International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

A Statistical Analysis of the Relationship Between Unemployment and Crime in India (1992–2021)

The research paper titled “A Socio-Economic Study Between Unemployment and Crime in India (1992–2021)” analyzes the relationship between unemployment and crime using thirty years of secondary data. The study aims to understand whether changes in unemployment levels have a measurable impact on the rate of crime in India. Using statistical tools such as Karl Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression, the results show a very strong negative correlation (r = -0.96) between unemployment and crime rate, indicating that both variables move in opposite directions. The coefficient of determination (R² = 0.93) reveals that approximately 93% of the variation in crime rate can be explained by unemployment levels, making unemployment a major factor affecting crime trends. The regression analysis produced the equation: Crime Rate - 0.594 + 0.018 × Unemployment, showing that a unit increase in unemployment may still influence crime marginally. The relationship is statistically significant (p < 0.05) and reflects that while unemployment affects crime patterns, the impact varies with social and economic conditions. The findings conclude that unemployment and crime in India are strongly interconnected but inversely related, suggesting that social policies, policing, and economic growth influence the direction and strength of this relationship. The study highlights the importance of creating sustainable employment opportunities and strengthening socio-economic stability to minimize crime levels. Keywords: Unemployment, Crime Rate, Correlation, Regression, Socio-Economic Study, India (1992–2021)