Homicide Rate by Country
What Is Homicide Rate?
Homicide Rate measures the number of intentional homicides per 100,000 people in a given year. It reflects the prevalence of lethal violence and risks to public safety. By standardizing per 100,000 population, this rate allows comparisons across countries with different population sizes.
Why Homicide Rate Matters to a Country’s Progress
- Indicates public safety, since high homicide rates often signal weak rule of law and social instability.
- Reflects broader social conditions, as elevated violence can stem from poverty, inequality, or illicit activity.
- Informs policy priorities, because governments and law enforcement use it to allocate resources for crime prevention and justice programs.
Ranking Highlights
- Tuvalu tops the progress rankings in Homicide Rate, recording a drop from 18.43 to 0.00. Nigeria follows with a reduction from 33.60 to 21.74, while Venezuela rounds out the top three, falling from 29.43 to 19.31.
- Across all 152 countries, the average year-over-year change was +0.15 percentage points with a median change of -0.03 percentage points.
- Overall, 80 countries improved in this area while 69 worsened. Click on a country to open the full country scorecard and see how it performs across a range of key indicators.
| Rank | Country | Most Recent Year | Previous Year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tuvalu | 0.00 (2019) | 18.43 (2012) | -18.43 pp |
| 2 |  Nigeria | 21.74 (2019) | 33.60 (2016) | -11.86 pp |
| 3 |  Venezuela | 19.31 (2021) | 29.43 (2020) | -10.12 pp |
| 4 |  Tonga | 0.95 (2019) | 9.51 (2018) | -8.56 pp |
| 5 |  Grenada | 4.01 (2021) | 11.32 (2020) | -7.31 pp |
| 6 |  Dominica | 13.81 (2021) | 20.83 (2020) | -7.02 pp |
| 7 |  Maldives | 0.59 (2019) | 7.20 (2017) | -6.61 pp |
| 8 |  Seychelles | 4.70 (2021) | 8.53 (2020) | -3.83 pp |
| 9 |  Guyana | 16.28 (2021) | 19.69 (2020) | -3.41 pp |
| 10 |  Suriname | 5.71 (2021) | 9.06 (2020) | -3.35 pp |
| 11 |  Barbados | 11.38 (2021) | 14.61 (2020) | -3.23 pp |
| 12 |  El Salvador | 18.17 (2021) | 21.31 (2020) | -3.14 pp |
| 13 |  Kiribati | 7.17 (2012) | 10.01 (2011) | -2.84 pp |
| 14 |  Afghanistan | 4.02 (2021) | 6.59 (2020) | -2.57 pp |
| 15 |  Guinea-Bissau | 1.12 (2017) | 3.49 (2016) | -2.37 pp |
| 16 |  Kazakhstan | 3.19 (2020) | 5.00 (2017) | -1.81 pp |
| 17 |  Peru | 5.71 (2020) | 7.27 (2019) | -1.56 pp |
| 18 |  Uganda | 8.53 (2021) | 10.04 (2020) | -1.51 pp |
| 19 |  Estonia | 1.96 (2021) | 3.16 (2020) | -1.20 pp |
| 20 |  Chile | 3.63 (2021) | 4.80 (2020) | -1.17 pp |
| 21 |  Mexico | 28.18 (2021) | 29.19 (2020) | -1.01 pp |
| 22 |  Lithuania | 2.58 (2021) | 3.58 (2020) | -1.00 pp |
| 23 |  Malta | 0.38 (2021) | 1.36 (2020) | -0.98 pp |
| 24 |  Uruguay | 8.90 (2021) | 9.86 (2020) | -0.96 pp |
| 25 |  Lebanon | 2.26 (2020) | 3.15 (2019) | -0.89 pp |
| 26 |  Moldova | 3.01 (2020) | 3.89 (2019) | -0.88 pp |
| 27 |  Philippines | 4.32 (2019) | 5.20 (2018) | -0.88 pp |
| 28 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 30.67 (2021) | 31.54 (2020) | -0.87 pp |
| 29 |  Tanzania | 3.70 (2020) | 4.54 (2019) | -0.84 pp |
| 30 |  Iceland | 0.54 (2021) | 1.36 (2020) | -0.82 pp |
| 31 |  Argentina | 4.62 (2021) | 5.37 (2020) | -0.75 pp |
| 32 |  Liberia | 3.12 (2012) | 3.85 (2011) | -0.73 pp |
| 33 |  Tajikistan | 0.91 (2020) | 1.62 (2011) | -0.71 pp |
| 34 |  Latvia | 3.04 (2021) | 3.69 (2020) | -0.65 pp |
| 35 |  Russia | 6.80 (2021) | 7.35 (2020) | -0.55 pp |
| 36 |  Brunei | 0.49 (2013) | 0.98 (2012) | -0.49 pp |
| 37 |  Turkmenistan | 1.09 (2015) | 1.57 (2014) | -0.48 pp |
| 38 |  Montenegro | 2.39 (2021) | 2.86 (2020) | -0.47 pp |
| 39 |  Malawi | 1.79 (2012) | 2.26 (2011) | -0.47 pp |
| 40 |  Kyrgyzstan | 1.75 (2020) | 2.20 (2019) | -0.45 pp |
| 41 |  Niger | 4.39 (2012) | 4.81 (2011) | -0.42 pp |
| 42 |  Angola | 4.10 (2016) | 4.46 (2015) | -0.36 pp |
| 43 |  Vanuatu | 0.32 (2020) | 0.66 (2019) | -0.34 pp |
| 44 |  Azerbaijan | 1.91 (2021) | 2.24 (2020) | -0.33 pp |
| 45 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.98 (2021) | 1.30 (2020) | -0.32 pp |
| 46 |  Georgia | 2.04 (2019) | 2.36 (2018) | -0.32 pp |
| 47 |  Czech Republic | 0.45 (2021) | 0.73 (2020) | -0.28 pp |
| 48 |  Ireland | 0.44 (2021) | 0.67 (2020) | -0.23 pp |
| 49 |  United Arab Emirates | 0.47 (2021) | 0.70 (2020) | -0.23 pp |
| 50 |  Egypt | 1.34 (2017) | 1.54 (2016) | -0.20 pp |
| 51 |  Romania | 1.26 (2021) | 1.45 (2020) | -0.19 pp |
| 52 |  Iran | 2.42 (2014) | 2.60 (2013) | -0.18 pp |
| 53 |  Croatia | 0.81 (2021) | 0.98 (2020) | -0.17 pp |
| 54 |  United Kingdom | 1.00 (2020) | 1.15 (2019) | -0.15 pp |
| 55 |  Denmark | 0.80 (2021) | 0.94 (2020) | -0.14 pp |
| 56 |  Slovakia | 1.01 (2021) | 1.15 (2020) | -0.14 pp |
| 57 |  Tunisia | 4.62 (2020) | 4.74 (2019) | -0.12 pp |
| 58 |  Australia | 0.74 (2021) | 0.86 (2020) | -0.12 pp |
| 59 |  Sweden | 1.08 (2021) | 1.20 (2020) | -0.12 pp |
| 60 |  Germany | 0.83 (2021) | 0.94 (2020) | -0.11 pp |
| 61 |  Kuwait | 0.25 (2020) | 0.36 (2019) | -0.11 pp |
| 62 |  Slovenia | 0.42 (2021) | 0.52 (2020) | -0.10 pp |
| 63 |  Qatar | 0.33 (2021) | 0.43 (2020) | -0.10 pp |
| 64 |  Mauritius | 2.62 (2021) | 2.70 (2020) | -0.08 pp |
| 65 |  Serbia | 1.06 (2021) | 1.14 (2020) | -0.08 pp |
| 66 |  Mauritania | 1.02 (2020) | 1.09 (2019) | -0.07 pp |
| 67 |  Oman | 0.24 (2021) | 0.31 (2020) | -0.07 pp |
| 68 |  Singapore | 0.10 (2021) | 0.17 (2020) | -0.07 pp |
| 69 |  South Korea | 0.52 (2021) | 0.59 (2020) | -0.07 pp |
| 70 |  Mongolia | 6.15 (2021) | 6.22 (2020) | -0.07 pp |
| 71 |  Switzerland | 0.48 (2021) | 0.54 (2020) | -0.06 pp |
| 72 |  Hungary | 0.77 (2021) | 0.82 (2020) | -0.05 pp |
| 73 |  North Macedonia | 1.14 (2019) | 1.18 (2018) | -0.04 pp |
| 74 |  Malaysia | 0.72 (2021) | 0.76 (2020) | -0.04 pp |
| 75 |  Norway | 0.54 (2021) | 0.58 (2020) | -0.04 pp |
| 76 |  Ukraine | 3.84 (2021) | 3.87 (2020) | -0.03 pp |
| 77 |  China | 0.50 (2020) | 0.52 (2019) | -0.02 pp |
| 78 |  Spain | 0.61 (2021) | 0.63 (2020) | -0.02 pp |
| 79 |  Japan | 0.23 (2021) | 0.25 (2020) | -0.02 pp |
| 80 |  Fiji | 2.17 (2020) | 2.18 (2014) | -0.01 pp |
| 81 |  Austria | 0.73 (2021) | 0.73 (2020) | +0.00 pp |
| 82 |  Belarus | 2.33 (2019) | 2.33 (2018) | +0.00 pp |
| 83 |  Bolivia | 3.49 (2021) | 3.49 (2020) | +0.00 pp |
| 84 |  Zambia | 5.25 (2015) | 5.24 (2014) | +0.01 pp |
| 85 |  Portugal | 0.80 (2021) | 0.79 (2020) | +0.01 pp |
| 86 |  Türkiye | 2.52 (2021) | 2.51 (2020) | +0.01 pp |
| 87 |  Poland | 0.71 (2021) | 0.69 (2020) | +0.02 pp |
| 88 |  India | 2.94 (2021) | 2.91 (2020) | +0.03 pp |
| 89 |  Italy | 0.51 (2021) | 0.48 (2020) | +0.03 pp |
| 90 |  Jordan | 1.02 (2021) | 0.99 (2020) | +0.03 pp |
| 91 |  Netherlands | 0.65 (2021) | 0.61 (2020) | +0.04 pp |
| 92 |  Algeria | 1.57 (2021) | 1.51 (2020) | +0.06 pp |
| 93 |  Canada | 2.07 (2021) | 2.00 (2020) | +0.07 pp |
| 94 |  France | 1.14 (2021) | 1.07 (2020) | +0.07 pp |
| 95 |  Uzbekistan | 1.41 (2021) | 1.34 (2020) | +0.07 pp |
| 96 |  Bahrain | 0.07 (2021) | 0.00 (2020) | +0.07 pp |
| 97 |  Cyprus | 1.29 (2021) | 1.21 (2020) | +0.08 pp |
| 98 |  Nepal | 2.29 (2019) | 2.21 (2018) | +0.08 pp |
| 99 |  Cuba | 4.42 (2019) | 4.33 (2018) | +0.09 pp |
| 100 |  Greece | 0.85 (2021) | 0.74 (2020) | +0.11 pp |
| 101 |  Ghana | 1.84 (2021) | 1.72 (2020) | +0.12 pp |
| 102 |  Burkina Faso | 1.25 (2017) | 1.12 (2016) | +0.13 pp |
| 103 |  Yemen | 6.31 (2013) | 6.16 (2012) | +0.15 pp |
| 104 |  Bangladesh | 2.34 (2018) | 2.19 (2017) | +0.15 pp |
| 105 |  Luxembourg | 0.63 (2021) | 0.48 (2020) | +0.15 pp |
| 106 |  Saudi Arabia | 0.80 (2019) | 0.64 (2018) | +0.16 pp |
| 107 |  Finland | 1.65 (2020) | 1.47 (2019) | +0.18 pp |
| 108 |  Albania | 2.31 (2021) | 2.13 (2020) | +0.18 pp |
| 109 |  Pakistan | 3.98 (2021) | 3.74 (2020) | +0.24 pp |
| 110 |  Costa Rica | 11.41 (2021) | 11.13 (2020) | +0.28 pp |
| 111 |  Namibia | 12.45 (2021) | 12.17 (2020) | +0.28 pp |
| 112 |  Bulgaria | 1.28 (2021) | 0.99 (2020) | +0.29 pp |
| 113 |  Armenia | 2.19 (2021) | 1.85 (2020) | +0.34 pp |
| 114 |  United States | 6.81 (2021) | 6.42 (2020) | +0.39 pp |
| 115 |  Cameroon | 4.54 (2020) | 4.12 (2017) | +0.42 pp |
| 116 |  Rwanda | 3.59 (2020) | 3.15 (2019) | +0.44 pp |
| 117 |  Sierra Leone | 2.14 (2020) | 1.70 (2015) | +0.44 pp |
| 118 |  Cabo Verde | 6.18 (2020) | 5.72 (2019) | +0.46 pp |
| 119 |  Israel | 1.94 (2021) | 1.43 (2020) | +0.51 pp |
| 120 |  Paraguay | 7.83 (2021) | 7.27 (2020) | +0.56 pp |
| 121 |  Morocco | 1.93 (2021) | 1.25 (2020) | +0.68 pp |
| 122 |  Guatemala | 19.99 (2021) | 18.96 (2020) | +1.03 pp |
| 123 |  New Zealand | 2.60 (2019) | 1.55 (2018) | +1.05 pp |
| 124 |  Sri Lanka | 3.43 (2019) | 2.38 (2018) | +1.05 pp |
| 125 |  Panama | 12.73 (2021) | 11.64 (2020) | +1.09 pp |
| 126 |  Zimbabwe | 6.14 (2021) | 4.98 (2020) | +1.16 pp |
| 127 |  Eswatini | 12.66 (2021) | 11.29 (2017) | +1.37 pp |
| 128 |  Bhutan | 2.46 (2020) | 1.04 (2019) | +1.42 pp |
| 129 |  Iraq | 9.41 (2013) | 7.96 (2012) | +1.45 pp |
| 130 |  Burundi | 5.82 (2016) | 4.30 (2015) | +1.52 pp |
| 131 |  Brazil | 22.38 (2020) | 20.81 (2019) | +1.57 pp |
| 132 |  Haiti | 13.01 (2021) | 11.32 (2020) | +1.69 pp |
| 133 |  Kenya | 5.27 (2021) | 3.58 (2020) | +1.69 pp |
| 134 |  Dominican Republic | 10.54 (2021) | 8.74 (2020) | +1.80 pp |
| 135 |  Botswana | 10.55 (2021) | 8.68 (2020) | +1.87 pp |
| 136 |  Liechtenstein | 5.12 (2021) | 2.58 (2020) | +2.54 pp |
| 137 |  Honduras | 38.34 (2021) | 35.79 (2020) | +2.55 pp |
| 138 |  Andorra | 2.57 (2020) | 0.00 (2015) | +2.57 pp |
| 139 |  Samoa | 6.20 (2018) | 3.37 (2017) | +2.83 pp |
| 140 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 29.36 (2021) | 26.28 (2020) | +3.08 pp |
| 141 |  Colombia | 27.48 (2021) | 24.24 (2020) | +3.24 pp |
| 142 |  Nicaragua | 11.01 (2021) | 7.73 (2019) | +3.28 pp |
| 143 |  Jamaica | 52.13 (2021) | 47.26 (2020) | +4.87 pp |
| 144 |  Belize | 31.25 (2021) | 25.83 (2020) | +5.42 pp |
| 145 |  Ecuador | 14.02 (2021) | 7.80 (2020) | +6.22 pp |
| 146 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 17.16 (2021) | 9.71 (2020) | +7.45 pp |
| 147 |  South Africa | 41.87 (2021) | 33.96 (2020) | +7.91 pp |
| 148 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 29.41 (2021) | 20.99 (2020) | +8.42 pp |
| 149 |  Saint Lucia | 38.96 (2021) | 29.01 (2020) | +9.95 pp |
| 150 |  Palau | 11.20 (2018) | 0.00 (2017) | +11.20 pp |
| 151 |  Bahamas | 29.17 (2021) | 17.96 (2020) | +11.21 pp |
| 152 |  Myanmar | 28.44 (2021) | 2.94 (2020) | +25.50 pp |
Source: World Bank. Only countries with complete data (both points within the past 10 years) are shown.
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