Homicides (WHO Mortality) in Japan
Japan: Homicides (WHO Mortality) was 231 deaths in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
231 deaths
Change on year
up 7.9%
World rank
40th
of 113 countries
All-time high
2,120 deaths
in 1955
All-time low
214 deaths
in 2022
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Homicides in Japan, 1950–2023
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for homicides in Japan is 231 deaths, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 7.9% on the previous year and down 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Japan peaked at 2,120 deaths in 1955 and was at its lowest, 214 deaths, in 2022.
Japan ranks 40th of 113 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 (WHO Mortality) in Japan, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,916 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 1,781 deaths | -7.0% |
| 1952 | 1,765 deaths | -0.9% |
| 1953 | 1,756 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1954 | 1,958 deaths | +11.5% |
| 1955 | 2,120 deaths | +8.3% |
| 1956 | 1,841 deaths | -13.2% |
| 1957 | 1,847 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 1,968 deaths | +6.6% |
| 1959 | 1,869 deaths | -5.0% |
| 1960 | 1,749 deaths | -6.4% |
| 1961 | 1,595 deaths | -8.8% |
| 1962 | 1,486 deaths | -6.8% |
| 1963 | 1,482 deaths | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 1,482 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1,406 deaths | -5.1% |
| 1966 | 1,411 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1967 | 1,396 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 1,461 deaths | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 1,430 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 1,391 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 1,396 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 1,381 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 1,399 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 1,393 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 1,446 deaths | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 1,424 deaths | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 1,376 deaths | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 1,306 deaths | -5.1% |
| 1979 | 1,192 deaths | -8.7% |
| 1980 | 1,113 deaths | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 1,153 deaths | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 1,093 deaths | -5.2% |
| 1983 | 1,151 deaths | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 1,134 deaths | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 1,017 deaths | -10.3% |
| 1986 | 1,029 deaths | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 918 deaths | -10.8% |
| 1988 | 916 deaths | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 767 deaths | -16.3% |
| 1990 | 744 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 685 deaths | -7.9% |
| 1992 | 748 deaths | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 805 deaths | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 789 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 727 deaths | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 681 deaths | -6.3% |
| 1997 | 719 deaths | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 810 deaths | +12.7% |
| 1999 | 790 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 771 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 733 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 733 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 706 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 655 deaths | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 600 deaths | -8.4% |
| 2006 | 582 deaths | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 517 deaths | -11.2% |
| 2008 | 548 deaths | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 479 deaths | -12.6% |
| 2010 | 437 deaths | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 416 deaths | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 384 deaths | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 344 deaths | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 359 deaths | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 316 deaths | -12.0% |
| 2016 | 291 deaths | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 291 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 276 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 301 deaths | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 252 deaths | -16.3% |
| 2021 | 257 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 214 deaths | -16.7% |
| 2023 | 231 deaths | +7.9% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 231 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.5 deaths, 3.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Japan's 231 deaths is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 148.5 deaths, 1.6× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1,882 deaths | 1,756 deaths | 2,120 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 1,490 deaths | 1,396 deaths | 1,749 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,370 deaths | 1,192 deaths | 1,446 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,029 deaths | 767 deaths | 1,153 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 749.8 deaths | 681 deaths | 810 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 632.4 deaths | 479 deaths | 771 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 341.5 deaths | 276 deaths | 437 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 238.5 deaths | 214 deaths | 257 deaths | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More social development data for Japan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,450 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 56 (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 56 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 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 Japan?
- Homicides in Japan was 231 deaths in 2023, according to WHO Mortality Database (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 2,120 deaths in 1955.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 214 deaths in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for homicides?
- Japan ranks 40th out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.