Homicides in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Homicides was 74 homicides in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Homicides in Bulgaria, 1990–2023
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
The most recent figure for homicides in Bulgaria is 74 homicides, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 32.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Bulgaria peaked at 494 homicides in 1995 and was at its lowest, 69 homicides, in 2020.
That places Bulgaria 104th out of 179 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 408.4 homicides | 227 homicides | 494 homicides | 10 |
| 2000s | 227 homicides | 150 homicides | 332 homicides | 10 |
| 2010s | 112.1 homicides | 79 homicides | 148 homicides | 10 |
| 2020s | 77 homicides | 69 homicides | 89 homicides | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 101 Lithuania 75 homicides compare
- 101 New Zealand 75 homicides compare
- 101 Portugal 75 homicides compare
- 105 United Arab Emirates 71 homicides compare
- 106 Hungary 70 homicides compare
- 106 Saint Lucia 70 homicides compare
More social development data for Bulgaria
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 105,596 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 533 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.599 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.754 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.833 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.599 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.397 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.499 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicides in Bulgaria?
- Homicides in Bulgaria was 74 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 recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 494 homicides in 1995.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 69 homicides in 2020.
- How does Bulgaria rank for homicides?
- Bulgaria ranks 104th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of intentional homicides.