Crime Victimisation, Australia

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National and state and territory crime rates for assault, threat, robbery, break-in, theft or stealing, property damage and police reporting rates.

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Reference period
2022-23 financial year
Released
20/03/2024
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Release date and time
20/03/2024 11:30am AEDT

Key statistics

In 2022-23:

  • 1.7% of persons (358,500) experienced physical assault
  • 2.2% of persons (459,800) experienced face-to-face threatened assault
  • 1.8% of households (185,300) experienced a break-in
  • 2.2% of households (219,100) experienced theft from a motor vehicle

The statistics discussed in the national commentary refer to experiences which occurred in the 12 months prior to interview (conducted between July 2022 and June 2023), referred to as the 2022-23 reference period.

All statistics referred to throughout the commentary are available from the data downloads. Figures marked with an asterisk (*) have a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution. Any differences between population groups or survey periods mentioned in the commentary are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level (refer to Methodology for more information).

Personal crime summary

Victimisation rate

An estimated 4.0% of persons aged 15 years and over (833,600) experienced one or more selected personal crimes in the 2022-23 reference period, including:

  • 1.7% (358,500) who experienced physical assault
  • 2.2% (459,800) who experienced face-to-face threatened assault
  • 0.7% (156,300) who experienced non face-to-face threatened assault
  • 0.2% (51,700) who experienced robbery
  • 0.5% (89,100) who experienced sexual assault (persons aged 18 years and over)

Between 2008-09 and 2022-23 there was a decrease in the victimisation rate for the following personal crimes:

  • physical assault (3.1% to 1.7%)
  • face-to-face threatened assault (3.9% to 2.2%)
  • non face-to-face threatened assault (1.2% to 0.7%)
  • robbery (0.6% to 0.2%) 

The victimisation rate for sexual assault (for persons aged 18 years and over) increased between 2008-09 (0.3%) and 2022-23 (0.5%).

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the total number of persons aged 15 years and over who experienced a crime type in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons aged 15 years and over (18 years and over for sexual assault).

Police reporting

Of those who experienced a personal crime in 2022-23, the proportion who reported the most recent incident to police was:  

  • 55% (195,400) for physical assault
  • 39% (177,300) for face-to-face threatened assault
  • 27% (41,400) for non face-to-face threatened assault
  • 48% (24,700) for robbery

Household crime summary

Victimisation rate

An estimated 8.5% of households (856,800) experienced one or more selected household crimes in the 2022-23 reference period, including:

  • 1.8% (185,300) that experienced break-in
  • 1.9% (194,700) that experienced attempted break-in
  • 0.5% (54,700) that experienced motor vehicle theft
  • 2.2% (219,100) that experienced theft from a motor vehicle
  • 3.7% (367,900) that experienced malicious property damage
  • 1.9% (186,300) that experienced other theft

Between 2008-09 and 2022-23 there was a decrease in the victimisation rate for all selected household crimes, including:

  • break-in (3.3% to 1.8%)
  • attempted break-in (3.1% to 1.9%)
  • motor vehicle theft (1.1% to 0.5%)
  • theft from a motor vehicle (4.5% to 2.2%)
  • malicious property damage (11% to 3.7%)
  • other theft (4.4% to 1.9%)

Victimisation rates for all selected household crimes remained stable between 2021-22 and 2022-23.

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the total number of households that experienced a crime type, expressed as a percentage of all households.

Police reporting

Of households that experienced a household crime in 2022-23, the proportion that reported the most recent incident to police was:

  • 74% (136,500) for break-in
  • 46% (90,000) for attempted break-in
  • 86% (47,000) for motor vehicle theft
  • 53% (116,200) for theft from a motor vehicle
  • 52% (189,800) for malicious property damage
  • 36% (67,800) for other theft

Physical assault

Victimisation rate

An estimated 1.7% of persons (358,500) experienced physical assault, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (1.9%). Both males (1.8%) and females (1.7%) experienced physical assault at a similar rate.

Females were more likely than males to experience physical assault by a family member or intimate partner (0.8% compared with *0.3%) whereas males were more likely than females to experience physical assault by a stranger (1.1% compared with 0.6%).

Physical assault victimisation rate(a), By relationship to all perpetrators in the last 12 months and sex(b), 2022-23
 MalesFemales
Stranger1.1% (108,000)0.6% (60,600)
Known person0.8% (81,900)1.2% (127,500)
 Family and intimate partner(c)*0.3% (*26,600)0.8% (79,800)
 Other known person(d)0.6% (57,700)0.5% (49,000)
Total experienced physical assault1.8% (183,500)1.7% (179,900)
  1. Victimisation rate refers to the total number of persons in the relevant population aged 15 years and over who experienced physical assault in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of the total relevant population aged 15 years and over.
  2. Where a person has experienced physical assault by more than one perpetrator, they are counted separately for each perpetrator but are counted only once in the aggregated totals.
  3. Includes family member, current partner (married/de facto), previous partner (married/de facto), boyfriend, girlfriend or date and ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend or ex-date.
  4. Includes friend, professional or educational relationship, neighbour, known by sight only and other known persons.

* Victimisation rate and estimate for males who experienced physical assault by a family member or intimate partner has a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.

Socio-demographic characteristics

The following groups were more likely to experience physical assault:

  • persons aged 15 to 29 years (2.7%) compared with persons in all other age groups 
  • persons living in an area in the lowest quintile (most disadvantaged) of the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage (2.6%) compared with persons living in the highest quintile (1.3%)
  • persons living outside of a capital city (2.3%) compared with persons living in a capital city (1.4%)

Multiple victimisation

Of persons who experienced physical assault, half (50% or 177,400) experienced two or more incidents.

Police reporting

An estimated 55% of persons (195,400) who experienced physical assault reported the most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (52%). The reporting rate was similar for males (58%) and females (51%).

Common reasons for not reporting to police include:

  • thinking that it was too trivial or unimportant (11% or 39,100)
  • thinking there was nothing police could do (6.1% or 21,700)

Other characteristics of the most recent incident

For males who experienced physical assault: 

  • the perpetrator was most often a male (77% or 141,900)
  • the incident most commonly occurred in a non-residential location (70% or 129,200), including 27% (49,900) that occurred at work
  • 59% (86,100) believed that alcohol or another substance contributed (18 years and over only)
  • 24% (43,500) of incidents involved the use of a weapon

For females who experienced physical assault: 

  • the perpetrator was most often a male (66% or 117,900)
  • the majority of incidents occurred either at a residential location (56% or 99,800) or at work (23% or 41,800)
  • 45% (73,800) believed that alcohol or another substance contributed (18 years and over only)
  • 11% (19,000) of incidents involved the use of a weapon

Changes over time

Between 2008-09 and 2022-23 there was a decrease in the physical assault victimisation rate for both males (3.9% to 1.8%) and females (2.4% to 1.7%).

Since last year, the physical assault rate remained stable for both males and females.

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the total number of persons in the relevant population aged 15 years and over who experienced physical assault in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of the total relevant population aged 15 years and over.

Face-to-face threatened assault

Victimisation rate

An estimated 2.2% of persons (459,800) experienced face-to-face threatened assault, which was the same as the rate in 2021-22. Both males (2.2%) and females (2.1%) experienced face-to-face threatened assault at a similar rate. 

Both males and females were about as likely to experience face-to-face threatened assault by a stranger as by a known person.

Face-to-face threatened assault victimisation rate(a), By relationship to all perpetrators in the last 12 months and sex(b), 2022-23
 MalesFemales
Stranger1.4% (143,700)1.0% (105,800)
Known person1.1% (112,900)1.3% (142,700)
 Family and intimate partner(c)0.3% (27,600)0.5% (55,800)
 Other known person(d)0.9% (89,800)0.9% (92,400)
Total experienced face-to-face threatened assault2.2% (229,800)2.1% (228,000)
  1. Victimisation rate refers to the total number of persons in the relevant population aged 15 years and over who experienced face-to-face threatened assault in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of the total relevant population aged 15 years and over.
  2. Where a person has experienced face-to-face threatened assault by more than one perpetrator, they are counted separately for each perpetrator but are counted only once in the aggregated totals.
  3. Includes family member, current partner (married/de facto), previous partner (married/de facto), boyfriend, girlfriend or date and ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend or ex-date.
  4. Includes friend, professional or educational relationship, neighbour, known by sight only and other known persons.

Multiple victimisation

Of persons who experienced face-to-face threatened assault, 60% (275,300) experienced two or more incidents. Males (60%) and females (61%) were about as likely to experience two or more incidents.

Police reporting

Approximately 39% of persons (177,300) who experienced face-to-face threatened assault reported the most recent incident to the police, which was the same as the rate in 2021-22. The reporting rate was similar for males (41%) and females (34%).

For males, the most common reason for not reporting to police was thinking that the incident was too trivial or unimportant (23% or 53,300).

For females, common reasons for not reporting to police include:

  • telling somebody else instead (18% or 40,600)
  • thinking it was too trivial or unimportant (12% or 27,200)

Other characteristics of the most recent incident

For males who experienced face-to-face threatened assault:

  • the perpetrator was most often a male (78% or 178,200)
  • the incident most commonly occurred at a non-residential location (79% or 182,000), including 41% that occurred at work (93,600)
  • 50% (103,300) believed that alcohol or another substance contributed (18 years and over only)

For females who experienced face-to-face threatened assault:

  • the perpetrator was most often a male (63% or 143,600)
  • the incident most commonly occurred at work (42% or 94,800) or at their home (28% or 62,700)
  • 45% (90,200) believed that alcohol or another substance contributed (18 years and over only) 

Changes over time

Between 2008-09 and 2022-23 there was a decrease in the face-to-face threatened assault victimisation rate for both males (4.7% to 2.2%) and females (3.2% to 2.1%).

Since last year, the face-to-face threatened assault rate remained stable for both males and females.

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the total number of persons in the relevant population aged 15 years and over who experienced face-to-face threatened assault in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of the total relevant population aged 15 years and over.

Non face-to-face threatened assault

An estimated 0.7% of persons (156,300) experienced non face-to-face threatened assault, which was the same as the rate in 2021-22. Females (0.9%) experienced non face-to-face threatened assault at a higher rate than males (0.6%).

Type of non face-to-face threatened assault

Of those who experienced non face-to-face threatened assault, common methods of exposure were: 

  • SMS (44% or 68,300)
  • over the phone (43% or 67,700)
  • via instant messaging/social media (40% or 61,700)

Police reporting

Approximately 27% of persons (41,400) who experienced non face-to-face threatened assault reported the most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (32%). The reporting rate was similar for males (30%) and females (25%).

Robbery

An estimated 0.2% of persons (51,700) experienced robbery, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (0.3%). 

Police reporting

Approximately 48% of persons (24,700) who experienced robbery reported their most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (45%). 

Other characteristics of the most recent incident

In the most recent incident of robbery:

  • the location was most often non-residential (76% or 39,400) 
  • the majority of incidents did not involve the use of a weapon (86% or 44,200)
  • no property was stolen in 57% of incidents (29,600)

Sexual assault

An estimated 0.5% of persons aged 18 years and over (89,100) experienced sexual assault, which was the same as the rate in 2021-22. 

Female experiences of sexual assault

Estimates for male experiences are subject to high sampling error (for further details on sampling error refer to the Methodology page). For this reason, only information on females’ experiences of sexual assault is included here.

In 2022-23, 0.7% of females aged 18 years and over (65,600) experienced sexual assault, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (0.9%). 

The rate of sexual assault was higher for females aged 18 to 29 years (2.3%) compared with the national rate for all females (0.7%).

Break-in

An estimated 1.8% of households (185,300) experienced a break-in, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (2.0%). The majority of these households experienced a single incident (80% or 147,400).

Police reporting

Approximately 74% of households (136,500) that experienced a break-in reported the most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (72%). Common reasons for not reporting the incident include:

  • Thinking it was too trivial or unimportant (9.8% or 18,100)
  • Thinking there was nothing police could do (7.1% or 13,100)

Other characteristics of the most recent incident

During the most recent incident:

  • 69% of households had something stolen (128,100)
  • 48% of households had property damaged (88,100)
  • 12% of households had the perpetrator confront someone (21,500)

Types of property stolen during the most recent incident

Common types of property stolen include:

  • Personal items, such as jewellery and clothing (26% or 47,700)
  • Money, purse or wallet (17% or 31,900)
  • Tools (17% or 30,700)
  • Bicycles or sporting equipment (13% or 24,500)

Attempted break-in

An estimated 1.9% of households (194,700) experienced an attempted break-in, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (2.0%). The majority of these households experienced a single incident (74% or 144,900).

The following households were more likely to experience an attempted break-in:

  • Households outside of capital cities (2.4%) compared with households in capital cities (1.7%)
  • Households in an area in the lowest quintile (most disadvantaged) of the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage (2.5%) compared with households in the highest quintile (1.6%)

Police reporting

Approximately 46% of households (90,000) that experienced an attempted break-in reported the most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (43%). Common reasons for not reporting to the police include:

  • Thinking it was too trivial or unimportant (22% or 43,700)
  • Thinking there was nothing police could do (15% or 29,600)

Evidence of the most recent incident

The most common types of evidence of an attempted break-in include:

  • A door or window was damaged or tampered with (37% or 72,400)
  • Someone being seen or heard trying to break-in (28% or 55,300)

Motor vehicle theft

An estimated 0.5% of households (54,700) had a motor vehicle stolen in 2022-23, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (0.6%). The majority of these households experienced a single incident (99% or 54,000).

Police reporting

Approximately 86% of households (47,000) that had a motor vehicle stolen reported the most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (94%).

Location of the most recent incident

Common locations where the motor vehicle was stolen include:

  • The person's or another person’s home (59% or 32,300)
  • In the street or other open land (29% or 15,600)

Theft from a motor vehicle

An estimated 2.2% of households (219,100) experienced theft from a motor vehicle, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (2.4%). The majority of these households experienced a single incident (86% or 188,500).

The following households were more likely to experience theft from a motor vehicle:

  • Households in capital cities (2.4%) compared with households outside of capital cities (1.8%)
  • Households in an area in the highest quintile (most advantaged) of the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage (2.6%) compared with households in the lowest quintile (1.8%)

Police reporting

Approximately 53% of households (116,200) that experienced theft from a motor vehicle reported the most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (54%).

Common reasons for not reporting to the police include:

  • Thinking it was too trivial or unimportant (29% or 63,300)
  • Thinking there was nothing police could do (12% or 25,300)

Location of the most recent incident

Common locations where the incident occurred include:

  • The person’s home (73% or 160,300)
  • In the street or other open land (11% or 23,700)

Types of property stolen during the most recent incident

Common types of property stolen include:

  • Money, purse or wallet (43% or 94,200)
  • Personal items, such as jewellery and clothing (36% or 79,600)
  • Motor vehicle parts (18% or 38,300)
  • Personal electronic equipment, such as a smartphone, smart watch or laptop (12% or 26,200)

Malicious property damage

An estimated 3.7% of households (367,900) experienced malicious property damage, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (3.8%). The majority of these households experienced a single incident (82% or 300,200).

Households in an area in the lowest quintile (most disadvantaged) of the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage (4.6%) were more likely to experience malicious property damage compared with households in the highest quintile (3.3%).

Police reporting

Approximately 52% of households (189,800) that experienced malicious property damage reported the most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (49%).

Common reasons for not reporting to police include:

  • Thinking it was too trivial or unimportant (22% or 81,800)
  • Thinking there was nothing the police could do (13% or 47,000)

Types of property damaged during the most recent incident

Common types of property damaged, defaced or destroyed during the incident include:

  • A car or other motor vehicle (25% or 93,300)
  • External doors (25% or 92,900)
  • Other exterior items, such as walls, fences and letterboxes (28% or 103,300)

Other theft

An estimated 1.9% of households (186,300) experienced other theft, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (2.0%). The majority of these households experienced a single incident (80% or 148,200).

Police reporting

Approximately 36% of households (67,800) that experienced other theft reported the most recent incident to the police, which was similar to the rate in 2021-22 (32%).

Common reasons for not reporting to police include:

  • Thinking it was too trivial or unimportant (34% or 63,100)
  • Thinking there was nothing police could do (14% or 25,900)

Location of the most recent incident

Common locations where the incident occurred include:

  • The person’s home (60% or 112,000)
  • Place of work (10% or 19,200)
  • In the street or other open land (6.0% or 11,100)

Types of property stolen during the most recent incident

Common types of property stolen include:

  • Personal items, such as jewellery and clothing (21% or 38,600)
  • Bicycles or sporting equipment (20% or 37,500)
  • Outdoor or garden items (19% or 35,400)
  • Money, purse or wallet (17% or 30,700)

State and territory statistics

The state and territory statistics discussed in the following commentary have been obtained by pooling data across consecutive survey iterations to improve the reliability of estimates at the state/territory level.

The pooled estimates can be understood as an annual average of the estimates from multiple survey years. The survey enumeration periods contributing to each pooled estimate are indicated by the label of the pooled period. For instance, the 2021-23 pooled period is an average of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 surveys, spanning from July 2021 to June 2023.

While a pooled period spans multiple survey years, the data represents the average annual rate/estimate for those years, not the total number of victims over the 24-month period. For example, the estimated 92,700 victims of physical assault in New South Wales for the 2021-23 reference period refers to the average number of persons who experienced physical assault in the 12 months prior to the interview, conducted during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 reference periods.

Data are pooled across two consecutive survey years for all crime types except for sexual assault, where three years have been used. Pooled sexual assault and robbery data are not referred to in the commentary but are available in Tables 27 to 29 from the data downloads.

For more information refer to the Methodology.

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Tasmania

Northern Territory

Australian Capital Territory

Data downloads

National summary and time series (Tables 1a-8d)

2022-23 National summary statistics.
Victimisation rates and police reporting rates, annual time series from 2008-09.
Assault victimisation rates from 2021-22, by relationship to all perpetrators. 
Contribution of alcohol or other substances to most recent assault, annual time series from 2010-11.

Data files
Download xlsx [220.99 KB]

Personal crime (Tables 9a-18b)

Socio-demographic characteristics of victims of personal crime, multiple victimisation and characteristics of the most recent incident.

Data files
Download xlsx [160.86 KB]

Household crimes (Tables 19a-26b)

Household characteristics of victims of household crime, multiple victimisation and characteristics of the most recent incident.

Data files
Download xlsx [122.7 KB]

State and territory time series, pooled data (Tables 27a-31d)

State/territory victimisation rates and police reporting rates, pooled time series from 2008-10.

Data files
Download xlsx [196.24 KB]

State and territory times series, single year data (Tables 32a-35d)

State/territory victimisation rates and police reporting rates, annual time series from 2008-09.

Data files
Download xlsx [174.61 KB]

Data item list

List of data items collected in the survey.

Data files
Download xlsx [237.51 KB]

All data downloads

All Crime Victimisation, Australia 2022-23 data download files.

Data files
Download zip [800.06 KB]

Methodology

Scope

People aged 15 years and over who were usual residents of private dwellings.

Excludes:

  • Australian permanent defence force members and their dependants
  • non-Australian defence forces
  • residents of the Indigenous Community Strata.

Geography

Data available for:

  • Australia
  • States and territories.

Source

Multipurpose Household Survey

Collection method

Interviews were conducted by telephone with responses directly recorded in an electronic questionnaire.

Proxy interviews were permissible under certain circumstances.

Concepts, sources and methods

Not applicable to this release

History of changes

For the 2022-23 survey, questions about experiences of sexual assault, and the involvement of alcohol and other substances in assault, were not asked in proxy interviews.

See Comparing the data for more detail.

View full methodology

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