Homicides by firearm in Uruguay
Uruguay: Homicides by firearm was 240 homicides in 2023. ▲ Rising
Homicides by firearm in Uruguay, 2011–2023
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.
Analysis
In 2023, homicides by firearm in Uruguay stood at 240 homicides.
That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 50.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides by firearm in Uruguay peaked at 298 homicides in 2018 and was at its lowest, 97 homicides, in 2011.
Uruguay ranks 23rd of 82 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Homicides by firearm in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | homicides | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 97 homicides | — |
| 2012 | 163 homicides | +68.0% |
| 2013 | 159 homicides | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 163 homicides | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 200 homicides | +22.7% |
| 2016 | 162 homicides | -19.0% |
| 2017 | 170 homicides | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 298 homicides | +75.3% |
| 2019 | 246 homicides | -17.4% |
| 2020 | 219 homicides | -11.0% |
| 2021 | 184 homicides | -16.0% |
| 2022 | 231 homicides | +25.5% |
| 2023 | 240 homicides | +3.9% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 240 homicides is above the median for high income countries, which is 17 homicides, 14.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 240 homicides is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 253 homicides, 95% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 184.22 homicides | 97 homicides | 298 homicides | 9 |
| 2020s | 218.5 homicides | 184 homicides | 240 homicides | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More social development data for Uruguay
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,195 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 126 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 126 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 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 Uruguay?
- Homicides by firearm in Uruguay was 240 homicides 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 homicides by firearm recorded in Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 298 homicides in 2018.
- What is the lowest homicides by firearm recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 97 homicides in 2011.
- How does Uruguay rank for homicides by firearm?
- Uruguay ranks 23rd out of 82 countries with data for 2023.
- Is homicides by firearm rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.