Homicides

Table of contents

• Definition
• Statistics
• Global distribution of homicides
• Homicide data for each country
• Ranking by country

Definition

Intentional homicides are estimates of unlawful homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.

source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s International Homicide Statistics database.

More than 400,000 people die from homicide each year

Statistics

According to the World Health Organization, more than 475,000 people die by homicide in the world in 2012, making homicide, therefore the 4th most important cause of mortality in people aged between 15 and 44 years.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in 95% of the homicide in 2012, a man was the author of the crime. Men represent also 80% of the victims.

When the homicides are in the context of domestic violence, which accounts for 15% of the total, 70% of the victims are women. Unlike women who are at greater risk of being killed by acquaintances, men are mostly killed by strangers. One in seven murders committed in the world is that of a very young man.

The World Health Organization also indicates that the homicide rate fell by 16% worldwide between 2000 and 2012 and that in average one in two homicides is carried out by firearm.

Global distribution of homicides (per 100,000 people)

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Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s International Homicide Statistics database.

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The highest homicide rate in the world in 2018 was in El Salvador, with 52 homicides per 100,000 people. Most of these murders are due to gang crimes.

Homicide data for each country (per 100,000 people)

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Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s International Homicide Statistics database.

Ranking by country