Homicides (WHO Mortality) in Belgium
Belgium: Homicides (WHO Mortality) was 101 deaths in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
101 deaths
Change on year
up 32.9%
World rank
50th
of 113 countries
All-time high
253 deaths
in 1999
All-time low
52 deaths
in 1962
Years of data
69
1954–2022
Homicides in Belgium, 1954–2022
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2022, homicides in Belgium stood at 101 deaths.
The figure is up 32.9% on the previous year and down 22.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Belgium peaked at 253 deaths in 1999 and was at its lowest, 52 deaths, in 1962.
Belgium ranks 50th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 69 years of available data.
Homicides (WHO Mortality) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 59 deaths | — |
| 1955 | 61 deaths | +3.4% |
| 1956 | 63 deaths | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 58 deaths | -7.9% |
| 1958 | 54 deaths | -6.9% |
| 1959 | 58 deaths | +7.4% |
| 1960 | 58 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 64 deaths | +10.3% |
| 1962 | 52 deaths | -18.8% |
| 1963 | 60 deaths | +15.4% |
| 1964 | 54 deaths | -10.0% |
| 1965 | 68 deaths | +25.9% |
| 1966 | 70 deaths | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 72 deaths | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 79 deaths | +9.7% |
| 1969 | 81 deaths | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 106 deaths | +30.9% |
| 1971 | 98 deaths | -7.5% |
| 1972 | 119 deaths | +21.4% |
| 1973 | 106 deaths | -10.9% |
| 1974 | 101 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1975 | 89 deaths | -11.9% |
| 1976 | 91 deaths | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 88 deaths | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 103 deaths | +17.0% |
| 1979 | 158 deaths | +53.4% |
| 1980 | 148 deaths | -6.3% |
| 1981 | 137 deaths | -7.4% |
| 1982 | 146 deaths | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 176 deaths | +20.5% |
| 1984 | 164 deaths | -6.8% |
| 1985 | 200 deaths | +22.0% |
| 1986 | 210 deaths | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 156 deaths | -25.7% |
| 1988 | 154 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 135 deaths | -12.3% |
| 1990 | 144 deaths | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 142 deaths | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 168 deaths | +18.3% |
| 1993 | 201 deaths | +19.6% |
| 1994 | 184 deaths | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 169 deaths | -8.2% |
| 1996 | 202 deaths | +19.5% |
| 1997 | 177 deaths | -12.4% |
| 1998 | 206 deaths | +16.4% |
| 1999 | 253 deaths | +22.8% |
| 2000 | 173 deaths | -31.6% |
| 2001 | 192 deaths | +11.0% |
| 2002 | 198 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 144 deaths | -27.3% |
| 2004 | 178 deaths | +23.6% |
| 2005 | 163 deaths | -8.4% |
| 2006 | 146 deaths | -10.4% |
| 2007 | 157 deaths | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 128 deaths | -18.5% |
| 2009 | 134 deaths | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 117 deaths | -12.7% |
| 2011 | 146 deaths | +24.8% |
| 2012 | 130 deaths | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 110 deaths | -15.4% |
| 2014 | 114 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 119 deaths | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 125 deaths | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 112 deaths | -10.4% |
| 2018 | 110 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 95 deaths | -13.6% |
| 2020 | 83 deaths | -12.6% |
| 2021 | 76 deaths | -8.4% |
| 2022 | 101 deaths | +32.9% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 101 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.5 deaths, 1.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 101 deaths is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 63 deaths, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 58.83 deaths | 54 deaths | 63 deaths | 6 |
| 1960s | 65.8 deaths | 52 deaths | 81 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 105.9 deaths | 88 deaths | 158 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 162.6 deaths | 135 deaths | 210 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 184.6 deaths | 142 deaths | 253 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 161.3 deaths | 128 deaths | 198 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 117.8 deaths | 95 deaths | 146 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.67 deaths | 76 deaths | 101 deaths | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More social development data for Belgium
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 186,393 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 113 (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 113 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0156 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 Belgium?
- Homicides in Belgium was 101 deaths in 2022, according to WHO Mortality Database (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 253 deaths in 1999.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 52 deaths in 1962.
- How does Belgium rank for homicides?
- Belgium ranks 50th out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2026) – 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
Reported deaths from homicide, based on the underlying cause listed on death certificates.