Homicides in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Homicides was 742 homicides in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Homicides in Sri Lanka, 1990–2019
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
Sri Lanka recorded 742 homicides for homicides in 2019.
That represents a change of up 44.4% on the previous year and down 32.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Sri Lanka peaked at 2,044 homicides in 2006 and was at its lowest, 486 homicides, in 2017.
Sri Lanka ranks 46th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | homicides | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,985 homicides | — |
| 1995 | 1,614 homicides | -18.7% |
| 1996 | 1,775 homicides | +10.0% |
| 1997 | 1,851 homicides | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 1,919 homicides | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 1,219 homicides | -36.5% |
| 2006 | 2,044 homicides | +67.7% |
| 2008 | 2,002 homicides | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 1,099 homicides | -45.1% |
| 2010 | 763 homicides | -30.6% |
| 2011 | 732 homicides | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 676 homicides | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 619 homicides | -8.4% |
| 2014 | 553 homicides | -10.7% |
| 2015 | 487 homicides | -11.9% |
| 2016 | 530 homicides | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 486 homicides | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 514 homicides | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 742 homicides | +44.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 742 homicides is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 241.5 homicides, 3.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 742 homicides is above the median for South Asia, which is 679.5 homicides, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,829 homicides | 1,614 homicides | 1,985 homicides | 5 |
| 2000s | 1,591 homicides | 1,099 homicides | 2,044 homicides | 4 |
| 2010s | 610.2 homicides | 486 homicides | 763 homicides | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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 in Sri Lanka?
- Homicides in Sri Lanka was 742 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 recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2,044 homicides in 2006.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 486 homicides in 2017.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for homicides?
- Sri Lanka ranks 46th out of 179 countries with data for 2019.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.5%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of intentional homicides.