Male homicide rate in Iceland
Iceland: Male homicide rate was 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.02 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 30.9%
World rank
86th
of 138 countries
All-time high
2.02 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2023
All-time low
0 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2012
Years of data
19
1996–2023
Male homicide rate in Iceland, 1996–2023
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
Iceland recorded 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population for male homicide rate in 2023. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of up 30.9% on the previous year and up 227.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male homicide rate in Iceland peaked at 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2012.
That places Iceland 86th out of 138 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Male homicide rate in Iceland, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.7419 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 1999 | 0.7199 homicides per 100,000 population | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 2.01 homicides per 100,000 population | +179.2% |
| 2007 | 1.26 homicides per 100,000 population | -37.3% |
| 2009 | 0.621 homicides per 100,000 population | -50.7% |
| 2010 | 1.25 homicides per 100,000 population | +101.3% |
| 2011 | 1.25 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 0 homicides per 100,000 population | -100.0% |
| 2013 | 0.6157 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2014 | 0 homicides per 100,000 population | -100.0% |
| 2015 | 1.8 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2016 | 0 homicides per 100,000 population | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 0.5735 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2018 | 1.11 homicides per 100,000 population | +93.4% |
| 2019 | 0.5407 homicides per 100,000 population | -51.3% |
| 2020 | 0.5318 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 0.5236 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 1.54 homicides per 100,000 population | +194.0% |
| 2023 | 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population | +30.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 homicides per 100,000 population, 1.4× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.61 homicides per 100,000 population, 1.3× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7309 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.7199 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.7419 homicides per 100,000 population | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.3 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.621 homicides per 100,000 population | 2.01 homicides per 100,000 population | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.7142 homicides per 100,000 population | 0 homicides per 100,000 population | 1.8 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.15 homicides per 100,000 population | 0.5236 homicides per 100,000 population | 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 83 North Macedonia 2.13 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 84 Latvia 2.06 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 85 Serbia 2.05 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 87 France 2.01 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 88 Belgium 2 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 89 Algeria 1.83 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More gender data for Iceland
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 69.14 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.228 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 345.21 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 345.21 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7736 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 2,155 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2,290 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 2,184 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2,324 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 2,211 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male homicide rate in Iceland?
- Male homicide rate in Iceland was 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023, 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 male homicide rate recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.02 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023.
- What is the lowest male homicide rate recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 homicides per 100,000 population in 2012.
- How does Iceland rank for male homicide rate?
- Iceland ranks 86th out of 138 countries with data for 2023.
- Is male homicide rate rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 227.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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 Male homicide rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 populationof male victims.