Male homicide rate in South Africa
South Africa: Male homicide rate was 73.37 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022. ▲ Rising
Male 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, male homicide rate in South Africa stood at 73.37 homicides per 100,000 population. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 42.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male homicide rate in South Africa peaked at 73.37 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022 and was at its lowest, 51.53 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 8th of 138 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Male homicide rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 68.44 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 2007 | 64.91 homicides per 100,000 population | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 63.34 homicides per 100,000 population | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 57.01 homicides per 100,000 population | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 52.22 homicides per 100,000 population | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 51.53 homicides per 100,000 population | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 58.95 homicides per 100,000 population | +14.4% |
| 2017 | 62.44 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 64.26 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 64.48 homicides per 100,000 population | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 69.72 homicides per 100,000 population | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 73.37 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 63.42 homicides per 100,000 population | 57.01 homicides per 100,000 population | 68.44 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
| 2010s | 58.98 homicides per 100,000 population | 51.53 homicides per 100,000 population | 64.48 homicides per 100,000 population | 6 |
| 2020s | 71.55 homicides per 100,000 population | 69.72 homicides per 100,000 population | 73.37 homicides per 100,000 population | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 5 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 90.07 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 6 Ecuador 84.51 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 7 Haiti 74.22 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 9 Saint Lucia 68.85 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 10 Bahamas 62.03 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 11 Honduras 54.78 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)
- 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)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 588,323 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 594,743 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 603,304 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male homicide rate in South Africa?
- Male homicide rate in South Africa was 73.37 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 73.37 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022.
- What is the lowest male homicide rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.53 homicides per 100,000 population in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for male homicide rate?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 138 countries with data for 2022.
- Is male homicide rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 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.