Why Comparing Police Numbers Across Countries Is Misleading

America appears under-policed compared to European countries, which have more police per capita: France has a higher police-to-population ratio than the United States. France averages roughly 330 to 452 police officers per 100,000 residents (depending on whether specialized paramilitary forces like the Gendarmerie are included), whereas the US averages about 210 to 220 sworn officers per 100,000 residents. And shown below: But such apples-to-apples comparisons are non that useful. Police are not homogenous, nor are populations. Without controlling for key variables such as recidivism and deterrence–but also demographic and cultural differences–it’s unfounded to say America’s style of policing is sub-optimal compared to other countries that have more police per capita but different demographics. America having fewer police per capita is negated by better-armed police, longer sentences, better crime-solving ability, and deterrence. That is, given these variables, American policing…