Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Iraq
Iraq: Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC was 9.46 homicides per 100,000 population in 2013. ▲ Rising
Latest (2013)
9.46 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 18.1%
World rank
37th
of 179 countries
All-time high
15.86 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2008
All-time low
5.82 homicides per 100,000 population
in 1993
Years of data
11
1990–2013
Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Iraq, 1990–2013
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 2013, homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Iraq stood at 9.46 homicides per 100,000 population.
The figure is up 18.1% on the previous year and down 40.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Iraq peaked at 15.86 homicides per 100,000 population in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5.82 homicides per 100,000 population, in 1993.
That places Iraq 37th out of 179 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Iraq, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.64 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 1991 | 6.59 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 7.63 homicides per 100,000 population | +15.8% |
| 1993 | 5.82 homicides per 100,000 population | -23.7% |
| 1994 | 6.29 homicides per 100,000 population | +8.0% |
| 2008 | 15.86 homicides per 100,000 population | +152.2% |
| 2009 | 8.5 homicides per 100,000 population | -46.4% |
| 2010 | 8.67 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 8.19 homicides per 100,000 population | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 8.01 homicides per 100,000 population | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 9.46 homicides per 100,000 population | +18.1% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 9.46 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.06 homicides per 100,000 population, 2.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 9.46 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.24 homicides per 100,000 population, 7.7× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.6 homicides per 100,000 population | 5.82 homicides per 100,000 population | 7.63 homicides per 100,000 population | 5 |
| 2000s | 12.18 homicides per 100,000 population | 8.5 homicides per 100,000 population | 15.86 homicides per 100,000 population | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.58 homicides per 100,000 population | 8.01 homicides per 100,000 population | 9.46 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 34 Namibia 11.21 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 35 Dominican Republic 10.92 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 36 Antigua and Barbuda 10.72 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 38 Papua New Guinea 9.34 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 39 Uganda 8.97 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 40 Peru 8.6 homicides per 100,000 population
More social development data for Iraq
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 322,345 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 270,671 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0058 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 270,671 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0069 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, who vs. unodc in Iraq?
- Homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Iraq was 9.46 homicides per 100,000 population in 2013, 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, who vs. unodc recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 15.86 homicides per 100,000 population in 2008.
- What is the lowest homicide rate, who vs. unodc recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.82 homicides per 100,000 population in 1993.
- How does Iraq rank for homicide rate, who vs. unodc?
- Iraq ranks 37th out of 179 countries with data for 2013.
- Is homicide rate, who vs. unodc rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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, WHO vs. UNODC. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 population.