Homicides in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Homicides was 14 deaths in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2017)
14 deaths
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
88th
of 113 countries
All-time high
180 deaths
in 1976
All-time low
13 deaths
in 2014
Years of data
63
1955–2017
Homicides in Hong Kong, 1955–2017
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for homicides in Hong Kong is 14 deaths, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of down 6.7% on the previous year and down 39.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Hong Kong peaked at 180 deaths in 1976 and was at its lowest, 13 deaths, in 2014.
Hong Kong ranks 88th of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Homicides in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 33 deaths | — |
| 1956 | 89 deaths | +169.7% |
| 1957 | 23 deaths | -74.2% |
| 1958 | 34 deaths | +47.8% |
| 1959 | 32 deaths | -5.9% |
| 1960 | 29 deaths | -9.4% |
| 1961 | 28 deaths | -3.4% |
| 1962 | 22 deaths | -21.4% |
| 1963 | 31 deaths | +40.9% |
| 1964 | 44 deaths | +41.9% |
| 1965 | 32 deaths | -27.3% |
| 1966 | 38 deaths | +18.8% |
| 1967 | 79 deaths | +107.9% |
| 1968 | 68 deaths | -13.9% |
| 1969 | 38 deaths | -44.1% |
| 1970 | 57 deaths | +50.0% |
| 1971 | 80 deaths | +40.4% |
| 1972 | 75 deaths | -6.2% |
| 1973 | 133 deaths | +77.3% |
| 1974 | 104 deaths | -21.8% |
| 1975 | 38 deaths | -63.5% |
| 1976 | 180 deaths | +373.7% |
| 1977 | 64 deaths | -64.4% |
| 1978 | 64 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 49 deaths | -23.4% |
| 1980 | 83 deaths | +69.4% |
| 1981 | 104 deaths | +25.3% |
| 1982 | 103 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 75 deaths | -27.2% |
| 1984 | 92 deaths | +22.7% |
| 1985 | 80 deaths | -13.0% |
| 1986 | 66 deaths | -17.5% |
| 1987 | 66 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 61 deaths | -7.6% |
| 1989 | 72 deaths | +18.0% |
| 1990 | 113 deaths | +56.9% |
| 1991 | 102 deaths | -9.7% |
| 1992 | 73 deaths | -28.4% |
| 1993 | 73 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 66 deaths | -9.6% |
| 1995 | 77 deaths | +16.7% |
| 1996 | 63 deaths | -18.2% |
| 1997 | 75 deaths | +19.0% |
| 1998 | 66 deaths | -12.0% |
| 1999 | 67 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 58 deaths | -13.4% |
| 2001 | 52 deaths | -10.3% |
| 2002 | 64 deaths | +23.1% |
| 2003 | 61 deaths | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 43 deaths | -29.5% |
| 2005 | 36 deaths | -16.3% |
| 2006 | 35 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 23 deaths | -34.3% |
| 2008 | 23 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 39 deaths | +69.6% |
| 2010 | 37 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 23 deaths | -37.8% |
| 2012 | 18 deaths | -21.7% |
| 2013 | 27 deaths | +50.0% |
| 2014 | 13 deaths | -51.9% |
| 2015 | 22 deaths | +69.2% |
| 2016 | 15 deaths | -31.8% |
| 2017 | 14 deaths | -6.7% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 14 deaths is below the median for high income countries, which is 63 deaths, 22% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 14 deaths is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 130.5 deaths, 11% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Homicides in Hong Kong changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +373.7% | 38 deaths | 180 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 42.2 deaths | 23 deaths | 89 deaths | 5 |
| 1960s | 40.9 deaths | 22 deaths | 79 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 84.4 deaths | 38 deaths | 180 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 80.2 deaths | 61 deaths | 104 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.5 deaths | 63 deaths | 113 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.4 deaths | 23 deaths | 64 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.12 deaths | 13 deaths | 37 deaths | 8 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More social development data for Hong Kong
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 236 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 245 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (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 245 (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)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -9.23 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicides in Hong Kong?
- Homicides in Hong Kong was 14 deaths in 2017, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 180 deaths in 1976.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 13 deaths in 2014.
- How does Hong Kong rank for homicides?
- Hong Kong ranks 88th out of 113 countries with data for 2017.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (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
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About this data
Annual number of homicides.