The Number of Violent Deaths in This Country Will Shock You

By Kellianne Matthews Published Nov 1, 7:10AM EDT

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The Number of Violent Deaths in This Country Will Shock You — © Pmmrd / Shutterstock.com

Deaths and injuries related to firearms have dramatically increased in the United States. In fact, just this year the U.S. surgeon general declared firearm violence a public health crisis. But as the rate of firearm violence increases in America, how do other countries compare? (These are America’s most dangerous cities.)

To find out — and to find the country where the most people die violent deaths (by firearm or other means) — 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2023 Small Arms Survey’s Global Violent Deaths Database, which has data from 2004–2021. We ranked countries based on all violent deaths per capita and added civilian firearm holdings from the same source as well as recent gross domestic product per capita in current U.S. dollars for the most recent year available from the World Bank. Civilian firearm holdings data is only as of 2017. Also, while the violent deaths survey includes 230 countries, we only considered the 214 countries with over 30,000 populations. (These countries have the most gun deaths per capita.)

Why Are We Covering This?

Violence often hinders economic and social development. While not all the countries on the list rank among the poorest half, a large majority (28) do, with GDPs per capita lower than the $12,687 world average in 2022. For this reason, it is important to keep track of how countries deal with violence within their borders.

41. Dominican Republic

Violent deaths, 2021: 1,702 or 15.31 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,041 or 9.36 per 100,000 (#33 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,349
Civilian firearms, 2017: 7.4 per 100 people (#104 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $10,111 (#89 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 11,117,873 (Caribbean)

40. Chad

Violent deaths, 2021: 2,642 or 15.38 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,212 or 7.05 per 100,000 (#38 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,541
Civilian firearms, 2017: 1 per 100 people (#40 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $717 (#13 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 17,179,740 (Middle Africa)

39. Haiti

Haiti | Haiti - Presidential Palace

Violent deaths, 2021: 1,806 or 15.78 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 689 or 6.02 per 100,000 (#43 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,489
Civilian firearms, 2017: 2.6 per 100 people (#72 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $1,748 (#39 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 11,447,569 (Caribbean)

38. Ecuador

Casa Blanca, Same, Esmeraldas, Ecuador by Rinaldo Wurglitsch

Casa Blanca, Same, Esmeraldas, Ecuador (BY 2.0) by Rinaldo Wurglitsch

Violent deaths, 2021: 2,871 or 16.13 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 2,098 or 11.79 per 100,000 (#21 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 2,496
Civilian firearms, 2017: 2.4 per 100 people (#64 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $6,391 (#93 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 17,797,737 (South America)

37. Ethiopia

Violent deaths, 2021: 19,430 or 16.15 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 6,407 or 5.33 per 100,000 (#49 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 9,053
Civilian firearms, 2017: 0.4 per 100 people (#19 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $1,028 (#23 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 120,283,026 (Eastern Africa)

36. French Guiana

Violent deaths, 2021: 49 or 16.47 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 24 or 8.07 per 100,000 (#34 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 40
Civilian firearms, 2017: 19.6 per 100 people (#26 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: N/A
Country population and region: 297,449 (South America)

35. Iraq

Violent deaths, 2021: 7,505 or 17.24 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 4,620 or 10.61 per 100,000 (#27 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 3,832
Civilian firearms, 2017: 19.6 per 100 people (#26 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $5,937 (#89 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 43,533,592 (Western Asia)

34. Nigeria

Violent deaths, 2021: 37,035 or 17.35 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 16,309 or 7.64 per 100,000 (#35 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 21,021
Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.2 per 100 people (#81 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $2,163 (#44 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 213,401,323 (Western Africa)

33. Dominica

Dominica | Batibou Beach, Dominica

Violent deaths, 2021: 13 or 17.95 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1 or 1.38 per 100,000 (#94 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 10
Civilian firearms, 2017: 6.2 per 100 people (#112 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $8,351 (#98 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 72,412 (Caribbean)

32. Eswatini

Eswatini | Parliament building of Eswatini, Lobamba

Violent deaths, 2021: 220 or 18.45 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 53 or 4.45 per 100,000 (#53 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 151
Civilian firearms, 2017: 4.8 per 100 people (#108 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $3,987 (#70 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 1,192,271 (Southern Africa)

31. Antigua And Barbuda

Violent deaths, 2021: 18 or 19.31 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 5 or 5.36 per 100,000 (#48 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 16
Civilian firearms, 2017: 5.4 per 100 people (#113 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $19,920 (#64 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 93,219 (Caribbean)

30. Somalia

Violent deaths, 2021: 3,334 or 19.54 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,695 or 9.93 per 100,000 (#28 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 3,262
Civilian firearms, 2017: 12.4 per 100 people (#66 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $592 (#9 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 17,065,581 (Eastern Africa)

29. Guyana

Guyana | File:Central Vaidik Mandir, Georgetown, Guyana..jpg

Violent deaths, 2021: 163 or 20.26 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 40 or 4.97 per 100,000 (#50 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 131
Civilian firearms, 2017: 15.8 per 100 people (#47 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $18,199 (#70 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 804,567 (South America)

28. Puerto Rico

Violent deaths, 2021: 694 or 21.31 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 694 or 21.31 per 100,000 (#14 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 602
Civilian firearms, 2017: 11.5 per 100 people (#74 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $35,209 (#38 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 3,256,028 (Caribbean)

27. Mali

Mali | Timbuktu Mud Mosque, Mali, W. Africa

Violent deaths, 2021: 4,689 or 21.41 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 2,366 or 10.80 per 100,000 (#25 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 2,393
Civilian firearms, 2017: 1.1 per 100 people (#43 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $833 (#18 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 21,904,983 (Western Africa)

26. El Salvador

Violent deaths, 2021: 1,405 or 22.25 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 890 or 14.10 per 100,000 (#20 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,147
Civilian firearms, 2017: 12 per 100 people (#71 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $5,127 (#82 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 6,314,167 (Central America)

25. Democratic Republic of the Congo

Tshikapa, DRC by Johnstanbul

Tshikapa, DRC (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by Johnstanbul

Violent deaths, 2021: 21,364 or 22.28 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 9,015 or 9.40 per 100,000 (#32 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 12,982
Civilian firearms, 2017: 1.2 per 100 people (#45 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $654 (#12 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 95,894,118 (Middle Africa)

24. Guatemala

Guatemala | Guatemala-1621 - Temple of the Great Jaguar

Violent deaths, 2021: 4,054 or 23.02 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 2,690 or 15.28 per 100,000 (#19 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 3,520
Civilian firearms, 2017: 12.1 per 100 people (#69 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $5,473 (#86 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 17,608,483 (Central America)

23. Brazil

Brazil | Mike Vondran, Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil January 3 2009.

Violent deaths, 2021: 52,102 or 24.31 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 39,963 or 18.65 per 100,000 (#16 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 39,961
Civilian firearms, 2017: 8.3 per 100 people (#97 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $8,918 (#95 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 214,326,223 (South America)

22. South Sudan

Violent deaths, 2021: 3,452 or 32.12 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,239 or 11.53 per 100,000 (#22 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 2,160
Civilian firearms, 2017: 9.6 per 100 people (#90 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: N/A
Country population and region: 10,748,272 (Eastern Africa)

21. Myanmar

Myanmar | GRAN PAGODA DE SHEWEDAGON PAYA, YANGON, MYANMAR

Violent deaths, 2021: 17,344 or 32.24 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 5,966 or 11.09 per 100,000 (#23 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 11,007
Civilian firearms, 2017: 1.6 per 100 people (#52 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $1,149 (#26 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 53,798,084 (South-eastern Asia)

20. Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

Violent deaths, 2021: 41,444 or 32.71 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 28,342 or 22.37 per 100,000 (#13 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 35,700
Civilian firearms, 2017: 12.9 per 100 people (#60 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $11,497 (#85 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 126,705,138 (Central America)

19. Saint Kitts and Nevis

Violent deaths, 2021: 16 or 33.61 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 14 or 29.41 per 100,000 (#8 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 14
Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.4 per 100 people (#87 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $20,262 (#62 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 47,606 (Caribbean)

18. Colombia

Jardin, Colombia by szeke

Jardin, Colombia (BY-SA 2.0) by szeke

Violent deaths, 2021: 18,595 or 36.10 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 10,848 or 21.06 per 100,000 (#15 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 14,159
Civilian firearms, 2017: 10.1 per 100 people (#81 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $6,624 (#95 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 51,516,562 (South America)

17. Belize

Belize | Belize-1059 - Plaza A - Caracol

Violent deaths, 2021: 146 or 36.50 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 104 or 26.00 per 100,000 (#11 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 125
Civilian firearms, 2017: 10 per 100 people (#84 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $6,984 (#101 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 400,031 (Central America)

16. Bahamas

Bahamas by Alkan de Beaumont Chaglar

Bahamas (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alkan de Beaumont Chaglar

Violent deaths, 2021: 150 or 36.77 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 133 or 32.61 per 100,000 (#5 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 119
Civilian firearms, 2017: 18.8 per 100 people (#33 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $31,458 (#46 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 407,906 (Caribbean)

15. Trinidad and Tobago

Violent deaths, 2021: 567 or 37.16 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 400 or 26.22 per 100,000 (#10 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 448
Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.2 per 100 people (#81 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $19,629 (#65 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 1,525,663 (Caribbean)

14. Venezuela

Maracaibo , Estado Zulia , Venezuela by jopimalg

Maracaibo , Estado Zulia , Venezuela (BY 2.0) by jopimalg

Violent deaths, 2021: 10,517 or 37.29 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 8,255 or 29.27 per 100,000 (#9 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 7,115
Civilian firearms, 2017: 18.5 per 100 people (#35 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: N/A
Country population and region: 28,199,867 (South America)

13. Saint Vincent And The Grenadines

Violent deaths, 2021: 39 or 37.38 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 26 or 24.92 per 100,000 (#12 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 32
Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.4 per 100 people (#87 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $9,125 (#94 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 104,332 (Caribbean)

12. Turks and Caicos Islands

Violent deaths, 2021: 17 or 37.68 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1 or 2.22 per 100,000 (#72 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 15
Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.3 per 100 people (#82 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $24,918 (#55 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 45,114 (Caribbean)

11. Honduras

Violent deaths, 2021: 4,561 or 44.37 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 3,356 or 32.65 per 100,000 (#4 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 3,941
Civilian firearms, 2017: 14.1 per 100 people (#54 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $3,040 (#56 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 10,278,345 (Central America)

10. Saint Lucia

Violent deaths, 2021: 82 or 45.64 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 55 or 30.61 per 100,000 (#6 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 70
Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.4 per 100 people (#87 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $13,031 (#79 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 179,651 (Caribbean)

9. Lesotho

Violent deaths, 2021: 1,077 or 47.21 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 217 or 9.51 per 100,000 (#31 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 923
Civilian firearms, 2017: 4.8 per 100 people (#108 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $970 (#22 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 2,281,454 (Southern Africa)

8. South Africa

Violent deaths, 2021: 28,956 or 48.75 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 2,786 or 4.69 per 100,000 (#51 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 24,865
Civilian firearms, 2017: 9.7 per 100 people (#89 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $6,766 (#98 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 59,392,255 (Southern Africa)

7. United States Virgin Islands

Violent deaths, 2021: 53 or 52.95 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 49 or 48.96 per 100,000 (#3 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 45
Civilian firearms, 2017: 16.6 per 100 people (#44 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $41,976 (#32 highest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 100,091 (Caribbean)

6. Syrian Arab Republic

Syrian+Arab+Republic | The flag of Syrian Arab Republic Damascus, Syria

Violent deaths, 2021: 12,580 or 58.99 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 3,818 or 17.90 per 100,000 (#17 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 5,876
Civilian firearms, 2017: 8.2 per 100 people (#99 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $421 (#3 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 21,324,367 (Western Asia)

5. Yemen

Violent deaths, 2021: 20,144 or 61.08 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 10,056 or 30.49 per 100,000 (#7 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 18,404
Civilian firearms, 2017: 52.8 per 100 people (#3 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $650 (#11 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 32,981,641 (Western Asia)

4. Jamaica

Violent deaths, 2021: 1,823 or 64.47 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,565 or 55.35 per 100,000 (#2 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,474
Civilian firearms, 2017: 8.8 per 100 people (#92 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $6,047 (#90 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 2,827,695 (Caribbean)

3. British Virgin Islands

Violent deaths, 2021: 22 or 70.69 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 3 or 9.64 per 100,000 (#29 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 19
Civilian firearms, 2017: 0.8 per 100 people (#35 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: N/A
Country population and region: 31,122 (Caribbean)

2. Central African Republic

Central African Republic flag on Central African Republic Map by GR.Stocks

Central African Republic flag on Central African Republic Map (Shutterstock.com) by GR.Stocks

Violent deaths, 2021: 4,248 or 77.84 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 934 or 17.12 per 100,000 (#18 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 2,200
Civilian firearms, 2017: 1.8 per 100 people (#53 lowest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $427 (#4 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 5,457,154 (Middle Africa)

1. Afghanistan

Violent deaths, 2021: 45,022 or 112.28 per 100,000 people
Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 22,776 or 56.80 per 100,000 (#1 highest)
Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 42,643
Civilian firearms, 2017: 12.5 per 100 people (#63 highest of 230 countries)
GDP per capita: $356 (#2 lowest of 206 countries)
Country population and region: 40,099,462 (Southern Asia)

About the Author Kellianne Matthews →

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