Number of intentional homicides — all countries

Number of intentional homicides — Southern Africa

Number of intentional homicides in Southern Africa in 2021 — 25,920 people. Since 1994, the indicator has fallen by 3.8%.

2021 25,920 people +26.46% vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 26,950 people1994
Period minimum 16,034 people2011

Trend over time

1994–2021 · people

Number of intentional homicides — Southern Africa, 1994–202115,00020,00025,00030,00019941997200020032006200920122015201820211994: 26,950 people1998: 25,699 people1999: 23,097 people2000: 22,266 people2001: 22,155 people2002: 22,288 people2003: 20,271 people2004: 19,550 people2005: 18,958 people2006: 19,494 people2007: 19,696 people2008: 19,688 people2009: 17,631 people2010: 16,718 people2011: 16,034 people2012: 16,705 people2020: 20,496 people2021: 25,920 people
Change over the period: −1,030 (−3.82%) Average annual rate: -0.14 %

Comparison, 2021

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Africa

Southern Africa 25,920 people
World 439,488 people
Number of intentional homicides — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2021 25,920 +5,424 +26.46%
2020 20,496
2012 16,705 +671 +4.18%
2011 16,034 −684 −4.09%
2010 16,718 −913 −5.18%
2009 17,631 −2,057 −10.45%
2008 19,688 −8 −0.04%
2007 19,696 +202 +1.04%
2006 19,494 +536 +2.83%
2005 18,958 −592 −3.03%
2004 19,550 −721 −3.56%
2003 20,271 −2,017 −9.05%
2002 22,288 +133 +0.6%
2001 22,155 −111 −0.5%
2000 22,266 −831 −3.6%
1999 23,097 −2,602 −10.12%
1998 25,699
1994 26,950

About the indicator

The number of victims of intentional homicide during a calendar year. UNODC treats intentional homicide as unlawful death inflicted with the intent to cause it — the definition is standardized across all countries, so the figures are comparable regardless of how the act is classified in national law. The data are collected through the annual survey of countries on crime trends and supplemented with estimates from death registration systems and medical statistics.

Important: The absolute count and the rate per 100,000 answer different questions: large countries stand in the top rows by the number of homicides, and entirely different ones by the rate. Both are worth looking at.

Source: UNODC Crime Statistics, license UN data: free to use with attribution.