Fact check: Stockholm is not as safe as Shanghai?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses present conflicting evidence regarding whether Stockholm is safer than Shanghai. The data reveals significant discrepancies depending on the source and methodology used:

Evidence supporting Stockholm as safer:

• The 2025 Safety Index by Global Residence Index shows Stockholm with a safety index of 0.78 compared to Shanghai's 0.72 ^[1]
• Sweden recorded its lowest number of homicides in a decade in 2024, with only 92 cases ^[2]

Evidence supporting Shanghai as safer:

• Crime comparison data shows China's crime index at 23.38 versus Sweden's 48.06, with China's safety scale at 76.62 compared to Sweden's 51.94 ^[3]
• The Current Safety Index by City indicates Shanghai has a safety index of 71.3 while Stockholm has 53.8 ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about Sweden's ongoing gang violence crisis. The analyses reveal that gangland shootings and bombings have spread to quieter suburbs and towns in Sweden, including areas near Stockholm ^[5]. Additionally, Sweden has one of the highest firearm-related death rates in Europe, with a particular rise in gang crime among young people ^[6].

The comparison also fails to account for different measurement methodologies used by various safety indices. Some sources focus on general crime statistics, while others may emphasize specific types of violence or overall perception of safety.

Missing geographical specificity is another critical gap - while some data compares entire countries (China vs. Sweden), the question specifically asks about two cities, which may have different safety profiles than their respective nations.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement appears to be framed as a leading question rather than a neutral inquiry, potentially suggesting an assumption that Stockholm is indeed less safe than Shanghai. This framing could influence how people interpret the available data.

The statement also lacks temporal context - safety conditions change over time, and without specifying a timeframe, the comparison becomes less meaningful. The analyses show that Sweden's homicide rates have actually decreased recently ^[2], while simultaneously revealing ongoing concerns about gang violence ^{[5] [6]}.

Potential bias in data sources should also be considered, as different organizations may use varying criteria for measuring safety, and some indices may not include comprehensive data for both cities (p3_s2 notes that Shanghai is not included in certain rankings).