Male homicide rate in Kenya
Kenya: Male homicide rate was 7.11 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
7.11 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
down 10.0%
World rank
53rd
of 138 countries
All-time high
8.3 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2017
All-time low
4.53 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2018
Years of data
9
2014–2022
Male homicide rate in Kenya, 2014–2022
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
Kenya recorded 7.11 homicides per 100,000 population for male homicide rate in 2022.
That represents a change of down 10.0% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male homicide rate in Kenya peaked at 8.3 homicides per 100,000 population in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4.53 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2018.
Kenya ranks 53rd of 138 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Male homicide rate in Kenya, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 7.77 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2015 | 7.03 homicides per 100,000 population | -9.5% |
| 2016 | 7.19 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 8.3 homicides per 100,000 population | +15.4% |
| 2018 | 4.53 homicides per 100,000 population | -45.4% |
| 2019 | 4.63 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 5.43 homicides per 100,000 population | +17.2% |
| 2021 | 7.89 homicides per 100,000 population | +45.5% |
| 2022 | 7.11 homicides per 100,000 population | -10.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 7.11 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.92 homicides per 100,000 population, 1.4× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 7.11 homicides per 100,000 population is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.31 homicides per 100,000 population, 69% of the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6.58 homicides per 100,000 population | 4.53 homicides per 100,000 population | 8.3 homicides per 100,000 population | 6 |
| 2020s | 6.81 homicides per 100,000 population | 5.43 homicides per 100,000 population | 7.89 homicides per 100,000 population | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 50 Philippines 7.54 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 51 Argentina 7.45 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 52 Cuba 7.12 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 54 Thailand 6.5 homicides per 100,000 population
- 55 Bolivia 5.85 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 56 Tanzania 5.81 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More gender data for Kenya
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 21,579 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.8794 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 41,524 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 41,524 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.3 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 740,912 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 751,960 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 725,839 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 736,424 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 712,907 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male homicide rate in Kenya?
- Male homicide rate in Kenya was 7.11 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 male homicide rate recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 8.3 homicides per 100,000 population in 2017.
- What is the lowest male homicide rate recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.53 homicides per 100,000 population in 2018.
- How does Kenya rank for male homicide rate?
- Kenya ranks 53rd out of 138 countries with data for 2022.
- Is male homicide rate rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 populationof male victims.