Homicide rate by sex of the victim in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Homicide rate by sex of the victim was 1.31 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.31 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
down 8.1%
World rank
101st
of 138 countries
All-time high
10.16 homicides per 100,000 population
in 1995
All-time low
1.28 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Homicide rate by sex of the victim in Bulgaria, 1990–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in homicides per 100,000 population.
Analysis
In 2023, homicide rate by sex of the victim in Bulgaria stood at 1.31 homicides per 100,000 population.
That represents a change of down 8.1% on the previous year and down 38.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate by sex of the victim in Bulgaria peaked at 10.16 homicides per 100,000 population in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.28 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2020.
Bulgaria ranks 101st of 138 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Homicide rate by sex of the victim in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 1991 | 6.59 homicides per 100,000 population | +64.5% |
| 1992 | 8.59 homicides per 100,000 population | +30.4% |
| 1993 | 9.59 homicides per 100,000 population | +11.7% |
| 1994 | 9.52 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 10.16 homicides per 100,000 population | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 8.75 homicides per 100,000 population | -13.9% |
| 1997 | 7.56 homicides per 100,000 population | -13.6% |
| 1998 | 7.08 homicides per 100,000 population | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 6.08 homicides per 100,000 population | -14.2% |
| 2000 | 6.02 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 6.37 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 5.18 homicides per 100,000 population | -18.7% |
| 2003 | 5.14 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 4.96 homicides per 100,000 population | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.93 homicides per 100,000 population | -20.7% |
| 2006 | 3.55 homicides per 100,000 population | -9.5% |
| 2007 | 3.77 homicides per 100,000 population | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 3.71 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 3.16 homicides per 100,000 population | -14.9% |
| 2010 | 3.34 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 2.73 homicides per 100,000 population | -18.4% |
| 2012 | 2.92 homicides per 100,000 population | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 2.12 homicides per 100,000 population | -27.4% |
| 2014 | 2.45 homicides per 100,000 population | +15.4% |
| 2015 | 2.78 homicides per 100,000 population | +13.6% |
| 2016 | 1.65 homicides per 100,000 population | -40.8% |
| 2017 | 1.98 homicides per 100,000 population | +20.2% |
| 2018 | 1.58 homicides per 100,000 population | -20.0% |
| 2019 | 1.77 homicides per 100,000 population | +12.0% |
| 2020 | 1.28 homicides per 100,000 population | -27.8% |
| 2021 | 1.83 homicides per 100,000 population | +43.1% |
| 2022 | 1.42 homicides per 100,000 population | -22.3% |
| 2023 | 1.31 homicides per 100,000 population | -8.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 1.31 homicides per 100,000 population is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 homicides per 100,000 population, 90% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 1.31 homicides per 100,000 population is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.61 homicides per 100,000 population, 81% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.79 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 homicides per 100,000 population | 10.16 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.58 homicides per 100,000 population | 3.16 homicides per 100,000 population | 6.37 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.33 homicides per 100,000 population | 1.58 homicides per 100,000 population | 3.34 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.46 homicides per 100,000 population | 1.28 homicides per 100,000 population | 1.83 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 98 Luxembourg 1.52 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 99 Greece 1.37 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 100 Montenegro 1.31 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 102 Jordan 1.24 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 103 Slovakia 1.19 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 104 Cyprus 1.17 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More social development data for Bulgaria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 105,596 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0164 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicide rate by sex of the victim in Bulgaria?
- Homicide rate by sex of the victim in Bulgaria was 1.31 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicide rate by sex of the victim recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 10.16 homicides per 100,000 population in 1995.
- What is the lowest homicide rate by sex of the victim recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.28 homicides per 100,000 population in 2020.
- How does Bulgaria rank for homicide rate by sex of the victim?
- Bulgaria ranks 101st out of 138 countries with data for 2023.
- Is homicide rate by sex of the victim rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicide rate by sex of the victim. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 populationof male victims.