Homicides in Switzerland
Switzerland: Homicides was 38.54 deaths in 2021. ▼ Falling
Homicides in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland is 38.54 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Switzerland peaked at 79.72 deaths in 2001 and was at its lowest, 38.54 deaths, in 2021.
Switzerland ranks 149th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Homicides in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 75.22 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 79.72 deaths | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 79.44 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 75.56 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 73.72 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 69.66 deaths | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 62.6 deaths | -10.1% |
| 2007 | 56.97 deaths | -9.0% |
| 2008 | 54.65 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 52.5 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 51.1 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 49.07 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 48.73 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 50.19 deaths | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 48.24 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 50.03 deaths | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 47.95 deaths | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 47.08 deaths | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 43.72 deaths | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 42.33 deaths | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 40.33 deaths | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 38.54 deaths | -4.4% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 38.54 deaths is below the median for high income countries, which is 71.2 deaths, 54% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 38.54 deaths is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 100.82 deaths, 38% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68 deaths | 52.5 deaths | 79.72 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.84 deaths | 42.33 deaths | 51.1 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.44 deaths | 38.54 deaths | 40.33 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 146 Bosnia and Herzegovina 44.83 deaths compare
- 147 Austria 44.08 deaths compare
- 148 Equatorial Guinea 43.14 deaths compare
- 150 Ireland 37.44 deaths compare
- 151 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 36.12 deaths compare
- 152 Saint Lucia 36.1 deaths compare
More social development data for Switzerland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 208,287 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6 (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 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0229 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 Switzerland?
- Homicides in Switzerland was 38.54 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 79.72 deaths in 2001.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.54 deaths in 2021.
- How does Switzerland rank for homicides?
- Switzerland ranks 149th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.