Injuries & violence

Who dies by homicide?

In the median of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age, 0.07% of men and 0.05% of women eventually die by homicide. It is never the most likely cause of death for any one country, sex and age group — but it adds up over a lifetime.

The risk by age

Chance of dying by homicide within 10 years, and its share of all the risk at that age — the median of 36 countries. Your own country's numbers are one click away on its page.

Agemenwomen
15–19<0.01% (1.8% of the risk)<0.01% (1.9% of the risk)
20–240.01% (1.9% of the risk)<0.01% (2.1% of the risk)
25–290.01% (1.9% of the risk)<0.01% (1.3% of the risk)
30–340.01% (1.1% of the risk)<0.01% (0.78% of the risk)
35–390.02% (0.80% of the risk)<0.01% (0.61% of the risk)
40–440.01% (0.58% of the risk)<0.01% (0.51% of the risk)
45–490.01% (0.33% of the risk)<0.01% (0.27% of the risk)
50–540.01% (0.19% of the risk)<0.01% (0.15% of the risk)
55–590.01% (0.10% of the risk)<0.01% (0.07% of the risk)
60–64<0.01% (0.06% of the risk)<0.01% (0.05% of the risk)
65–69<0.01% (0.03% of the risk)<0.01% (0.03% of the risk)
70–74<0.01% (0.02% of the risk)<0.01% (0.02% of the risk)
75–79<0.01% (0.01% of the risk)<0.01% (0.01% of the risk)
80–84<0.01% (<0.01% of the risk)<0.01% (<0.01% of the risk)
85–890% (0% of the risk)<0.01% (<0.01% of the risk)
90–940% (0% of the risk)<0.01% (<0.01% of the risk)

What changes the odds

If someone at home is hurting or threatening you, confidential help is available — and in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.

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Related: Road accidents · Falls · Drowning · Accidental poisoning & overdose · Other accidents · Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)

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Questions

At what age is homicide most likely to be the cause of death?
For men, homicide takes its largest share of deaths at 20–24: 1.9% of the risk of dying in the next 10 years, in the median of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age.
Which country has the highest risk of dying by homicide?
Of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age, United States has the highest lifetime chance of dying by homicide for men (0.76%), and Germany the lowest (0.04%).

Computed by Odainn from official mortality statistics (Eurostat; ONS, NRS and NISRA; CDC; Statistics Canada) for 36 countries, latest years — how we calculate. Belarus is left out: deaths by cause and age aren't published together there, so the split by cause is our estimate. Population statistics, not a prediction for any individual. Educational, not medical advice.