Share of deaths from homicide in Colombia
Colombia: Share of deaths from homicide was 4.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
4.0%
Change on year
down 3.5%
World rank
5th
of 113 countries
All-time high
18.0%
in 1991
All-time low
1.9%
in 1969
Years of data
60
1953–2021
Share of deaths from homicide in Colombia, 1953–2021
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, share of deaths from homicide in Colombia stood at 4.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.5% on the previous year and down 53.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths from homicide in Colombia peaked at 18.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1969.
Colombia ranks 5th of 113 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of deaths from homicide in Colombia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 2.3% | — |
| 1954 | 2.1% | -10.2% |
| 1955 | 2.6% | +24.0% |
| 1956 | 3.0% | +17.5% |
| 1957 | 3.1% | +4.3% |
| 1958 | 4.0% | +27.5% |
| 1959 | 3.1% | -22.3% |
| 1960 | 2.6% | -15.9% |
| 1961 | 3.0% | +14.3% |
| 1962 | 3.0% | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 2.9% | -6.2% |
| 1964 | 2.5% | -10.9% |
| 1965 | 2.6% | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 2.3% | -12.1% |
| 1967 | 2.3% | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 1.9% | -16.1% |
| 1969 | 1.9% | -2.8% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | +27.0% |
| 1974 | 2.7% | +13.6% |
| 1975 | 2.8% | +4.3% |
| 1976 | 3.1% | +8.6% |
| 1977 | 3.7% | +21.6% |
| 1984 | 6.8% | +83.0% |
| 1985 | 7.9% | +15.2% |
| 1986 | 9.8% | +24.2% |
| 1987 | 10.3% | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 12.3% | +20.0% |
| 1989 | 14.0% | +13.4% |
| 1990 | 15.5% | +11.2% |
| 1991 | 18.0% | +15.7% |
| 1992 | 17.9% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 17.5% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 16.4% | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 13.8% | -15.8% |
| 1996 | 14.3% | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 13.3% | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 14.1% | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 14.1% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 15.4% | +9.0% |
| 2001 | 15.7% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 16.5% | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 12.4% | -24.8% |
| 2004 | 11.8% | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 10.0% | -15.6% |
| 2006 | 9.3% | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 8.7% | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 10.0% | +16.3% |
| 2010 | 9.2% | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 8.5% | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 7.3% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | -15.5% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 5.3% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | -22.8% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.9% | 2.1% | 4.0% | 7 |
| 1960s | 2.5% | 1.9% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.9% | 2.4% | 3.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 10.2% | 6.8% | 14.0% | 6 |
| 1990s | 15.5% | 13.3% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.9% | 8.6% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 5.3% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
- 2 El Salvador 6.8% compare
- 3 Belize 5.9% compare
- 4 Ecuador 4.9% compare
- 6 Mexico 3.9% compare
- 7 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3.4% compare
- 8 Trinidad and Tobago 3.4% compare
More health data for Colombia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3468 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,505 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 698 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0103 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 7.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0062 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1,207 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths from homicide in Colombia?
- Share of deaths from homicide in Colombia was 4.0% in 2021, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths from homicide recorded in Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of deaths from homicide recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1969.
- How does Colombia rank for share of deaths from homicide?
- Colombia ranks 5th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of deaths from homicide rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of deaths from homicide. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of annual deaths which are homicides.