Homicide Rate by Country
The homicide rate measures the number of intentional homicides per 100,000 people in a country's population. It is a key indicator of public safety and violent crime, compiled by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and published through the World Bank World Development Indicators dataset. The dataset covers 149 countries and territories, with observations from 2018 to 2023.
Saint Kitts and Nevis recorded the highest homicide rate in 2023 at 64.2 per 100,000 people. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ranked second with 51.3, followed by Jamaica (49.4), Ecuador (45.7), and Haiti (41.2). Saint Lucia (39.0), Honduras (31.4), Dominica (27.1), Colombia (24.9), and Mexico (24.9) complete the top ten. High homicide rates are particularly common in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the 83 countries and territories with 2023 data, 21 record a homicide rate of 10 per 100,000 people or more, and 11 record a rate of 20 or more. At the other end of the ranking, Oman and Singapore both record the lowest homicide rate at 0.1 per 100,000 people, followed by Japan (0.2), Hong Kong (0.4), and South Korea (0.5). Among selected major economies, Mexico records the highest rate at 24.9 per 100,000 people, above Brazil (19.3), Argentina (4.5), and the United States (5.8). Japan (0.2) and South Korea (0.5) record the lowest rates among major economies, while Germany records 0.9, France 1.3, Italy 0.6, and Spain 0.7. In the Americas, most of the highest rates in the world are recorded. The highest levels in 2023 are in the Caribbean: Saint Kitts and Nevis (64.2), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (51.3), Jamaica (49.4), and Saint Lucia (39.0). In mainland Latin America, Ecuador (45.7), Haiti (41.2), Honduras (31.4), Colombia (24.9), and Mexico (24.9) record the highest rates, while Canada (2.0) and the United States (5.8) record some of the lowest rates in the region. In Europe, homicide rates are the lowest in the world, mostly below one per 100,000 people: Italy (0.6), Switzerland (0.6), Slovenia (0.6), Malta (0.6), and Spain (0.7) record the lowest rates, while Türkiye (3.2) records the highest rate among European countries with available 2023 data. In Asia, Japan (0.2), Singapore (0.1), Hong Kong (0.4), and South Korea (0.5) record very low rates. In Africa, the highest rate in the dataset is recorded in Nigeria (15.7), while data coverage for the region is limited. Ecuador recorded the largest increase between 2018 and 2023, rising from 5.8 to 45.7 per 100,000 people, up 39.9 points. Haiti recorded the second largest increase (6.8 to 41.2, up 34.4 points), followed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (32.4 to 51.3, up 18.9 points) and Saint Lucia (20.9 to 39.0, up 18.1 points). Brazil recorded the largest decline, falling from 27.2 to 19.3 per 100,000 people, down 7.9 points, followed by Honduras (38.0 to 31.4, down 6.6 points), Puerto Rico (20.2 to 14.6, down 5.6 points), and Guatemala (28.9 to 23.4, down 5.5 points). The statistics are based on the World Bank World Development Indicators dataset, indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5 (Intentional homicides, per 100,000 people). The data source is the UNODC Research - Data Portal for Intentional Homicide, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The main comparison uses 2023 data where available, covering 83 of the 149 countries and territories in the dataset. For countries without a 2023 observation, the latest available year is noted where relevant, but earlier years are not substituted for missing 2023 values in the ranking. Values are expressed as homicides per 100,000 people. Missing observations are treated as missing, not as zero.Countries With the Highest Homicide Rate in 2023
Homicide Rate by Country
Homicide Rate Around the World
Largest Changes in Homicide Rate, 2018–2023
Homicide Rate by Country
#
1
53.8
38.5
21.5
17.3
7.9
-
2
48.9
25.6
21.3
29.9
23.5
64.2
3
45.7
47.5
47.1
51.9
53.1
49.4
4
-
41
29.5
19.3
12.6
-
5
38
41
35.7
38.2
35
31.4
6
37.6
34.7
26.1
31.6
28.1
-
7
35.9
35.8
33
40.9
43.7
-
8
35.2
36.3
26.9
30.1
40.4
-
9
32.4
18.2
31.9
31.1
41.2
51.3
10
-
30.1
51.8
30.9
76.3
-
11
29.4
29.2
29
28
25.9
24.9
12
28.9
25.9
18.2
20.2
22
23.4
13
27.2
21.2
21.8
20.5
20.1
19.3
14
25.5
-
-
-
-
-
15
23.8
23.4
22.6
25.6
24.9
24.9
16
23.2
24.1
18.4
30
32.2
-
17
-
21.1
-
-
-
15.7
18
20.9
25.9
29.2
39.2
36.9
39
19
20.2
19.3
17
19.4
17.6
14.6
20
19.1
19.2
22.2
14.9
28.4
27.1
21
18.5
12
11.1
11.2
-
-
22
14
16.8
19.4
16.1
15.9
19.1
23
13.2
3.3
9.8
17.3
10.8
10.7
24
-
-
-
12.5
-
-
25
12.4
11.6
10
9
11.3
11.2
26
11.8
11.3
11.3
11.6
12.9
17.7
27
11.2
-
-
-
-
-
28
10.8
11
10
8.5
8.8
9
29
10.7
7.9
-
11.3
-
-
30
10.6
3
4.4
-
-
-
31
10.4
13.8
12
4.3
6.8
13.7
32
10
17.1
14.6
11.3
15.2
7.4
33
9.9
9.4
8.7
10.5
12.4
10.9
34
9.6
11.3
11.6
12.7
11.3
11.7
35
9.5
0.9
-
-
-
-
36
-
-
9.3
11.4
-
-
37
8.2
7.6
7.3
6.8
-
-
38
7.8
-
10.9
10.8
13.9
6.2
39
7.8
8.5
7.5
4.1
8
-
40
7.7
8.5
7.3
7.9
7.6
6.8
41
7.7
7.3
5.8
8.6
-
-
42
6.8
-
11.4
14.2
19
41.2
43
6.7
7.2
6.6
4
-
-
44
6.3
-
-
-
-
-
45
6.3
5
9
5.7
7.2
6.5
46
6.2
6.3
6.2
6.2
6
5.9
47
6
6.4
7
-
-
-
48
5.8
6.8
7.8
14.1
27.4
45.7
49
5.3
5.1
5.4
4.6
4.3
4.5
50
5.3
3.9
3
2.2
2.5
2.5
51
5.2
4.3
-
-
-
4.3
52
5
4.3
3.6
3.5
4
4.4
53
4.9
4.9
6.4
6.8
6.5
5.8
54
4.9
5.2
5
6.2
6.8
-
55
4.8
4.6
3.7
-
-
-
56
-
4.8
4.7
-
-
-
57
-
-
4.6
-
6.8
-
58
4.4
4.8
5.8
4.7
6.8
6.3
59
4.4
4.5
-
-
-
-
60
4.4
3.4
3.7
3
3.6
2.5
61
4.4
4
3.8
3.8
-
-
62
-
4.3
-
-
-
-
63
3.6
3.5
3.6
3.8
4.1
4.3
64
3.3
3.4
3.6
2.6
2.4
2.6
65
-
-
3.1
2.8
2.6
-
66
3.1
3.1
3.6
5.3
4.9
-
67
-
-
3
1.7
3.9
2.1
68
3
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.8
-
69
2.9
2.2
1.7
-
-
-
70
2.9
3.1
2.2
-
-
-
71
2.9
2.1
2.7
2.7
2.3
-
72
2.8
2.9
3
28.7
3.9
2.6
73
-
-
2.6
-
-
-
74
2.6
2.6
2.6
5.1
-
-
75
2.6
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.6
3.2
76
2.5
1.4
2.1
1.9
-
-
77
2.4
2.4
-
-
-
-
78
2.3
2.3
2.1
2.3
1.7
1.4
79
2.3
-
-
-
-
-
80
2.3
2
-
-
-
-
81
2.3
3.8
3
2.5
2.6
0.8
82
2.3
2
2.1
-
-
-
83
2.3
3.2
3.6
-
-
-
84
2.3
3.3
-
-
-
-
85
-
-
2.2
-
-
-
86
2.1
2
3.2
2
1.5
1.5
87
2
1.7
2.2
1.7
1.8
2.2
88
1.8
1.8
2
2.1
2.3
2
89
1.7
2.5
2.6
3.1
2.7
2.2
90
1.7
1
1.4
0.4
1.5
0.6
91
1.6
1.5
1.8
1.3
1.2
1
92
1.6
1.8
1.7
1.9
1.8
-
93
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.9
1.6
-
94
1.5
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.3
95
1.5
1.2
1.3
1.4
-
-
96
1.4
2.8
2.9
1.9
1.7
1.7
97
1.3
1.2
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.2
98
1.3
1.2
1
1.3
1.1
1.1
99
1.3
1.2
0.6
0.8
1
1.5
100
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.1
101
1.2
1
2.5
-
-
-
102
1.2
1.3
1.3
1
1.1
1.2
103
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
0.6
0.8
104
1.2
1.1
1
-
-
-
105
1.2
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
1.1
106
-
-
-
1.1
-
-
107
1.1
1.1
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
108
1.1
2.3
1
1.2
1.5
-
109
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.1
110
1.1
1.2
0.9
1.1
-
-
111
1
0.9
0.7
0.7
0.9
0.9
112
1
0.9
0.8
0.6
1
0.8
113
1
0.9
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
114
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.7
0.8
0.9
115
-
0.9
0.7
0.4
0.8
0.8
116
0.9
0.7
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.9
117
0.9
0.7
0.7
0.8
1.1
0.8
118
0.9
0.7
0.8
0.8
1
0.7
119
0.9
0.3
1.4
0.5
1.1
1.3
120
0.9
1.1
1
1
1.1
1
121
0.9
0.4
0.2
-
-
-
122
-
0.9
-
-
-
-
123
-
-
0.9
-
-
-
124
0.8
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.9
0.7
125
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.7
-
126
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.8
127
0.7
0.9
-
-
-
-
128
-
0.7
0.7
0.4
0.7
-
129
-
0.7
0.3
-
-
-
130
0.6
0.8
1
0.8
0.8
0.7
131
0.6
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.4
132
0.6
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.6
133
-
0.6
-
-
-
-
134
0.6
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.7
135
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.5
0.5
0.5
136
0.6
0.7
0.7
0.6
0.7
0.7
137
0.6
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.6
138
0.5
0.5
0.5
-
-
-
139
0.5
0.6
0.5
0.6
1.5
-
140
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.5
0.5
0.7
141
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.7
0.6
-
142
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.1
-
143
0.4
0.7
0.5
0.4
0.6
0.6
144
0.3
0.3
-
0.1
0.2
-
145
-
-
-
-
0.3
-
146
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
147
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.6
148
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.1
149
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the highest homicide rate?
Saint Kitts and Nevis recorded the highest homicide rate in 2023 at 64.2 per 100,000 people, followed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (51.3) and Jamaica (49.4).
How many countries are included in the dataset?
The dataset includes 149 countries and territories, and 83 of them record data for 2023.
What does this indicator measure?
It measures the number of intentional homicides per 100,000 people in a country's population, based on UNODC data.
Which country has the lowest homicide rate?
Oman and Singapore both recorded the lowest homicide rate in 2023 at 0.1 per 100,000 people, followed by Japan (0.2).
Do these figures include estimates?
The data for each country may reflect the latest available year and are compiled by UNODC from national sources.
Data Disclaimer: Projected data (future years) are estimates based on mathematical models. Actual values may differ. Learn about our methodology →
Sources
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Updated: 08.08.2026https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/VC.IHR.PSRC.P5
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Updated: 08.08.2026https://dataunode.un.org/dp-intentional-homicides
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