Homicide rate vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Homicide rate vs. GDP per capita was 43.72 homicides per 100,000 population in 2022. ▼ Falling
Homicide rate vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 1994–2022
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
The most recent figure for homicide rate vs. gdp per capita in South Africa is 43.72 homicides per 100,000 population, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 45.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 60.34 homicides per 100,000 population in 1995 and was at its lowest, 29.35 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 7th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Homicide rate vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 59.01 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 1995 | 60.34 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 56.45 homicides per 100,000 population | -6.5% |
| 1997 | 53.62 homicides per 100,000 population | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 54.36 homicides per 100,000 population | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 48.37 homicides per 100,000 population | -11.0% |
| 2000 | 46.14 homicides per 100,000 population | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 45 homicides per 100,000 population | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 44.88 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 40.87 homicides per 100,000 population | -8.9% |
| 2004 | 38.36 homicides per 100,000 population | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 37.44 homicides per 100,000 population | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 38.21 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 36.41 homicides per 100,000 population | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 35.38 homicides per 100,000 population | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 32.41 homicides per 100,000 population | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 30.36 homicides per 100,000 population | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 29.35 homicides per 100,000 population | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 30.15 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 31.13 homicides per 100,000 population | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 32.03 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 32.92 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 33.21 homicides per 100,000 population | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 35.28 homicides per 100,000 population | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 35.87 homicides per 100,000 population | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 35.79 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 32.98 homicides per 100,000 population | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 40.94 homicides per 100,000 population | +24.2% |
| 2022 | 43.72 homicides per 100,000 population | +6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.36 homicides per 100,000 population | 48.37 homicides per 100,000 population | 60.34 homicides per 100,000 population | 6 |
| 2000s | 39.51 homicides per 100,000 population | 32.41 homicides per 100,000 population | 46.14 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.61 homicides per 100,000 population | 29.35 homicides per 100,000 population | 35.87 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.21 homicides per 100,000 population | 32.98 homicides per 100,000 population | 43.72 homicides per 100,000 population | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 4 United States Virgin Islands 49.86 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 5 Jamaica 49.44 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 6 Ecuador 45.72 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 8 Haiti 41.15 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 9 Trinidad and Tobago 40.44 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 10 Saint Lucia 39.04 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 6.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8998 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 5,937 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 16.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 106,203 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 1.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.7819 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicide rate vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Homicide rate vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 43.72 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 homicide rate vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 60.34 homicides per 100,000 population in 1995.
- What is the lowest homicide rate vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.35 homicides per 100,000 population in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for homicide rate vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is homicide rate vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Homicide rate vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 population.