Homicide rate by sex of the victim in Iceland
Iceland: Homicide rate by sex of the victim was 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.02 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 30.9%
World rank
86th
of 138 countries
All-time high
2.02 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2023
All-time low
0 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2012
Years of data
19
1996–2023
Homicide rate by sex of the victim in Iceland, 1996–2023
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
The most recent figure for homicide rate by sex of the victim in Iceland is 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is up 30.9% on the previous year and up 227.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate by sex of the victim in Iceland peaked at 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2012.
That places Iceland 86th out of 138 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.7419 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 1999 | 0.7199 homicides per 100,000 population | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 2.01 homicides per 100,000 population | +179.2% |
| 2007 | 1.26 homicides per 100,000 population | -37.3% |
| 2009 | 0.621 homicides per 100,000 population | -50.7% |
| 2010 | 1.25 homicides per 100,000 population | +101.3% |
| 2011 | 1.25 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 0 homicides per 100,000 population | -100.0% |
| 2013 | 0.6157 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2014 | 0 homicides per 100,000 population | -100.0% |
| 2015 | 1.8 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2016 | 0 homicides per 100,000 population | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 0.5735 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2018 | 1.11 homicides per 100,000 population | +93.4% |
| 2019 | 0.5407 homicides per 100,000 population | -51.3% |
| 2020 | 0.5318 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 0.5236 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 1.54 homicides per 100,000 population | +194.0% |
| 2023 | 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population | +30.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 homicides per 100,000 population, 1.4× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.61 homicides per 100,000 population, 1.3× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7309 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.7199 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.7419 homicides per 100,000 population | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.3 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.621 homicides per 100,000 population | 2.01 homicides per 100,000 population | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.7142 homicides per 100,000 population | 0 homicides per 100,000 population | 1.8 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.15 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.5236 homicides per 100,000 population | 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 83 North Macedonia 2.13 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 84 Latvia 2.06 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 85 Serbia 2.05 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 87 France 2.01 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 88 Belgium 2 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 89 Algeria 1.83 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More social development data for Iceland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,459 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0216 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 Iceland?
- Homicide rate by sex of the victim in Iceland was 2.02 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023.
- What is the lowest homicide rate by sex of the victim recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 homicides per 100,000 population in 2012.
- How does Iceland rank for homicide rate by sex of the victim?
- Iceland ranks 86th out of 138 countries with data for 2023.
- Is homicide rate by sex of the victim rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 227.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.