Homicide rate (World Health) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Homicide rate (World Health) was 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
1.82 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 10.8%
World rank
141st
of 194 countries
All-time high
9.57 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2006
All-time low
1.82 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2021
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Homicide rate in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 10.8% on the previous year and down 59.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 9.57 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
Sri Lanka ranks 141st 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.11 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 8.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 8.08 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 8.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 8.24 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 8.4 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 9.57 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 9 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 8.51 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 6.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -22.7% |
| 2010 | 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -21.0% |
| 2011 | 4.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -14.6% |
| 2012 | 3.92 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.7% |
| 2013 | 3.52 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 3.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.4% |
| 2015 | 2.95 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 2.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 2.77 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 2.51 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.4% |
| 2019 | 2.31 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.0% |
| 2020 | 2.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.7% |
| 2021 | 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.79 deaths per 100,000 people, 38% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.62 deaths per 100,000 people, 70% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.27 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.58 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.57 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.37 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.31 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.93 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.04 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 138 Malawi 1.87 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 139 Estonia 1.85 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 140 Serbia 1.84 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 141 Cambodia 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 143 Tajikistan 1.71 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 144 Algeria 1.64 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 144 Canada 1.64 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More social development data for Sri Lanka
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 213 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0068 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (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 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicide rate in Sri Lanka?
- Homicide rate in Sri Lanka was 1.82 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 9.57 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006.
- What is the lowest homicide rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for homicide rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 141st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is homicide rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.