Number of intentional homicides — all countries

Number of intentional homicides — United States

Number of intentional homicides in the United States in 2023 — 19,796 people. Ranked 80 in the world out of 83. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 15.5%.

2023 19,796 people −11% vs 2022
World rank 80of 83
Period maximum 24,703 people1991
Period minimum 14,164 people2014

Trend over time

1990–2023 · people

Number of intentional homicides — United States, 1990–202310,00015,00020,00025,0001990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 23,438 people1991: 24,703 people1992: 23,760 people1993: 24,526 people1994: 23,326 people1995: 21,606 people1996: 19,645 people1997: 18,208 people1998: 16,974 people1999: 15,522 people2000: 15,586 people2001: 19,033 people2002: 16,229 people2006: 17,309 people2007: 17,128 people2008: 16,465 people2009: 15,399 people2010: 14,722 people2011: 14,661 people2012: 14,856 people2013: 14,319 people2014: 14,164 people2015: 15,883 people2016: 17,413 people2017: 17,294 people2018: 16,374 people2019: 16,669 people2020: 21,570 people2021: 23,062 people2022: 22,243 people2023: 19,796 people
Change over the period: −3,642 (−15.54%) Average annual rate: -0.51 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United States

United States 19,796 people
World 423,171 people
North America computed 20,578 people
Northern America computed 20,578 people
Number of intentional homicides — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2023 19,796 −2,447 −11%
2022 22,243 −819 −3.55%
2021 23,062 +1,492 +6.92%
2020 21,570 +4,901 +29.4%
2019 16,669 +295 +1.8%
2018 16,374 −920 −5.32%
2017 17,294 −119 −0.68%
2016 17,413 +1,530 +9.63%
2015 15,883 +1,719 +12.14%
2014 14,164 −155 −1.08%
2013 14,319 −537 −3.61%
2012 14,856 +195 +1.33%
2011 14,661 −61 −0.41%
2010 14,722 −677 −4.4%
2009 15,399 −1,066 −6.47%
2008 16,465 −663 −3.87%
2007 17,128 −181 −1.05%
2006 17,309
2002 16,229 −2,804 −14.73%
2001 19,033 +3,447 +22.12%
2000 15,586 +64 +0.41%
1999 15,522 −1,452 −8.55%
1998 16,974 −1,234 −6.78%
1997 18,208 −1,437 −7.31%
1996 19,645 −1,961 −9.08%
1995 21,606 −1,720 −7.37%
1994 23,326 −1,200 −4.89%
1993 24,526 +766 +3.22%
1992 23,760 −943 −3.82%
1991 24,703 +1,265 +5.4%
1990 23,438

Northern America, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

BM Bermuda 4 CA Canada 778 US United States 19,796

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.