More than half of the Brazilian population (58%) say that crime has increased in their city over the past 12 months. This perception of worsening public security is consistent across different demographic groups, including men and women, young and older adults, individuals from various income brackets, and those with different political preferences. The data comes from a Datafolha survey conducted between 1 to 3 April in 172 cities, with 3,054 respondents aged 16 and older. The margin of error is two percentage points in either direction.
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Increase in Crime
While the majority report an increase in crime, 1 in 4 respondents (25%) believe the situation has neither improved nor worsened in the past year. A smaller segment, 15%, says that crime has decreased, while 2% did not respond. The perception of worsening crime is higher among women, residents of metropolitan areas, and those living in the Southeast. It is comparatively lower in the North and Central-West regions and among those who support President Lula (PT).
In Capital Cities
Capital cities and surrounding metropolitan areas report the highest concern, with 66% of residents stating that crime has increased. Even in smaller cities, nearly half (51%) of respondents claim that security has worsened. Among men, 52% say crime has increased, while 19% say it has decreased. Among women, the perception of worsening is significantly higher, with 62% reporting an increase and only 12% a decrease.
São Paulo
Residents of São Paulo state report above-average concern. In municipalities across the state, 64% of respondents believe that crime has worsened over the past year, 26% think the situation remains unchanged, and only 8% perceive an improvement.
Income Ranges
Perception of increased crime is stronger at both ends of the income scale. Among those earning more than ten minimum wages, 64% say crime has increased, and 12% say it has decreased. However, the margin of error for this group is eight percentage points. Among individuals with household incomes below two minimum wages, 59% report worsening conditions and 16% report improvement. For those earning between five and ten minimum wages, perceptions are slightly more balanced: 50% say crime has worsened, 31% say it remained the same, and 16% believe it improved.
Cell Phone Theft
Datafolha also found that 1 in 10 Brazilians had their cell phone stolen within the last year. The South was the only region with below-average results—just 6% of respondents in that area reported phone theft. As with general crime perceptions, cell phone thefts are more prevalent in capital cities and metro regions and less common in rural areas.
Motorcycles
Eight in ten Brazilians say they are afraid of being robbed when a motorcycle approaches on the street. The majority (55%) report feeling very afraid, and 26% say they feel a little afraid. When asked about nine common scenarios—such as taking public transport or using a mobile phone in public—respondents consistently expressed greater fear than comfort. Waiting alone at a bus stop is the second most feared situation. Half of the population say they feel very afraid in this context, 23% feel a little afraid, and only 22% feel no fear. Seeing someone approach on a bicycle, stopping at a red light in a car, and waiting for a taxi or rideshare are also situations that evoke significant fear among most Brazilians. Forty percent or 4 in 10 people say these moments cause intense fear.
Analysis:
The recent Datafolha survey reinforces a critical point long observed by security professionals in Brazil: public perception of crime, particularly property crime, has significantly worsened—even as official statistics in some categories, such as homicides, show relative improvements. Particularly notable is the rise in concern among women, residents of metropolitan areas, and high-income earners—groups that often experience crime differently but are increasingly united by a shared sense of vulnerability.
This growing fear is not unfounded. The Brazilian Public Security Forum has pointed out, the impact of property crimes today is no longer limited to the immediate loss of goods. A stolen cell phone, for instance, now represents not only a hardware loss but also a breach of personal data, banking apps, and one’s digital identity. The psychological and financial damage is compounded by the growing sophistication of cyber-enabled fraud linked to physical theft. As such, a single criminal act may lead to cascading harm that affects the victim’s privacy, and overall sense of security.
