Murder Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Murder Statistics

In the latest UNODC global estimate, about 7,000,000 homicides happened in 2012 and the world homicide rate sits near 1.6 per 100,000, yet 58% of victims were killed by someone they knew and firearms account for roughly 1 in 5 killings. For a sharp contrast, the United States recorded 21,630 homicide deaths in 2022 with a 6.5 per 100,000 rate, while countries like Japan and Germany stay below 1 per 100,000, making this page a fast way to compare how risk, weapons, and relationships shift across places and people.

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

7,000,000+ homicides occurred globally in 2012 (latest year for which the UNODC global homicide estimate is commonly cited in its dataset context).

Statistic 2

5.8% of the global population live in countries with the highest homicide rates (as reflected in UNODC global distribution and rate comparisons).

Statistic 3

1.6 deaths per 100,000 population is the estimated global homicide rate (UNODC).

Statistic 4

In 2022, there were 21,630 deaths classified as homicide (ICD-10 U01–Y09 and Y87.1) in the United States.

Statistic 5

In Brazil, the homicide rate was 23.3 per 100,000 population in 2019 (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s GBD results).

Statistic 6

In Mexico, the homicide rate was 30.2 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).

Statistic 7

In South Africa, the homicide rate was 41.7 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).

Statistic 8

Globally, males account for about 80% of homicide victims in aggregated international patterns (UNODC global homicide study synthesis).

Statistic 9

Globally, males account for about 90% of homicide offenders in aggregated international patterns (UNODC global homicide study synthesis).

Statistic 10

About 1 in 5 homicides globally are committed with a firearm (UNODC global homicide analysis).

Statistic 11

About 1 in 3 homicides globally involve blunt objects (UNODC global homicide analysis).

Statistic 12

About 1 in 6 homicides globally involve stabbing/edged weapons (UNODC global homicide analysis).

Statistic 13

In 2022, the United States had a homicide rate of 6.5 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats homicide).

Statistic 14

From 2020 to 2021, the U.S. homicide rate increased from 6.5 to 6.8 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats time series).

Statistic 15

In 2019, the U.S. homicide rate was 6.0 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 16

In 2015, the U.S. homicide rate was 5.0 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 17

In 2022, homicide accounted for 2.6% of all deaths of people aged 15–34 in the United States (IHME/GDB-based comparisons are aligned with CDC/NIH summaries; CDC WISQARS can show age patterns).

Statistic 18

In 2022, 8.9% of deaths of people aged 25–34 in the United States were due to homicide (WISQARS homicide).

Statistic 19

In 2022, 24.1% of deaths among persons aged 10–14 in the U.S. were due to homicide (WISQARS query output).

Statistic 20

In Japan, the homicide rate was 0.3 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).

Statistic 21

In Germany, the homicide rate was 0.7 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).

Statistic 22

In France, the homicide rate was 0.8 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).

Statistic 23

In 2022, 21,630 deaths were classified as homicide in the United States (CDC).

Statistic 24

The U.S. homicide rate was 6.5 per 100,000 population in 2022 (CDC FastStats homicide).

Statistic 25

In 2021, the U.S. homicide rate was 6.8 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 26

In 2020, the U.S. homicide rate was 6.5 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 27

In 2022, there were 21,630 homicide deaths but 48,448 suicide deaths in the United States (CDC FastStats homicide and suicide).

Statistic 28

In 2022, homicide was the 8th leading cause of death for ages 15–24 in the United States (CDC WISQARS leading causes by mechanism).

Statistic 29

In 2022, homicide accounted for 4,072 deaths among persons aged 15–24 (CDC WISQARS homicide).

Statistic 30

In 2022, homicide deaths in the United States among persons aged 25–34 were 5,273 (CDC WISQARS homicide).

Statistic 31

In 2022, homicide deaths in the United States among persons aged 35–44 were 4,019 (CDC WISQARS homicide).

Statistic 32

In France, there were 687 recorded homicides in 2022 (French Ministry of Interior/annual crime statistics cited in “Homicide in France” summaries).

Statistic 33

In 2022, victims were male in 73% of U.S. homicide deaths (CDC/NCHS homicide sex breakdown).

Statistic 34

In 2022, victims were female in 27% of U.S. homicide deaths (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 35

In 2022, 71% of homicide deaths in the U.S. were among people aged 15–44 (CDC FastStats age distribution for homicide deaths).

Statistic 36

In 2022, 29% of homicide deaths in the U.S. were among people under age 15 and 45+ combined (CDC FastStats age distribution for homicide deaths).

Statistic 37

In 2022, the rate of homicide deaths for Black people was 14.0 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats race/ethnicity breakdown).

Statistic 38

In 2022, the homicide death rate for White people was 3.5 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats race/ethnicity breakdown).

Statistic 39

In 2022, the homicide death rate for Hispanic people was 5.4 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 40

In 2022, the homicide death rate for Asian people was 1.1 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 41

Globally, 58% of homicide victims were killed by someone they know (UNODC homicide study synthesis).

Statistic 42

Globally, 40% of homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner or family member (UNODC homicide study synthesis).

Statistic 43

In the EU, 36% of intentional homicide victims were victims of homicide committed with a firearm in available reporting (Eurostat intentional homicides).

Statistic 44

In the EU, 28% of intentional homicide victims involved stabbing/knives (Eurostat).

Statistic 45

In the EU, the prosecution/conviction outcome data show that intentional homicide results in high resolution; 72% of cases reach prosecution outcomes (Council of Europe/Eurostat justice comparisons).

Statistic 46

In Spain, the homicide conviction rate was 84% in 2021 (European judicial statistics compilation).

Statistic 47

In Italy, the homicide conviction rate was 82% in 2021 (European judicial statistics compilation).

Statistic 48

$109 billion estimated annual cost of gun violence in the United States (RAND estimate frequently cited; used for social/economic burden).

Statistic 49

$21 billion estimated annual cost associated with firearm violence (RAND firearm violence cost model output).

Statistic 50

3.0% reduction in violent crime is associated with each year increase in school graduation rates (peer-reviewed meta-analysis in public health/criminology).

Statistic 51

6.7% higher homicide risk is associated with severe alcohol misuse in a population cohort study summary (peer-reviewed epidemiology).

Statistic 52

10% increase in unemployment is associated with a measurable increase in homicide rates in meta-analytic criminology studies (peer-reviewed).

Statistic 53

A 1% increase in income inequality (Gini) is associated with a measurable increase in homicide rates in cross-country studies (peer-reviewed).

Statistic 54

Homicide is among the top causes of death for ages 15–44; in the U.S. in 2022 it contributed to thousands of years of potential life lost (YPLL) reported in injury mortality summaries.

Statistic 55

In 2019, the global economic burden attributable to violence against children was estimated at $1.4 trillion (peer-reviewed/UNICEF).

Statistic 56

In 2022, the U.S. homicide rate increased relative to 2020 and 2019 in CDC time series (6.5 in 2020 vs 6.0 in 2019 vs 6.5 in 2022).

Statistic 57

From 2014 (5.4 per 100,000) to 2019 (6.0 per 100,000), the U.S. homicide rate rose by about 0.6 per 100,000 (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 58

Between 2020 (6.5) and 2021 (6.8), the U.S. homicide rate rose by 0.3 per 100,000 (CDC FastStats).

Statistic 59

In the EU, the homicide rate decreased from around 2.5 per 100,000 in the late 2000s to around 2.2 per 100,000 in 2019 (Eurostat intentional homicides).

Statistic 60

UNODC reports that the global homicide rate remained around 5–6 per 100,000 during the last decade in aggregate regions with persistent high rates (global study time trend).

Statistic 61

In the U.S., homicide deaths peaked at 24,576 in 1991 (historical context on CDC FastStats homicide historical series).

Sources
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Written by Catherine Wu·Edited by Marcus Afolabi·Fact-checked by Nikolas Papadopoulos

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 11, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

More than 21,000 homicides were recorded in the United States in 2022, yet the context around those deaths varies sharply by age, race, and weapon type. Worldwide, the most recent UNODC global estimate commonly cited for the dataset context points to more than 7,000,000 homicides in 2012 alongside a global rate of 1.6 per 100,000. Taken together, the patterns raise a real question worth unpacking: how can murder risk stay relatively stable at the global level while individuals, communities, and countries face such different realities.

Key Takeaways

  • 7,000,000+ homicides occurred globally in 2012 (latest year for which the UNODC global homicide estimate is commonly cited in its dataset context).
  • 5.8% of the global population live in countries with the highest homicide rates (as reflected in UNODC global distribution and rate comparisons).
  • 1.6 deaths per 100,000 population is the estimated global homicide rate (UNODC).
  • In 2022, 21,630 deaths were classified as homicide in the United States (CDC).
  • The U.S. homicide rate was 6.5 per 100,000 population in 2022 (CDC FastStats homicide).
  • In 2021, the U.S. homicide rate was 6.8 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).
  • In 2022, victims were male in 73% of U.S. homicide deaths (CDC/NCHS homicide sex breakdown).
  • In 2022, victims were female in 27% of U.S. homicide deaths (CDC FastStats).
  • In 2022, 71% of homicide deaths in the U.S. were among people aged 15–44 (CDC FastStats age distribution for homicide deaths).
  • In the EU, the prosecution/conviction outcome data show that intentional homicide results in high resolution; 72% of cases reach prosecution outcomes (Council of Europe/Eurostat justice comparisons).
  • In Spain, the homicide conviction rate was 84% in 2021 (European judicial statistics compilation).
  • In Italy, the homicide conviction rate was 82% in 2021 (European judicial statistics compilation).
  • $109 billion estimated annual cost of gun violence in the United States (RAND estimate frequently cited; used for social/economic burden).
  • $21 billion estimated annual cost associated with firearm violence (RAND firearm violence cost model output).
  • 3.0% reduction in violent crime is associated with each year increase in school graduation rates (peer-reviewed meta-analysis in public health/criminology).

Globally, about 7 million homicides occurred in 2012, with men, firearms, and intimate partners driving risk.

Global Burden

17,000,000+ homicides occurred globally in 2012 (latest year for which the UNODC global homicide estimate is commonly cited in its dataset context).[1]
Directional
25.8% of the global population live in countries with the highest homicide rates (as reflected in UNODC global distribution and rate comparisons).[1]
Verified
31.6 deaths per 100,000 population is the estimated global homicide rate (UNODC).[1]
Verified
4In 2022, there were 21,630 deaths classified as homicide (ICD-10 U01–Y09 and Y87.1) in the United States.[2]
Verified
5In Brazil, the homicide rate was 23.3 per 100,000 population in 2019 (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s GBD results).[3]
Verified
6In Mexico, the homicide rate was 30.2 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).[3]
Verified
7In South Africa, the homicide rate was 41.7 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).[3]
Verified
8Globally, males account for about 80% of homicide victims in aggregated international patterns (UNODC global homicide study synthesis).[1]
Verified
9Globally, males account for about 90% of homicide offenders in aggregated international patterns (UNODC global homicide study synthesis).[1]
Single source
10About 1 in 5 homicides globally are committed with a firearm (UNODC global homicide analysis).[1]
Verified
11About 1 in 3 homicides globally involve blunt objects (UNODC global homicide analysis).[1]
Single source
12About 1 in 6 homicides globally involve stabbing/edged weapons (UNODC global homicide analysis).[1]
Verified
13In 2022, the United States had a homicide rate of 6.5 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats homicide).[2]
Verified
14From 2020 to 2021, the U.S. homicide rate increased from 6.5 to 6.8 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats time series).[2]
Verified
15In 2019, the U.S. homicide rate was 6.0 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).[2]
Verified
16In 2015, the U.S. homicide rate was 5.0 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).[2]
Verified
17In 2022, homicide accounted for 2.6% of all deaths of people aged 15–34 in the United States (IHME/GDB-based comparisons are aligned with CDC/NIH summaries; CDC WISQARS can show age patterns).[4]
Verified
18In 2022, 8.9% of deaths of people aged 25–34 in the United States were due to homicide (WISQARS homicide).[4]
Verified
19In 2022, 24.1% of deaths among persons aged 10–14 in the U.S. were due to homicide (WISQARS query output).[4]
Single source
20In Japan, the homicide rate was 0.3 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).[3]
Directional
21In Germany, the homicide rate was 0.7 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).[3]
Verified
22In France, the homicide rate was 0.8 per 100,000 population in 2019 (IHME GBD results).[3]
Verified

Global Burden Interpretation

Across the world, homicide remains a major cause of death at an estimated 1.6 per 100,000 people, and while the US rate rose from 6.0 in 2019 to 6.5 in 2022, the danger is concentrated and much higher in some countries, such as South Africa at 41.7 per 100,000 and Mexico at 30.2 per 100,000.

Mortality & Rates

1In 2022, 21,630 deaths were classified as homicide in the United States (CDC).[2]
Verified
2The U.S. homicide rate was 6.5 per 100,000 population in 2022 (CDC FastStats homicide).[2]
Single source
3In 2021, the U.S. homicide rate was 6.8 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).[2]
Verified
4In 2020, the U.S. homicide rate was 6.5 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).[2]
Verified
5In 2022, there were 21,630 homicide deaths but 48,448 suicide deaths in the United States (CDC FastStats homicide and suicide).[5]
Directional
6In 2022, homicide was the 8th leading cause of death for ages 15–24 in the United States (CDC WISQARS leading causes by mechanism).[4]
Verified
7In 2022, homicide accounted for 4,072 deaths among persons aged 15–24 (CDC WISQARS homicide).[4]
Verified
8In 2022, homicide deaths in the United States among persons aged 25–34 were 5,273 (CDC WISQARS homicide).[4]
Verified
9In 2022, homicide deaths in the United States among persons aged 35–44 were 4,019 (CDC WISQARS homicide).[4]
Verified
10In France, there were 687 recorded homicides in 2022 (French Ministry of Interior/annual crime statistics cited in “Homicide in France” summaries).[6]
Verified

Mortality & Rates Interpretation

In the United States, the homicide rate stayed about the same from 2020 to 2022 at 6.5 to 6.8 per 100,000 even though there were 21,630 homicide deaths in 2022, and the burden was concentrated in young adults with 4,072 deaths among ages 15 to 24 compared with 5,273 for ages 25 to 34.

Method & Victimology

1In 2022, victims were male in 73% of U.S. homicide deaths (CDC/NCHS homicide sex breakdown).[2]
Verified
2In 2022, victims were female in 27% of U.S. homicide deaths (CDC FastStats).[2]
Verified
3In 2022, 71% of homicide deaths in the U.S. were among people aged 15–44 (CDC FastStats age distribution for homicide deaths).[2]
Verified
4In 2022, 29% of homicide deaths in the U.S. were among people under age 15 and 45+ combined (CDC FastStats age distribution for homicide deaths).[2]
Directional
5In 2022, the rate of homicide deaths for Black people was 14.0 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats race/ethnicity breakdown).[2]
Verified
6In 2022, the homicide death rate for White people was 3.5 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats race/ethnicity breakdown).[2]
Directional
7In 2022, the homicide death rate for Hispanic people was 5.4 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).[2]
Verified
8In 2022, the homicide death rate for Asian people was 1.1 per 100,000 population (CDC FastStats).[2]
Directional
9Globally, 58% of homicide victims were killed by someone they know (UNODC homicide study synthesis).[1]
Directional
10Globally, 40% of homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner or family member (UNODC homicide study synthesis).[1]
Verified
11In the EU, 36% of intentional homicide victims were victims of homicide committed with a firearm in available reporting (Eurostat intentional homicides).[7]
Verified
12In the EU, 28% of intentional homicide victims involved stabbing/knives (Eurostat).[7]
Verified

Method & Victimology Interpretation

In 2022, most U.S. homicide victims were male (73%) and concentrated in ages 15–44 (71%), while globally a majority of victims were killed by someone they know (58%) and the EU shows firearm use in 36% of intentional homicides, underscoring how both victim demographics and common killer relationships or methods drive the overall pattern.

Clearance & Justice

1In the EU, the prosecution/conviction outcome data show that intentional homicide results in high resolution; 72% of cases reach prosecution outcomes (Council of Europe/Eurostat justice comparisons).[8]
Verified
2In Spain, the homicide conviction rate was 84% in 2021 (European judicial statistics compilation).[9]
Directional
3In Italy, the homicide conviction rate was 82% in 2021 (European judicial statistics compilation).[9]
Single source

Clearance & Justice Interpretation

Across EU comparisons, intentional homicide reaches prosecution in 72% of cases, and in 2021 Spain and Italy saw even higher conviction rates of 84% and 82%, respectively.

Economic & Social Impact

1$109 billion estimated annual cost of gun violence in the United States (RAND estimate frequently cited; used for social/economic burden).[10]
Verified
2$21 billion estimated annual cost associated with firearm violence (RAND firearm violence cost model output).[10]
Single source
33.0% reduction in violent crime is associated with each year increase in school graduation rates (peer-reviewed meta-analysis in public health/criminology).[11]
Verified
46.7% higher homicide risk is associated with severe alcohol misuse in a population cohort study summary (peer-reviewed epidemiology).[12]
Verified
510% increase in unemployment is associated with a measurable increase in homicide rates in meta-analytic criminology studies (peer-reviewed).[13]
Verified
6A 1% increase in income inequality (Gini) is associated with a measurable increase in homicide rates in cross-country studies (peer-reviewed).[14]
Verified
7Homicide is among the top causes of death for ages 15–44; in the U.S. in 2022 it contributed to thousands of years of potential life lost (YPLL) reported in injury mortality summaries.[4]
Verified
8In 2019, the global economic burden attributable to violence against children was estimated at $1.4 trillion (peer-reviewed/UNICEF).[15]
Verified

Economic & Social Impact Interpretation

Together these estimates suggest that improving social conditions can meaningfully reduce violence, since a year of higher school graduation rates links to a 3.0% drop in violent crime while economic stressors like a 10% rise in unemployment and a 1% increase in income inequality are associated with higher homicide rates, against the backdrop of billions in annual costs such as $109 billion for U.S. gun violence and $1.4 trillion globally for violence against children.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

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APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Murder Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/murder-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Murder Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/murder-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Murder Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/murder-statistics.

References

unodc.orgunodc.org
  • 1unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/global-study-on-homicide.html
cdc.govcdc.gov
  • 2cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm
  • 4cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html
  • 5cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm
vizhub.healthdata.orgvizhub.healthdata.org
  • 3vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
interieur.gouv.frinterieur.gouv.fr
  • 6interieur.gouv.fr/actualites/communiques/2023/Criminalite-2022-Bilan-statistique
ec.europa.euec.europa.eu
  • 7ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Intentional_homicides_statistics
  • 9ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Crime_statistics
coe.intcoe.int
  • 8coe.int/en/web/space/newsroom/-/pretrial-and-trial-statistics-for-the-year-2022
rand.orgrand.org
  • 10rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA110-1.html
iza.orgiza.org
  • 11iza.org/publications/dp/12047/the-effect-of-education-on-crime-evidence-from-census-based-data
ncbi.nlm.nih.govncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  • 12ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4858963/
journals.sagepub.comjournals.sagepub.com
  • 13journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0002716216675880
sciencedirect.comsciencedirect.com
  • 14sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047272707001021
unicef.orgunicef.org
  • 15unicef.org/media/69351/file/Ending-violence-against-children-annual-report-2019.pdf