Homicide rate (World Health) in North Korea
North Korea: Homicide rate (World Health) was 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
4.1 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
107th
of 194 countries
All-time high
5.94 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
4.1 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2021
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Homicide rate in North Korea, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for homicide rate in North Korea is 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate in North Korea peaked at 5.94 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
North Korea ranks 107th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Homicide rate (World Health) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.94 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 5.43 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.6% |
| 2002 | 5.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 5.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 4.91 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 4.78 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 4.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 4.83 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 4.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 4.79 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 4.73 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 4.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 4.59 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 4.52 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 4.48 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 4.42 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 4.36 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 4.34 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.26 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 4.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 4.15 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 8.38 deaths per 100,000 people, 49% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.82 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.06 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.74 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.94 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.46 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.73 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.12 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 104 Lithuania 4.17 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 105 Indonesia 4.16 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 106 Rwanda 4.15 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 108 Armenia 3.94 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 109 Myanmar 3.93 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 110 Chile 3.77 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More social development data for North Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 263 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (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 263 (2025)
- Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -7.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Human Rights Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.024 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicide rate in North Korea?
- Homicide rate in North Korea was 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicide rate recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.94 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest homicide rate recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does North Korea rank for homicide rate?
- North Korea ranks 107th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is homicide rate rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicide rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from interpersonal violence in both sexes, per 100,000 people.