Homicides in Estonia
Estonia: Homicides was 21 homicides in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
21 homicides
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
134th
of 179 countries
All-time high
302 homicides
in 1994
All-time low
20 homicides
in 2022
Years of data
30
1990–2023
Homicides in Estonia, 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
In 2023, homicides in Estonia stood at 21 homicides.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and down 59.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Estonia peaked at 302 homicides in 1994 and was at its lowest, 20 homicides, in 2022.
Estonia ranks 134th of 179 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 in Estonia, year by year
| Year | homicides | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 118 homicides | — |
| 1991 | 119 homicides | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 217 homicides | +82.4% |
| 1993 | 282 homicides | +30.0% |
| 1994 | 302 homicides | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 246 homicides | -18.5% |
| 1996 | 214 homicides | -13.0% |
| 1997 | 178 homicides | -16.8% |
| 1998 | 196 homicides | +10.1% |
| 1999 | 157 homicides | -19.9% |
| 2000 | 143 homicides | -8.9% |
| 2001 | 137 homicides | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 142 homicides | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 96 homicides | -32.4% |
| 2008 | 86 homicides | -10.4% |
| 2009 | 70 homicides | -18.6% |
| 2010 | 70 homicides | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 65 homicides | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 63 homicides | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 52 homicides | -17.5% |
| 2014 | 41 homicides | -21.2% |
| 2015 | 45 homicides | +9.8% |
| 2016 | 33 homicides | -26.7% |
| 2017 | 29 homicides | -12.1% |
| 2018 | 28 homicides | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 26 homicides | -7.1% |
| 2020 | 42 homicides | +61.5% |
| 2021 | 26 homicides | -38.1% |
| 2022 | 20 homicides | -23.1% |
| 2023 | 21 homicides | +5.0% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 21 homicides is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.5 homicides, 40% of the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 21 homicides is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 74.5 homicides, 28% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 202.9 homicides | 118 homicides | 302 homicides | 10 |
| 2000s | 112.33 homicides | 70 homicides | 143 homicides | 6 |
| 2010s | 45.2 homicides | 26 homicides | 70 homicides | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.25 homicides | 20 homicides | 42 homicides | 4 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More social development data for Estonia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41,299 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 86 (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 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 86 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0302 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 in Estonia?
- Homicides in Estonia was 21 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 302 homicides in 1994.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20 homicides in 2022.
- How does Estonia rank for homicides?
- Estonia ranks 134th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Estonia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of intentional homicides.