Countries With the Fastest Decline in Homicide rate (5-Year Change)
Change in Homicide rate over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
El Salvador fell the most: by 55.9, from 63.8 per 100,000 people to 7.9 per 100,000 people in the five years to 2022. Venezuela, RB is second (−35.3), followed by Belize (−9.99). 70 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −0.517.
- #1
- El Salvador · −55.9
- Median
- −0.517
- Coverage
- 70 countries
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (per 100,000 people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Salvador | 63.8 | 7.9 | −55.9 |
| 2 | Venezuela, RB | 48 | 12.6 | −35.3 |
| 3 | Belize | 38 | 28.1 | −9.99 |
| 4 | Brazil | 27.2 | 19.3 | −7.89 |
| 5 | Honduras | 38 | 31.4 | −6.54 |
| 6 | Puerto Rico (US) | 20.2 | 14.6 | −5.59 |
| 7 | Guatemala | 28.9 | 23.4 | −5.54 |
| 8 | Mexico | 29.4 | 24.9 | −4.59 |
| 9 | Russian Federation | 10.9 | 6.77 | −4.12 |
| 10 | Tanzania | 7.2 | 3.75 | −3.45 |
| 11 | Kyrgyz Republic | 5.12 | 1.75 | −3.37 |
| 12 | Moldova | 5.26 | 2.54 | −2.72 |
| 13 | Afghanistan | 6.68 | 4.03 | −2.65 |
| 14 | Barbados | 9.97 | 7.44 | −2.54 |
| 15 | Antigua and Barbuda | 13.2 | 10.7 | −2.48 |
| 16 | Kazakhstan | 4.91 | 2.55 | −2.36 |
| 17 | Cabo Verde | 8.98 | 6.99 | −1.98 |
| 18 | Latvia | 4.36 | 2.5 | −1.86 |
| 19 | Uganda | 10.8 | 8.97 | −1.85 |
| 20 | Bermuda | 7.83 | 6.18 | −1.65 |
| 21 | Montenegro | 2.27 | 0.789 | −1.48 |
| 22 | Lebanon | 3.57 | 2.24 | −1.32 |
| 23 | Belarus | 3.59 | 2.38 | −1.2 |
| 24 | Uruguay | 12.4 | 11.2 | −1.16 |
| 25 | Malta | 1.65 | 0.563 | −1.09 |
| 26 | Uzbekistan | 2.42 | 1.4 | −1.02 |
| 27 | Paraguay | 7.73 | 6.78 | −0.953 |
| 28 | Albania | 2.28 | 1.39 | −0.893 |
| 29 | Cuba | 5.32 | 4.46 | −0.853 |
| 30 | Argentina | 5.34 | 4.49 | −0.846 |
| 31 | Philippines | 5.16 | 4.35 | −0.815 |
| 32 | Lithuania | 3.28 | 2.63 | −0.655 |
| 33 | Finland | 1.6 | 0.982 | −0.613 |
| 34 | Estonia | 2.12 | 1.54 | −0.582 |
| 35 | Bolivia | 4.99 | 4.42 | −0.569 |
| 36 | Bangladesh | 2.81 | 2.34 | −0.464 |
| 37 | Qatar | 0.443 | 0.069 | −0.374 |
| 38 | Cyprus | 1.18 | 0.818 | −0.363 |
| 39 | Mauritius | 2.56 | 2.27 | −0.284 |
| 40 | Mongolia | 6.19 | 5.92 | −0.272 |
| 41 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 0.642 | 0.376 | −0.266 |
| 42 | Kosovo | 2.16 | 1.9 | −0.262 |
| 43 | India | 3.08 | 2.82 | −0.261 |
| 44 | Malaysia | 0.981 | 0.734 | −0.247 |
| 45 | Bulgaria | 1.31 | 1.09 | −0.221 |
| 46 | Bahrain | 0.405 | 0.196 | −0.209 |
| 47 | Myanmar | 2.78 | 2.58 | −0.203 |
| 48 | Ghana | 2.03 | 1.83 | −0.198 |
| 49 | Serbia | 1.5 | 1.31 | −0.182 |
| 50 | Algeria | 1.34 | 1.16 | −0.175 |
| 51 | Romania | 1.28 | 1.11 | −0.167 |
| 52 | Denmark | 1 | 0.841 | −0.161 |
| 53 | Hungary | 0.88 | 0.723 | −0.157 |
| 54 | China | 0.659 | 0.502 | −0.157 |
| 55 | Oman | 0.283 | 0.139 | −0.144 |
| 56 | Kenya | 5.01 | 4.87 | −0.141 |
| 57 | Ireland | 0.78 | 0.654 | −0.126 |
| 58 | Korea, Rep. | 0.598 | 0.477 | −0.121 |
| 59 | Slovak Republic | 1.23 | 1.12 | −0.107 |
| 60 | Austria | 0.973 | 0.876 | −0.096 |
| 61 | Singapore | 0.16 | 0.069 | −0.091 |
| 62 | Greece | 0.923 | 0.84 | −0.083 |
| 63 | United Kingdom | 1.17 | 1.12 | −0.054 |
| 64 | Germany | 0.945 | 0.911 | −0.034 |
| 65 | Japan | 0.263 | 0.229 | −0.034 |
| 66 | Italy | 0.596 | 0.568 | −0.028 |
| 67 | Australia | 0.88 | 0.854 | −0.025 |
| 68 | Nepal | 2.15 | 2.13 | −0.019 |
| 69 | Portugal | 0.736 | 0.72 | −0.016 |
| 70 | Israel | 1.63 | 1.63 | −0.0006 |
About the top 10
#1 El Salvador
El Salvador ranks #1 on this list with −55.9.
- Capital
- San Salvador
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$36.71 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,767 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in debt service share of exports · #6 in government debt share of gdp · #14 in mobile subscriptions per 100.
#2 Venezuela, RB
Venezuela, RB ranks #2 on this list with −35.3.
- Capital
- Caracas
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 28.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.66 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,495 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia.
Also ranks #1 in time to start a business (days) · #3 in protected terrestrial area share · #11 in refugee population by origin.
#3 Belize
Belize ranks #3 on this list with −9.99.
- Capital
- Belmopan
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 422,920 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.33 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,866 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 41.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in secure internet servers per million · #12 in homicide rate · #14 in time to start a business (days).
#4 Brazil
Brazil ranks #4 on this list with −7.89.
- Capital
- Brasília
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 212.81 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.28 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$10,713 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 88.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Greater Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro.
Also ranks #1 in new businesses registered · #2 in forest area · #3 in external debt stocks.
#5 Honduras
Honduras ranks #5 on this list with −6.54.
- Capital
- Tegucigalpa
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 11.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$39.6 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,598 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tegucigalpa.
Also ranks #6 in deposit interest rate · #10 in gini index · #11 in homicide rate.
#6 Puerto Rico (US)
Puerto Rico (US) ranks #6 on this list with −5.59.
- Capital
- San Juan
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 3.18 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$129.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$40,620 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in manufacturing value added share of gdp · #3 in population ages 65+ share · #4 in age dependency ratio (old).
#7 Guatemala
Guatemala ranks #7 on this list with −5.54.
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 18.69 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$123.31 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,598 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 56.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #9 in remittances received · #12 in gini index.
#8 Mexico
Mexico ranks #8 on this list with −4.59.
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 131.95 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.83 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$13,889 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Greater Mexico City, Mexico City, Tijuana.
Also ranks #2 in remittances received · #3 in tourism arrivals · #4 in external debt stocks.
#9 Russian Federation
Russian Federation ranks #9 on this list with −4.12.
- Capital
- Moscow
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 143.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.56 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$17,547 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk.
Also ranks #1 in land area · #1 in surface area · #1 in forest area.
#10 Tanzania
Tanzania ranks #10 on this list with −3.45.
- Capital
- Dodoma
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 70.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$90.14 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,319 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 36.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Dar es Salaam.
Also ranks #4 in labour force participation rate · #4 in female labour force participation · #5 in livestock production index.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Homicide rate over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people): UNODC Research - Data Portal – Intentional Homicide, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: UNODC Research - Data Portal – Intentional Homicide, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.