Homicides by firearm in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Homicides by firearm was 16 homicides in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Homicides by firearm 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.
Analysis
In 2019, homicides by firearm in Sri Lanka stood at 16 homicides. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 78.4% on the previous year and down 93.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides by firearm in Sri Lanka peaked at 1,033 homicides in 2007 and was at its lowest, 16 homicides, in 2019.
Sri Lanka ranks 50th 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.
Homicides by firearm in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | homicides | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1,033 homicides | — |
| 2008 | 686 homicides | -33.6% |
| 2009 | 264 homicides | -61.5% |
| 2010 | 80 homicides | -69.7% |
| 2011 | 72 homicides | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 62 homicides | -13.9% |
| 2013 | 43 homicides | -30.6% |
| 2014 | 51 homicides | +18.6% |
| 2015 | 45 homicides | -11.8% |
| 2016 | 48 homicides | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 51 homicides | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 74 homicides | +45.1% |
| 2019 | 16 homicides | -78.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 16 homicides is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30 homicides, 53% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 661 homicides | 264 homicides | 1,033 homicides | 3 |
| 2010s | 54.2 homicides | 16 homicides | 80 homicides | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 47 Austria 17 homicides compare
- 47 Azerbaijan 17 homicides compare
- 47 Bulgaria 17 homicides compare
- 51 Barbados 14 homicides compare
- 51 Suriname 14 homicides
- 53 New Zealand 12 homicides compare
- 53 Switzerland 12 homicides 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 homicides by firearm in Sri Lanka?
- Homicides by firearm in Sri Lanka was 16 homicides 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 homicides by firearm recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1,033 homicides in 2007.
- What is the lowest homicides by firearm recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 16 homicides in 2019.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for homicides by firearm?
- Sri Lanka ranks 50th out of 82 countries with data for 2019.
- Is homicides by firearm rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.9%. 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 Homicides by firearm. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of intentional homicides where the weapon was a firearm.