FIFE, Scotland - Residents of the Baltic states live in the most violent societies in Europe, according to latest figures from the World Health Organization.
The Baltics see the largest number of violent deaths per 100,000 residents. Latvia tops the table with 10.37 violent deaths, followed by Lithuania with 8.9 and Estonia with 8.85.
However, the large number of Balts currently residing in Ireland seem not to have taken their violent tendencies with them, as Ireland has the distinction of being Europe's safest country with 0.32 killings per 100,000 head of population.
The figures suggest that Eastern Europe in general is more violent than Western Europe. Ironically, the most violent place in Western Europe is Scotland (1.75 violent deaths per 100,000 of population) where the WHO Milestones 2007 conference which released the report wa taking place.
