In 2022, an estimated 458,000 people were killed by intentional homicide worldwide, yet the global homicide rate was lower than earlier years, standing at 5.8 per 100,000 in 2021. The patterns behind those figures are uneven and often startling, from firearms dominating worldwide and in the United States to sharp, family driven risks for the youngest children.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, an estimated 458,000 people were victims of intentional homicide worldwide according to UNODC data
- The global homicide rate stood at 5.8 per 100,000 population in 2021, down from 6.2 in 2017 per UNODC
- Firearms were used in 44% of global homicides in 2017, the highest proportion among weapon types per UNODC
- Firearms used in 50% of global homicides per Small Arms Survey 2018
- Sharp objects (knives) 20% of homicides worldwide per UNODC 2019
- US: Guns in 77% of all homicides 2022 per FBI
- In 2022, El Salvador's homicide rate dropped to 2.4 per 100,000 from 105 in 2015 per official data
- Jamaica recorded 1,024 homicides in 2022, rate 37.7 per 100,000 per JCF
- Venezuela estimated 45 homicides per 100,000 in 2021 per Observatorio Venezolano
- In the US, 54% of perpetrators in homicides are male aged 18-34 per FBI 2022
- Black offenders 53% of known US homicide perpetrators despite 13% population per FBI 2022
- 90% of US female homicide victims killed by males per Bureau of Justice Statistics
- Latin America & Caribbean homicide rate 17.2 per 100,000 in 2022 per InSight Crime
- Central America averaged 25 homicides per 100,000 from 2015-2022 per UNODC
- Caribbean homicide rate peaked at 29.7 per 100,000 in 2017 per UNODC
Homicide has fallen globally, yet guns remain the leading cause and rates stay highest in parts of Latin America.
Related reading
01 · Category
Global Homicide Rates30 stats
01
In 2022, an estimated 458,000 people were victims of intentional homicide worldwide according to UNODC data
02
The global homicide rate stood at 5.8 per 100,000 population in 2021, down from 6.2 in 2017 per UNODC
03
Firearms were used in 44% of global homicides in 2017, the highest proportion among weapon types per UNODC
04
Between 2010 and 2020, the global homicide rate decreased by 11% from 6.5 to 5.8 per 100,000 per WHO estimates
05
In 2019, 82% of global homicide victims were men, predominantly aged 15-29 years old per UNODC
06
Organized crime and gangs accounted for 19% of homicides worldwide in 2017 per UNODC Global Study
07
Interpersonal violence caused 140,000 deaths globally in 2019 per WHO Global Health Estimates
08
The homicide rate in low-income countries was 9.6 per 100,000 in 2019, over three times higher than high-income countries at 2.9 per IHME
09
Globally, 55% of female homicides in 2017 were committed by intimate partners or family members per UNODC
10
From 2004-2019, Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest regional homicide rate averaging 21.5 per 100,000 per UNODC
11
Africa recorded 171,000 homicides in 2017, with a rate of 13.0 per 100,000 per UNODC
12
Asia had the lowest global homicide rate in 2021 at 2.3 per 100,000 population per UNODC preliminary data
13
Europe saw 4,600 homicides in 2022, rate of 3.0 per 100,000 per UNODC and Eurostat
14
Oceania's homicide rate was 2.8 per 100,000 in 2018, with 500 victims per UNODC
15
Northern America had 25,000 homicides in 2019, rate of 6.5 per 100,000 per UNODC
16
Globally, 6% of homicides were linked to robbery in 2017 per UNODC
17
The UNODC estimates 250,000 female homicide victims annually worldwide
18
Homicide is the fourth leading cause of death for males aged 15-44 globally per WHO
19
In 2020, COVID-19 lockdowns correlated with a 12% drop in global homicides per preliminary UNODC data
20
Small arms caused 250,000 homicide deaths globally in 2016 per Small Arms Survey
21
95% of homicide victims in conflict zones are civilians per UNODC 2023
22
Global homicide victimization rate for children under 15 was 1.2 per 100,000 in 2017 per UNODC
23
Women and girls account for 37% of global homicide victims per UNODC
24
Homicide rates in urban areas are 20% higher than rural globally per UNODC
25
Alcohol involvement in 30% of global homicides per WHO
26
50 million years of healthy life lost annually due to homicide globally per IHME
27
Homicide rate among indigenous populations globally 2-3 times higher per UNODC
28
Cyber-related motives in less than 1% of global homicides per UNODC 2023
29
Global homicide clearance rate averages 45% per UNODC
30
1 in 10 homicides worldwide are femicides per UNODC definition
Interpretation
Global Homicide Rates Interpretation
Global homicide rates under this Global Homicide Rates framing show a clear downward trend, falling from 6.5 to 5.8 per 100,000 between 2010 and 2020, even though violence remains deadly at scale with about 458,000 intentional homicide victims worldwide in 2022.
02 · Category
Methods And Causes24 stats
01
Firearms used in 50% of global homicides per Small Arms Survey 2018
02
Sharp objects (knives) 20% of homicides worldwide per UNODC 2019
03
US: Guns in 77% of all homicides 2022 per FBI
04
Strangulation in 10% of female homicides globally per WHO
05
Organized crime motive 26% in Americas homicides per UNODC
06
Intimate partner/family 50% of female homicides per UNODC
07
Alcohol involved in 55% of US homicides per NIAAA
08
Gang-related 15% global, 35% in US per National Gang Center
09
Robbery motive 5-10% worldwide per UNODC
10
Drugs trafficking cause 20% Latin America homicides per UNODC
11
Blunt force 15% method in Europe per Eurostat
12
Poison rare, <1% globally per WHO
13
Arson in 2% of US homicides per NFPA
14
Domestic disputes 40% in Australia per AIC
15
Sexual assault motive 5% female victims per RAINN
16
Vehicle ramming <1% but rising per UNODC 2023
17
Child abuse 80% by beating/asphyxia per CDC
18
Workplace homicides 10% of US total per BLS
19
Honor killings 5,000 annually, Asia/ME per UN
20
Mass shootings 1% but high profile, 4+ victims US per Mother Jones
21
Beating 25% in Russia homicides per Rosstat
22
Femicide by gun 40% in Brazil per Ipea
23
Argument/dispute 45% motive US per FBI SHR
24
Narcotics use 25% perpetrators US per BJS
Interpretation
Methods And Causes Interpretation
Across Methods And Causes, the data shows that firearms drive half of global homicides, with sharp objects also accounting for 20%, while for women intimate partners and family make up 50% of female homicides and strangulation adds another 10%, meaning method and motive are tightly linked rather than random.
03 · Category
National Statistics21 stats
01
In 2022, El Salvador's homicide rate dropped to 2.4 per 100,000 from 105 in 2015 per official data
02
Jamaica recorded 1,024 homicides in 2022, rate 37.7 per 100,000 per JCF
03
Venezuela estimated 45 homicides per 100,000 in 2021 per Observatorio Venezolano
04
Honduras 35.1 per 100,000 in 2022 per official stats
05
Mexico 28.2 homicides per 100,000 in 2022 per INEGI
06
Brazil 22.4 per 100,000 in 2022, 47,508 homicides per Fórum Brasileiro
07
Colombia 25.5 per 100,000 in 2022 per Medicina Legal
08
South Africa 45 per 100,000 in 2022/23, 27,494 murders per SAPS
09
Nigeria estimated 20-30 per 100,000 in urban areas per various reports
10
United States 6.5 per 100,000 in 2022, 21,156 murders per FBI
11
Canada 1.97 per 100,000 in 2022, 778 homicides per StatsCan
12
United Kingdom 1.15 per 100,000 in 2022/23, 594 homicides per ONS
13
Germany 0.8 per 100,000 in 2022, 695 cases per Destatis
14
France 1.6 per 100,000 in 2022, 1,100 homicides per Ministry of Interior
15
Italy 0.55 per 100,000 in 2022 per ISTAT
16
Russia 4.7 per 100,000 in 2022 per Rosstat
17
India estimated 3.0 per 100,000, 29,193 murders in 2022 per NCRB
18
China 0.5 per 100,000 official rate in 2022 per MPS
19
Japan 0.25 per 100,000 in 2022, 306 homicides per NPA
20
Philippines 6.5 per 100,000 in 2022 per PNP
21
Thailand 2.6 per 100,000 in 2022 per Thai police stats
Interpretation
National Statistics Interpretation
Under National Statistics, homicide levels look dramatically uneven across countries, with El Salvador falling from 105 per 100,000 in 2015 to 2.4 in 2022 while Jamaica recorded 1,024 homicides in 2022 at a rate of 37.7 per 100,000 and Brazil reached 47,508 homicides in 2022 at 22.4 per 100,000.
More related reading
04 · Category
Perpetrator Demographics23 stats
01
In the US, 54% of perpetrators in homicides are male aged 18-34 per FBI 2022
02
Black offenders 53% of known US homicide perpetrators despite 13% population per FBI 2022
03
90% of US female homicide victims killed by males per Bureau of Justice Statistics
04
In Brazil, 95% of homicide perpetrators male, average age 29 per Fórum Brasileiro
05
Europe: 80% of suspects male, 60% under 40 per Eurostat 2022
06
South Africa: Repeat offenders 30% of murder perpetrators per SAPS
07
Mexico: Cartel members 70% of perpetrators in organized homicides per government data
08
US: Gang members commit 13% of homicides per National Gang Center
09
Russia: 40% of perpetrators intoxicated per Rosstat, mostly male 25-45
10
India: 50% of perpetrators known to victim, male family 20% per NCRB
11
UK: 75% of homicide suspects male per ONS 2023
12
Canada: Indigenous males overrepresented as perpetrators 2:1 ratio per StatsCan
13
Australia: 85% male suspects, 30% under 25 per ABS
14
France: Immigrants 25% of suspects vs 7% population per Ministry
15
Japan: 90% male perpetrators, aging trend average 45 years per NPA
16
Philippines: 80% of drug war killings by police per Human Rights Watch
17
Globally, 95% of perpetrators male per UNODC
18
US: White offenders 45% of known race in homicides per FBI
19
In intimate partner homicides, 80% female victims male perpetrators globally per WHO
20
South Africa: Youth gangs 40% of urban perpetrators under 25 per ISS
21
Mexico: 60% of perpetrators under 30 in femicides per INEGI
22
US serial killers 85% male white average age 35 at first kill per Radford University
23
Europe: Foreign nationals 30% of suspects in some countries per Eurostat
Interpretation
Perpetrator Demographics Interpretation
Across multiple regions, homicide perpetrators are overwhelmingly male and concentrated in younger age groups, with examples like 54% of US offenders being men aged 18 to 34 and 80% of European suspects male with 60% under 40, underscoring that perpetrator demographics are a key driver of homicide patterns.
05 · Category
Regional Statistics23 stats
01
Latin America & Caribbean homicide rate 17.2 per 100,000 in 2022 per InSight Crime
02
Central America averaged 25 homicides per 100,000 from 2015-2022 per UNODC
03
Caribbean homicide rate peaked at 29.7 per 100,000 in 2017 per UNODC
04
South America recorded 120,000 homicides in 2021 per regional aggregate data
05
Western Africa homicide rate 13.6 per 100,000 in 2019 per UNODC
06
Eastern Africa saw homicide rates rise 20% from 2010-2020 per UNODC
07
Middle Africa highest sub-regional rate at 14.2 per 100,000 in 2017 per UNODC
08
Southern Africa homicide rate 12.4 per 100,000, driven by South Africa per UNODC
09
Northern Africa 2.5 per 100,000 low rate in 2021 per UNODC
10
Western Asia homicide rate 2.4 per 100,000 in 2019 per UNODC
11
Central Asia averaged 3.1 homicides per 100,000 from 2015-2021 per UNODC
12
Southern Asia rate 3.0 per 100,000, 50,000 victims annually per UNODC
13
South-Eastern Asia 2.1 per 100,000 low rate per UNODC 2022
14
Eastern Asia homicide rate under 1.0 per 100,000 in 2021 per UNODC
15
Eastern Europe 4.5 per 100,000 in 2020 per Eurostat and UNODC
16
Western Europe homicide rate 0.9 per 100,000 in 2022 per Eurostat
17
Northern Europe 1.2 per 100,000 average 2018-2022 per UNODC
18
Southern Europe 0.8 per 100,000 low rate per Eurostat 2022
19
Northern America 6.8 per 100,000 in 2021 per UNODC
20
Central America & Caribbean 20.6 per 100,000 in 2022 per InSight Crime
21
Australia and New Zealand 0.8 per 100,000 in 2021 per ABS and Stats NZ
22
Sub-Saharan Africa overall 13.0 per 100,000 in 2019 per World Bank
23
Middle East and North Africa 2.6 per 100,000 average per UNODC
Interpretation
Regional Statistics Interpretation
Regional homicide patterns show persistent high and rising violence, with Latin America and the Caribbean at 17.2 homicides per 100,000 in 2022 and Central America averaging 25 per 100,000 from 2015 to 2022, while Eastern Africa increased its homicide rates by 20 percent between 2010 and 2020.
06 · Category
Victim Demographics28 stats
01
In the US, males aged 15-34 comprised 40% of homicide victims in 2022 per CDC
02
Black Americans faced a homicide rate of 29.0 per 100,000 in 2021 per CDC
03
Females represented 20% of US homicide victims in 2022, mostly intimate partner violence per FBI
04
Children under 5 years old: 56% of homicides by parents or family in US 2022 per CDC
05
US elderly (65+) homicide victimization rate 2.5 per 100,000 in 2021 per BJS
06
In Europe, 75% of homicide victims are male per Eurostat 2022
07
Immigrants 15% more likely to be homicide victims in EU per Eurostat
08
In Brazil, 90% of homicide victims male, 77% aged 15-29 per Fórum Brasileiro 2022
09
South Africa: 60% of female homicide victims killed by intimate partners per MRC
10
Mexico: Indigenous women homicide rate 10 per 100,000 vs national 4 per INEGI
11
Globally, 58% of child homicide victims under 5 killed by family per UNICEF
12
US urban areas: Black males 15-24 rate 103.8 per 100,000 in 2021 per CDC
13
Women over 60: 40% of homicides by family in UK per ONS
14
In Australia, Indigenous homicide victimization 7 times higher per ABS
15
Russia: Alcohol-related homicides 70% male victims aged 30-50 per Rosstat
16
India: 30% of female victims in dowry-related homicides per NCRB
17
Canada: Indigenous women 12 times higher homicide rate per StatsCan
18
France: Youth 15-24 25% of victims despite 12% population per INSEE
19
Japan: Elderly women 40% of female victims per NPA
20
In US, firearms used in 79% of Black male homicides aged 15-34 per CDC 2021
21
Globally, LGBTQ+ individuals 2-4 times higher homicide risk per UNODC
22
US Hispanics: Homicide rate 7.9 per 100,000 vs 3.3 whites in 2021 per CDC
23
In South Africa, 50% of victims under 35 years old per SAPS 2023
24
Europe: Stranger homicides 20% of total, higher for women per Eurostat
25
85% of US gang homicides victims are male youth per National Gang Center
26
In Mexico, journalists 4 times higher homicide rate per Article 19
27
US male victims 88% of total in 2022 per FBI UCR
28
Globally, 25% of female victims are girls under 15 per UNODC
Interpretation
Victim Demographics Interpretation
From a victim demographics perspective, homicide in 2022 disproportionately affects certain groups, including males aged 15 to 34 making up 40% of victims in the US and females accounting for 20% mostly tied to intimate partner violence, with children under 5 being involved in 56% of cases carried out by parents or family.
report visual · Key figures
Global homicide victimization: counts and rates
A large global homicide burden persists even as global homicide rates decline over time.
458,000
In 2022, an estimated 458,000 people were victims of intentional homicide worldwide according to UNODC data
100,000
The global homicide rate stood at 5.8 per 100,000 population in 2021, down from 6.2 in 2017 per UNODC
11%
Between 2010 and 2020, the global homicide rate decreased by 11% from 6.5 to 5.8 per 100,000 per WHO estimates
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Homicide Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/homicide-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Homicide Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/homicide-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Homicide Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/homicide-statistics.
Sources & references
51 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level