Homicide rate from firearms in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Homicide rate from firearms was 0.0714 homicides per 100,000 population in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Homicide rate from firearms in Sri Lanka, 2007–2019
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 Sri Lanka is 0.0714 homicides per 100,000 population, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of down 78.5% on the previous year and down 94.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate from firearms in Sri Lanka peaked at 5.04 homicides per 100,000 population in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.0714 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2019.
That places Sri Lanka 67th out of 82 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Homicide rate from firearms in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 5.04 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2008 | 3.33 homicides per 100,000 population | -34.0% |
| 2009 | 1.27 homicides per 100,000 population | -61.8% |
| 2010 | 0.3832 homicides per 100,000 population | -69.9% |
| 2011 | 0.3427 homicides per 100,000 population | -10.6% |
| 2012 | 0.2929 homicides per 100,000 population | -14.5% |
| 2013 | 0.2013 homicides per 100,000 population | -31.3% |
| 2014 | 0.2367 homicides per 100,000 population | +17.6% |
| 2015 | 0.2071 homicides per 100,000 population | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 0.2191 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 0.2309 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 0.3325 homicides per 100,000 population | +44.0% |
| 2019 | 0.0714 homicides per 100,000 population | -78.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 0.0714 homicides per 100,000 population is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.18 homicides per 100,000 population, 3% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.21 homicides per 100,000 population | 1.27 homicides per 100,000 population | 5.04 homicides per 100,000 population | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.2518 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.0714 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.3832 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 64 Tanzania 0.1038 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 65 Kazakhstan 0.1027 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 66 Australia 0.0945 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 68 Germany 0.0646 homicides per 100,000 population
- 69 Mongolia 0.0583 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 70 Bolivia 0.0572 homicides per 100,000 population 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 from firearms in Sri Lanka?
- Homicide rate from firearms in Sri Lanka was 0.0714 homicides per 100,000 population in 2019, 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 5.04 homicides per 100,000 population in 2007.
- What is the lowest homicide rate from firearms recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0714 homicides per 100,000 population in 2019.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for homicide rate from firearms?
- Sri Lanka ranks 67th out of 82 countries with data for 2019.
- Is homicide rate from firearms rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.