Portugal Logged 365,802 Crimes in 2025 — Cybercrime, Arson, and Prison Overcrowding Surge as Violent Crime Falls

Portugal remains one of the safest countries in the world, according to the Relatório Anual de Segurança Interna (RASI) 2025 — the government's annual internal security report presented this week. But behind the headline ranking, the data reveals a country grappling with fast-evolving threats: cybercrime is climbing double digits, arson offences spiked by a third, prisons are overcrowded for the first time in six years, and AI-powered fraud is forcing police to deploy counter-AI tools of their own.

The Big Numbers

Overall crime rose 3.1 percent in 2025 to 365,802 reported offences — an increase of 10,924 compared with 2024. However, the more serious category of violent and grave crime fell 1.6 percent to 14,149 incidents, driven mainly by a 7.4 percent drop in robberies, which account for 61.6 percent of that category.

The security services attribute much of the rise in general crime to increased proactive policing rather than a deterioration in public safety. Detection-driven offences surged: aid to illegal immigration jumped 138.2 percent, other immigration-related crimes rose 353 percent, driving without a licence climbed 28 percent, and drunk driving offences (blood alcohol above 1.2 g/l) increased 23 percent.

Where Things Got Worse

Several categories bucked the overall positive trend on violent crime:

• Homicide: Voluntary homicides rose 10.1 percent to 98 cases.
• Rape: Offences increased 6.4 percent, reaching the highest level in a decade.
• Arson: Fire-setting crimes surged 32.2 percent, a sharp escalation in a country that suffered devastating wildfires in 2025.
• Economic crime: Investigations rose 22 percent, with money laundering up 42 percent and active corruption up 17 percent.
• Counterfeit currency: Most fake banknotes entering Portugal now arrive by post from China, according to the report.

Cybercrime: AI Is Now a Weapon

Cybercrime reports rose 13.4 percent, with attacks becoming more frequent, complex, and sophisticated. The RASI singles out the integration of artificial intelligence into criminal methodology as a defining trend of 2025. Hostile actors are using AI for ransomware deployment, social engineering, and the creation of deepfakes.

In response, Portuguese authorities launched Projecto Detector, an initiative that uses AI to identify data manipulation and fake content — effectively fighting AI with AI.

Domestic Violence Still the Most Reported Crime

Domestic violence remains Portugal's single most-reported offence, with 29,644 cases in 2025. While the overall figure dipped 1.9 percent, violence against minors rose a troubling 8.6 percent.

Prisons Are Full Again

For the first time in six years, Portugal's prison system is officially overcrowded, with an occupancy rate of 103.4 percent. The report does not detail specific causes but notes the broader context of rising detection-driven crime and longer pre-trial detention periods.

Geopolitical Threats and Critical Infrastructure

The external security picture remained volatile. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continued to generate cascading effects on national security. The RASI flags physical sabotage threats and cyberespionage targeting critical infrastructure, with particular concern over Russian reconnaissance activity near Portugal's submarine cables — a strategic vulnerability given the country's position on the Atlantic seaboard.

Portugal also consolidated its role as a strategic transit point for international drug trafficking, with transnational criminal organisations expanding their footprint on Portuguese territory.

Road Safety: Mixed Results

Total road accidents rose 3.8 percent in 2025, but fatalities at the scene of the accident fell 6.1 percent — suggesting that while more crashes are occurring, improved emergency response and vehicle safety are saving lives.

What Comes Next

The government's strategic priorities for 2026 focus on technological modernisation, stronger international cooperation, and better protection of vulnerable groups. Specific plans include renewing the police vehicle fleet and fully implementing new smart border control systems at ports of entry.