Crime Rates and Development in Africa: Empirical Analysis of Data from Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania

• NCJ Number: 108077
• Journal: Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (July 1987) Pages: 107-120
• Author(s): B O Owomero
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey (Cross-Cultural)
• Language: English
• Country: India

Annotation

This paper analyzes crime date for three African countries -- Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania -- for a 20-year period (1960-79) to assess the relationship between crime rates and development variables.

Abstract

The data covered all property and personal crime, excluding only traffic offenses. Crime categories in all three countries were similar, a product of a common British colonial legal heritage. Development variables included GNP per capita, unemployment, consumer price index, percent urban population, primary school enrollment, and government expenditures on social services. The results for Nigeria indicated that GNP per capita, consumer price index, and urbanization were positively and consistently associated with personal and property crime rates. For Kenya, only the employment rate was positively associated with the crime rate. Most developmental indicators were negatively associated with crime rates in Tanzania; only percentage expenditure on social services registered a positive association. Tables, footnotes, and 29 references.