Homicide rate from firearms in Guatemala
Guatemala: Homicide rate from firearms was 4.41 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Homicide rate from firearms in Guatemala, 2007–2023
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 from firearms in Guatemala is 4.41 homicides per 100,000 population, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.0% on the previous year and down 84.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate from firearms in Guatemala peaked at 38.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.44 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2021.
That places Guatemala 23rd out of 82 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 from firearms in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 34.98 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2008 | 37.58 homicides per 100,000 population | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 38.02 homicides per 100,000 population | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 34.54 homicides per 100,000 population | -9.1% |
| 2011 | 31.61 homicides per 100,000 population | -8.5% |
| 2012 | 28.01 homicides per 100,000 population | -11.4% |
| 2013 | 27.67 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 26.32 homicides per 100,000 population | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 33.43 homicides per 100,000 population | +27.0% |
| 2017 | 8.46 homicides per 100,000 population | -74.7% |
| 2018 | 6.71 homicides per 100,000 population | -20.7% |
| 2019 | 6.2 homicides per 100,000 population | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 3.56 homicides per 100,000 population | -42.6% |
| 2021 | 3.44 homicides per 100,000 population | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 4.12 homicides per 100,000 population | +19.8% |
| 2023 | 4.41 homicides per 100,000 population | +7.0% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 4.41 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.18 homicides per 100,000 population, 2.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 4.41 homicides per 100,000 population is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 8.57 homicides per 100,000 population, 51% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Homicide rate from firearms in Guatemala changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | -74.7% | 33.43 homicides per 100,000 population | 8.46 homicides per 100,000 population |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.86 homicides per 100,000 population | 34.98 homicides per 100,000 population | 38.02 homicides per 100,000 population | 3 |
| 2010s | 22.55 homicides per 100,000 population | 6.2 homicides per 100,000 population | 34.54 homicides per 100,000 population | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.88 homicides per 100,000 population | 3.44 homicides per 100,000 population | 4.41 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
- 20 El Salvador 4.82 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 21 Bermuda 4.64 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 22 United States 4.42 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 24 Peru 3.84 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 25 Paraguay 3.7 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 26 Chile 3.32 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More social development data for Guatemala
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,586 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 34,994 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0019 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 34,994 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicide rate from firearms in Guatemala?
- Homicide rate from firearms in Guatemala was 4.41 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 from firearms recorded in Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 38.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2009.
- What is the lowest homicide rate from firearms recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.44 homicides per 100,000 population in 2021.
- How does Guatemala rank for homicide rate from firearms?
- Guatemala ranks 23rd out of 82 countries with data for 2023.
- Is homicide rate from firearms rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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 from firearms. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 population where the weapon was a firearm.