Homicides by firearm in New Zealand
New Zealand: Homicides by firearm was 12 homicides in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Homicides by firearm in New Zealand, 2007–2022
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.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 12 homicides for homicides by firearm in 2022.
That represents a change of up 20.0% on the previous year and up 300.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides by firearm in New Zealand peaked at 61 homicides in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3 homicides, in 2011.
New Zealand ranks 53rd of 82 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8 homicides | 6 homicides | 11 homicides | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.6 homicides | 3 homicides | 61 homicides | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.33 homicides | 10 homicides | 15 homicides | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More social development data for New Zealand
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 2,148 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 58 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.849 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.927 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.885 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.849 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.581 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.787 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicides by firearm in New Zealand?
- Homicides by firearm in New Zealand was 12 homicides in 2022, 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 homicides by firearm recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 61 homicides in 2019.
- What is the lowest homicides by firearm recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 homicides in 2011.
- How does New Zealand rank for homicides by firearm?
- New Zealand ranks 53rd out of 82 countries with data for 2022.
- Is homicides by firearm rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 300.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 Homicides by firearm. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of intentional homicides where the weapon was a firearm.