Every sixty-eight seconds someone, somewhere, is murdered, a grim heartbeat highlighting a global epidemic of violence that ranges from street corners to living rooms, revealed in stark detail by statistics from the United States to South Africa.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 homicides, marking a 6% increase from 2021
- Globally, approximately 464,000 people were homicide victims in 2017, equating to one every 68 seconds
- Latin America and the Caribbean had a regional homicide rate of 20.6 per 100,000 in 2021, the highest globally
- Globally, 55% of homicides in 2017 were by firearm
- In the US, 34% of female homicide victims in 2021 were killed by an intimate partner
- Worldwide, 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners
- In 2021, US gun violence killed 48,830, highest on record
- 79% of US homicides in 2021 involved firearms
- In 2022, 44,290 gun deaths in US, including 27,000 suicides
- Globally, 90% of children exposed to violence witness shootings
- In US, 1.7 million youth witness shootings yearly
- School violence: 75% of shooters aged 10-18
- Globally, 120 million girls suffer sexual violence before 20
- In US, 81% sexual assaults unreported
- 1 in 3 women worldwide experience sexual violence lifetime
Violence rates and types vary widely by country and are disturbingly high globally.
Domestic Violence
- Globally, 55% of homicides in 2017 were by firearm
- In the US, 34% of female homicide victims in 2021 were killed by an intimate partner
- Worldwide, 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners
- In 2020, US intimate partner violence homicides totaled 1,185 women
- 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence
- In England and Wales, 97 women killed by partners/ex-partners in 2022/23
- 58% of female homicide victims in South Africa killed by intimate partners
- In Australia, 64 intimate partner homicides in 2021-22, 78% female victims
- Canada reported 168 intimate partner homicides in 2021
- In Brazil, 1,463 women killed by partners in 2022
- India: 13,000+ dowry deaths (domestic violence related) annually
- In Mexico, 947 women killed by partners in 2022
- Russia: 1,000 women killed by partners yearly
- In 2021, 75% of domestic violence homicides in US involved firearms
- Globally, 137 women killed daily by partner/family
- In France, 146 feminicides by partners in 2022
- Spain: 49 women killed by partners/ex in 2023 so far
- In 2020, 91% of domestic violence victims in India were women
- US: 10 million adults experience domestic violence yearly
- In Latin America, 1,914 femicides in 2021, mostly domestic
- UK: 1.6 million women victim of domestic abuse yearly
- In 2022, 4,000+ domestic violence homicides globally estimated
- Australia: 1 in 6 women experience partner violence lifetime
- In 2021, 50% of US homeless women reported domestic violence
- Globally, domestic violence costs $1.5 trillion yearly in lost productivity
- In 2023, Italy recorded 106 feminicides, 55% by partners
- In 2020, 45% of female homicides in Europe domestic-related
- US: Black women 4x more likely intimate partner homicide
- In 2022, 2,500 women killed in India by family/partners
Domestic Violence Interpretation
The sheer volume of these numbers isn't just a statistic; it's the chilling, global soundtrack of a war being fought in bedrooms and kitchens, where the most common battlefield injury is death at the hands of someone who claimed to love you.
Gun Violence
- In 2021, US gun violence killed 48,830, highest on record
- 79% of US homicides in 2021 involved firearms
- In 2022, 44,290 gun deaths in US, including 27,000 suicides
- Mass shootings in US: 633 in 2023, killing 693
- Globally, 251,000 gun homicides yearly (2016)
- US children/teens: 2,590 gun deaths in 2022
- 81% of US mass public shooters obtained guns legally
- In 2021, 20,958 gun murders in US
- Firearms used in 53% of US intimate partner homicides
- US gun homicide rate 25x higher than other high-income countries
- 393 million guns in US civilian hands (2018)
- In 2022, Chicago had 697 gun homicides
- US: 1.4 million defensive gun uses yearly per CDC estimate
- Globally, 45% of homicides by guns in Americas vs 4% in Europe
- In 2023, 656 mass shootings in US by Oct
- US gun suicides: 54% of all suicides, 26,993 in 2021
- Brazil: 47,500 gun deaths yearly
- Mexico: 70% of homicides by firearms in 2022
- US police kill 1,000+ yearly, 96% by gun
- In 2022, Philadelphia gun violence: 516 homicides
- Yemen has 52.8 guns per 100 people, high violence link
- US Black males aged 15-34: gun homicide rate 103.5 per 100k
- In 2021, 105,000 Americans shot, 42% fatal
- Globally, 1.3 million intentional gun injuries yearly
- US: 4.6 gun deaths per 100,000 kids vs 0.06 in UK
- In 2022, 240 school gun violence incidents in US
- US youth (0-19): 4,733 gun deaths in 2021
- In 2023, 346 school shootings worldwide, 82% in US
- US students chance of gun death at school: 1 in 614 lifetime
Gun Violence Interpretation
America has tragically engineered a uniquely efficient and accessible machinery of self-destruction, where the tool intended for self-defense statistically ends more lives in bedrooms, classrooms, and town squares than it ever protects on the street.
Homicide Rates
- In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 homicides, marking a 6% increase from 2021
- Globally, approximately 464,000 people were homicide victims in 2017, equating to one every 68 seconds
- Latin America and the Caribbean had a regional homicide rate of 20.6 per 100,000 in 2021, the highest globally
- In 2020, El Salvador's homicide rate was 19.7 per 100,000, down from previous highs but still among the world's highest
- The African homicide rate averaged 13.0 per 100,000 population between 2014-2019
- In 2021, Jamaica reported 1,529 homicides, a rate of 52.9 per 100,000
- US homicide rate in 2022 was 6.3 per 100,000, up 30% since 2019
- Venezuela's homicide rate estimated at 36.7 per 100,000 in 2022
- In Europe, the average homicide rate was 2.2 per 100,000 in 2020
- South Africa's homicide rate reached 45 per 100,000 in 2022/23
- Honduras homicide rate fell to 35.1 per 100,000 in 2022 from 93.1 in 2011
- In 2019, Brazil had 41,635 homicides, rate of 20.9 per 100,000
- Global male homicide victimization rate was 9.1 per 100,000 vs 2.1 for females in 2017
- Mexico recorded 33,315 homicides in 2022, rate of 25.8 per 100,000
- Philippines homicide rate was 4.4 per 100,000 in 2022
- Russia's homicide rate dropped to 4.7 per 100,000 in 2021
- In 2020, Colombia had 12,701 homicides, rate of 25.1 per 100,000
- India's homicide rate stable at 2.1 per 100,000 in 2022
- Canada's homicide rate was 1.94 per 100,000 in 2022
- Australia's homicide rate was 0.86 per 100,000 in 2021-22
- In 2021, Guatemala's homicide rate was 17.4 per 100,000
- Nigeria estimated homicide rate of 34.5 per 100,000 in 2016 (latest comparable)
- In 2022, Ecuador saw 4,382 homicides, rate surging to 25.9 per 100,000
- UK's homicide rate was 1.15 per 100,000 in 2022/23
- Argentina's homicide rate was 4.6 per 100,000 in 2022
- In 2020, Peru had 1,046 homicides, rate of 3.2 per 100,000
- Thailand's homicide rate was 2.6 per 100,000 in 2021
- In 2022, Panama recorded 511 homicides, rate of 11.9 per 100,000
- Costa Rica's homicide rate rose to 16.6 per 100,000 in 2022
- In 2021, Trinidad and Tobago had a homicide rate of 39.5 per 100,000
Homicide Rates Interpretation
The grim global arithmetic reveals that while all human life is priceless, the statistical price of a life varies wildly by postal code, painting a morbid map where your safety is less a universal right and more a geographic lottery.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
- Globally, 120 million girls suffer sexual violence before 20
- In US, 81% sexual assaults unreported
- 1 in 3 women worldwide experience sexual violence lifetime
- US: 433,648 sexual assaults yearly
- In conflict zones, 35% women raped
- India: 31,677 rape cases reported 2022
- Globally, 23% men admit perpetrating sexual violence
- US college women: 1 in 5 assaulted
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 33% women experienced sexual violence
- In 2022, UK reported 70,330 rapes, conviction rate 1.5%
- Globally, 6% boys experience sexual violence before 18
- US: 91% campus sexual assaults by acquaintances
- South Africa: 42,289 rapes reported 2022/23
- In Europe, 5-10% women raped lifetime
- Brazil: 66,000 rapes reported 2022
- Globally, child sexual abuse affects 1 in 5 women, 1 in 13 men
- US military: 1 in 4 women sexually assaulted
- India: 90% sexual violence unreported
- In DRC, 22% women raped lifetime
- US: Native women 2.5x more likely raped
- Globally, cyber sexual violence affects 16% young women
- In Australia, 1 in 5 women sexually assaulted post-15
- Sweden: 9,316 reported rapes 2022
- In 2021, 50,000 child sex abuse images identified UK
- Globally, 99% sexual violence impunity
- US: 70% sexual assaults alcohol-related
- In Kenya, 32% girls experience sexual violence before 18
- France: 100,000 rapes yearly estimated
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Interpretation
This is the horrifying math of a global pandemic where violence against women and girls isn’t the tragic exception, but a calculated, and often unpunished, feature of our world.
Youth Violence
- Globally, 90% of children exposed to violence witness shootings
- In US, 1.7 million youth witness shootings yearly
- School violence: 75% of shooters aged 10-18
- US teen homicide rate doubled 2019-2022 to 11.4 per 100k
- Globally, 36,000 children killed by violence yearly
- In US, bullying leads to 15% of violent youth incidents
- 15% of US high school students carried weapon 2021
- Latin America: 20% youth homicides regional rate 30+ per 100k
- In 2022, 1,300 US youth gun homicides under 18
- Gang violence: 2,000 US youth gang homicides yearly
- Globally, 245 million children experience violence yearly
- US: 1 in 5 girls, 1 in 10 boys sexually assaulted before 18
- School fights: 8% US students in physical fights 2021
- Africa: Youth violence rate 18.5 per 100k
- In US, 40% violent youth victimizations unreported
- Cyberbullying: 37% US youth experienced, links to violence
- In 2021, 500+ youth suicides linked to bullying violence
- Brazil: 10,000 youth homicides yearly
- Europe: Youth violence declining 20% 2010-2020
- US Native youth homicide 3x national average
- Globally, violence causes 11% youth deaths
- In 2022, 82 school shootings US, 147 injured/killed
- 59% US youth feel unsafe at school due to violence
- Globally, 1 billion children aged 2-17 experienced violence 2022
- US: 160,000 students skip school fearing attack
Youth Violence Interpretation
This barrage of statistics paints a horrifyingly clear picture: our global legacy is not one of playgrounds and potential, but a generation being systematically traumatized, injured, and killed, with our own homes and schools often serving as the front lines.
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