Female homicide rate in South Africa
South Africa: Female homicide rate was 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
12.2 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 18.7%
World rank
2nd
of 138 countries
All-time high
12.2 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2022
All-time low
8.74 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2011
Years of data
12
2006–2022
Female homicide rate in South Africa, 2006–2022
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in homicides per 100,000 population.
Analysis
In 2022, female homicide rate in South Africa stood at 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.7% on the previous year and up 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female homicide rate in South Africa peaked at 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022 and was at its lowest, 8.74 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2011.
That places South Africa 2nd out of 138 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
Female homicide rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 10.46 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2007 | 10.18 homicides per 100,000 population | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 9.58 homicides per 100,000 population | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 9.66 homicides per 100,000 population | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 10.1 homicides per 100,000 population | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 8.74 homicides per 100,000 population | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 8.95 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 9.86 homicides per 100,000 population | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 9.17 homicides per 100,000 population | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 8.78 homicides per 100,000 population | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 10.28 homicides per 100,000 population | +17.1% |
| 2022 | 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population | +18.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.88 homicides per 100,000 population, 6.5× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.66 homicides per 100,000 population, 4.6× the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.97 homicides per 100,000 population | 9.58 homicides per 100,000 population | 10.46 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
| 2010s | 9.27 homicides per 100,000 population | 8.74 homicides per 100,000 population | 10.1 homicides per 100,000 population | 6 |
| 2020s | 11.24 homicides per 100,000 population | 10.28 homicides per 100,000 population | 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Montserrat 43.14 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 3 Guyana 11.56 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 4 Saint Lucia 9.92 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 5 Dominica 9.03 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female homicide rate in South Africa?
- Female homicide rate in South Africa was 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female homicide rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.2 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022.
- What is the lowest female homicide rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.74 homicides per 100,000 population in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for female homicide rate?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 138 countries with data for 2022.
- Is female homicide rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female homicide rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 populationof female victims .