Male homicide victims in South Africa
South Africa: Male homicide victims was 22,236 homicides in 2022. ▲ Rising
Male homicide victims 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.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 22,236 homicides for male homicide victims in 2022. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 69.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male homicide victims in South Africa peaked at 22,236 homicides in 2022 and was at its lowest, 13,151 homicides, in 2010.
South Africa ranks 4th 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 victims in South Africa, year by year
| Year | homicides | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 16,379 homicides | — |
| 2007 | 15,721 homicides | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 15,538 homicides | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 14,171 homicides | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 13,151 homicides | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 13,154 homicides | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 16,377 homicides | +24.5% |
| 2017 | 17,425 homicides | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 18,251 homicides | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 18,630 homicides | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 20,815 homicides | +11.7% |
| 2022 | 22,236 homicides | +6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15,452 homicides | 14,171 homicides | 16,379 homicides | 4 |
| 2010s | 16,165 homicides | 13,151 homicides | 18,630 homicides | 6 |
| 2020s | 21,526 homicides | 20,815 homicides | 22,236 homicides | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 victims in South Africa?
- Male homicide victims in South Africa was 22,236 homicides 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 victims recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22,236 homicides in 2022.
- What is the lowest male homicide victims recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,151 homicides in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for male homicide victims?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 138 countries with data for 2022.
- Is male homicide victims rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.0%. 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 victims. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of intentional homicidesof male victims.