Stockholm, Sweden — A recent claim comparing Malmö’s crime levels to those of Baghdad has been widely circulated, but experts and fact-checkers strongly dispute the comparison.
The assertion stems from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced database where users subjectively rate crime. It listed Malmö at 76th and Baghdad at 74th in its global rankings—creating the misleading impression of parity. However, Numbeo’s data is based on public perception and includes explicit disclaimers about its lack of scientific accuracy.
Fact-checking organizations have criticized the comparison, noting that accurate crime data shows Malmö is far safer than Baghdad, especially given the latter’s ongoing conflict-related violence.
More reputable assessments rank Malmö around 10th in most dangerous European cities, behind Marseille, Paris, and several UK cities—not at the top. An expert analysis from 2025 gave Malmö a moderate crime-environment score (56.7 out of 100), lower than some other major European cities.
Certain parts of Malmö, such as Rosengård, are designated as “particularly vulnerable areas” due to higher crime and social challenges. However, these localized issues do not reflect the reality across the entire city.
In contrast, Baghdad remains significantly more dangerous, grappling with insurgency, terrorism, and sustained violence—conditions not paralleled in Malmö.
While Malmö faces criminal and safety challenges, especially in specific districts, the claim equating it with Baghdad is unsubstantiated and sensational. A nuanced view reveals Malmö as a city with both strengths and areas in need of improvement—not a conflict zone.
