Uruguay presents the half-yearly results of the Victimization Module in the ECH Main Results.
Uruguay presents the half-yearly results of the Victimization Module in the ECH Main Results
Since 2024, Uruguay's National Institute of Statistics (INE) has been measuring victimization every six months in the Continuous Household Survey (ECH). The survey systematically captures the population's experience of crime and their perception of insecurity, providing essential evidence for strengthening prevention policies and building safer and more resilient communities.
The results for the first half of 2025 show a decrease in the levels of victimization recorded in Uruguay. During this period, 4.3% of households reported having experienced at least one of the crimes asked about in the last month, representing a decrease from the 5.2% observed in the second half of 2024. The trend is also reflected at the individual level: 3.0% of people aged 14 and over reported having been victims of crime, down from 3.6% in the previous survey.
In terms of access to justice, progress has been observed in reporting levels. More than 31% of criminal incidents were formally reported, and almost 40% of incidents were reported to the police, suggesting a gradual increase in trust in the institutions responsible for public safety and victim care.
Regarding the perception of security, 59.3% of the population said they felt safe or very safe walking alone at night in their neighborhood, a level similar to that at the end of 2024. However, significant differences persist between sociodemographic groups: women continue to report higher levels of insecurity than men, highlighting the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into the analysis of citizen security and the design of interventions.
The data indicate that insecurity affects specific populations differently, particularly women, who report greater fear when traveling alone at night. These gaps reaffirm the importance of strengthening gender-focused policies and continuing to monitor the differential experience of victimization and perception of safety.
Background, coverage, and methodology
The Victimization Module in the Continuous Household Survey (ECH) is the result of a joint effort by Uruguay's National Statistics Office and Ministry of the Interior. Its design received technical assistance from the UNODC-INEGI Center of Excellence to align it with the Initiative for the Survey of Crime Victimization in Latin America and the Caribbean (VICLAC), ensuring regional comparability and international standards in the measurement of experiences of victimization, reporting, and perceptions of security. In this way, this module strengthens the generation of information for monitoring Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions.
The first report corresponds to the second half of 2024, marking the beginning of a new continuous statistical series. This semi-annual schedule will continue to be implemented in order to maintain sustained and up-to-date monitoring of victimization and perceptions of security in the country.
The national module is applied in a panel format as part of the Continuous Household Survey, which interviews people aged 14 and over in urban and rural areas. The instrument captures both crimes against households and incidents affecting individuals.
In the household sphere, this includes vehicle theft (cars, vans, trucks, or motorcycles), theft of items from within the vehicle (such as phones, wallets, backpacks, laptops, among others), and burglary. With regard to crimes that directly affect individuals, the survey records thefts occurring outside the home—in places such as streets, public transportation, taxis, banks, ATMs, restaurants, schools, workplaces, or any other public or private space other than the home—as well as scams, which may occur in person, by telephone, or via the internet, excluding bank fraud. The thefts covered may have occurred with or without violence. It is therefore a limited measure of victimization, but one that allows for rapid measurement.
Furthermore, by measuring both reported and unreported crimes, and by capturing perceptions of safety, this tool complements police and administrative statistics, providing a more comprehensive view of crime from the perspective of citizens.
With the implementation of this module aligned with VICLAC, Uruguay joins the group of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that produce standardized information on victimization and citizen security. The continuity of biannual publications will make it possible to evaluate the evolution of indicators and strengthen the monitoring of SDG 16, in addition to supporting the formulation and adjustment of evidence-based policies.
For more information, see:
The INE website of Uruguay:
The Victimization Atlas of the UNODC-INEGI Center of Excellence.
https://www.cdeunodc.inegi.org.mx/unodc/index.php/mapa-2/index.htm