Homicides in Ireland
Ireland: Homicides was 37.44 deaths in 2021. ▼ Falling
Homicides in Ireland, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for homicides in Ireland is 37.44 deaths, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Ireland peaked at 80.21 deaths in 2007 and was at its lowest, 34.81 deaths, in 2015.
That places Ireland 150th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Homicides in Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45.3 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 53.34 deaths | +17.7% |
| 2002 | 52.39 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 45.39 deaths | -13.4% |
| 2004 | 40.8 deaths | -10.1% |
| 2005 | 52.6 deaths | +28.9% |
| 2006 | 62.58 deaths | +19.0% |
| 2007 | 80.21 deaths | +28.2% |
| 2008 | 51.48 deaths | -35.8% |
| 2009 | 58.63 deaths | +13.9% |
| 2010 | 54.49 deaths | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 43.21 deaths | -20.7% |
| 2012 | 43.43 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 53.23 deaths | +22.6% |
| 2014 | 52.76 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 34.81 deaths | -34.0% |
| 2016 | 37.06 deaths | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 40.81 deaths | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 39.18 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 38.18 deaths | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 38.27 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 37.44 deaths | -2.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 37.44 deaths is below the median for high income countries, which is 71.2 deaths, 53% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 37.44 deaths is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 100.82 deaths, 37% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.27 deaths | 40.8 deaths | 80.21 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.72 deaths | 34.81 deaths | 54.49 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.86 deaths | 37.44 deaths | 38.27 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 147 Austria 44.08 deaths compare
- 148 Equatorial Guinea 43.14 deaths compare
- 149 Switzerland 38.54 deaths compare
- 151 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 36.12 deaths compare
- 152 Saint Lucia 36.1 deaths compare
- 153 Barbados 36.01 deaths compare
More social development data for Ireland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 137,869 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 69 (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 69 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0251 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 Ireland?
- Homicides in Ireland was 37.44 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 80.21 deaths in 2007.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.81 deaths in 2015.
- How does Ireland rank for homicides?
- Ireland ranks 150th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of deaths from interpersonal violence in both sexes.