Homicides (WHO Mortality) in Iceland
Iceland: Homicides (WHO Mortality) was 8 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
8 deaths
Change on year
up 100.0%
World rank
97th
of 113 countries
All-time high
8 deaths
in 2024
All-time low
0 deaths
in 1951
Years of data
74
1951–2024
Homicides in Iceland, 1951–2024
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2024, homicides in Iceland stood at 8 deaths. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 100.0% on the previous year and up 700.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Iceland peaked at 8 deaths in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 deaths, in 1951.
That places Iceland 97th out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Homicides (WHO Mortality) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1952 | 1 deaths | — |
| 1953 | 5 deaths | +400.0% |
| 1954 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1955 | 1 deaths | — |
| 1956 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1957 | 2 deaths | — |
| 1958 | 1 deaths | -50.0% |
| 1959 | 1 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1961 | 1 deaths | — |
| 1962 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1963 | 1 deaths | — |
| 1964 | 1 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1968 | 3 deaths | — |
| 1969 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1970 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1971 | 2 deaths | — |
| 1972 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1973 | 5 deaths | — |
| 1974 | 5 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1 deaths | -80.0% |
| 1976 | 4 deaths | +300.0% |
| 1977 | 2 deaths | -50.0% |
| 1978 | 3 deaths | +50.0% |
| 1979 | 4 deaths | +33.3% |
| 1980 | 2 deaths | -50.0% |
| 1981 | 3 deaths | +50.0% |
| 1982 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1983 | 2 deaths | — |
| 1984 | 1 deaths | -50.0% |
| 1985 | 3 deaths | +200.0% |
| 1986 | 3 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2 deaths | -33.3% |
| 1988 | 5 deaths | +150.0% |
| 1989 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1990 | 1 deaths | — |
| 1991 | 5 deaths | +400.0% |
| 1992 | 3 deaths | -40.0% |
| 1993 | 1 deaths | -66.7% |
| 1994 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1995 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1996 | 1 deaths | — |
| 1997 | 3 deaths | +200.0% |
| 1998 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1999 | 2 deaths | — |
| 2000 | 6 deaths | +200.0% |
| 2001 | 2 deaths | -66.7% |
| 2002 | 5 deaths | +150.0% |
| 2003 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 4 deaths | — |
| 2005 | 3 deaths | -25.0% |
| 2006 | 1 deaths | -66.7% |
| 2007 | 2 deaths | +100.0% |
| 2008 | 1 deaths | -50.0% |
| 2009 | 1 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2 deaths | +100.0% |
| 2011 | 3 deaths | +50.0% |
| 2012 | 1 deaths | -66.7% |
| 2013 | 3 deaths | +200.0% |
| 2014 | 1 deaths | -66.7% |
| 2015 | 3 deaths | +200.0% |
| 2016 | 1 deaths | -66.7% |
| 2017 | 3 deaths | +200.0% |
| 2018 | 1 deaths | -66.7% |
| 2019 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 2 deaths | — |
| 2021 | 1 deaths | -50.0% |
| 2022 | 4 deaths | +300.0% |
| 2023 | 4 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 8 deaths | +100.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 8 deaths is below the median for high income countries, which is 63.5 deaths, 13% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 8 deaths is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 63 deaths, 13% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.22 deaths | 0 deaths | 5 deaths | 9 |
| 1960s | 0.8 deaths | 0 deaths | 3 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.6 deaths | 0 deaths | 5 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.1 deaths | 0 deaths | 5 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6 deaths | 0 deaths | 5 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5 deaths | 0 deaths | 6 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8 deaths | 0 deaths | 3 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8 deaths | 1 deaths | 8 deaths | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 95 Antigua and Barbuda 9 deaths compare
- 95 Grenada 9 deaths compare
- 97 Martinique 8 deaths compare
- 97 Montenegro 8 deaths compare
- 97 Oman 8 deaths compare
More social development data for Iceland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,459 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (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 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0216 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 Iceland?
- Homicides in Iceland was 8 deaths in 2024, according to WHO Mortality Database (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 8 deaths in 2024.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 deaths in 1951.
- How does Iceland rank for homicides?
- Iceland ranks 97th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 700.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Reported deaths from homicide, based on the underlying cause listed on death certificates.