the city of Vienna wants to focus, to strengthen not only real security but also the subjective sense of security. Whether this will succeed will be seen in the coming years.

(Red)

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