In 2023, the FBI reported that there were 13,789 victims of murder who identified as male, compared to 3,849 victims of murder who identified as female in the United States. A further 75 murder victims were of an unknown gender in that year.

In 2023, there were 14,327 murder offenders in the United States who were male, in comparison to 1,898 who were female. However, there were also 5,279 murder offenders where their gender was unknown. Homicides in the U.S. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter in the United States is defined as the willful killing of another human being. Justifiable homicides, or cases where a felon is killed by an officer in the line of duty or a felon is killed during a felony by a private citizen, are not included in murder counts by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The total number of murders varies from state to state in the U.S., with more populous states having higher numbers of murders. Murder offenders and victims Most murder offenders in the United States are between the ages of 17 and 39, with the number of offenders declining steadily after age 40. Additionally, the highest rate of death by homicide was found among males between the ages of 15 and 24. The highest rate of death by homicide for females was for girls under the age of one.

In 2020, there were 257 women killed by male single offenders in the state of Texas. Texas was the state with the highest number of women murdered by men in single offender homicides. California had the second most women killed by male single offenders, at 222 cases.

In 2022, there were slightly more female victims of violent crime than male victims in the United States, with about ********* male victims and ********* female victims. These figures are a significant increase from the previous year, when there were ********* male victims and ********* female victims. What counts as violent crime? Violent crime in the United States includes murder, rape, sexual assault, robbery, and assault. While violent crime across all areas has been steadily falling over the past few decades, the rate of aggravated assault is still relatively high, at ***** cases per 100,000 of the population. In 2021, there were more property crimes committed in the U.S. than there were violent crimes. Keep your enemies closer It is usually said that most victims know their attacker, and the data backs this up. In 2021, very few murders were committed by strangers. The same goes for rape and sexual assault victims; the majority were perpetrated by acquaintances, intimate partners, or relatives.

Number, percentage and rate (per 100,000 population) of homicide victims, by gender (all genders; male; female; gender unknown) and Indigenous identity (total; Indigenous identity; non-Indigenous identity; unknown Indigenous identity), Canada, provinces and territories, 2014 to 2023.

Of the *** recorded homicides in England and Wales in 2023/24, *** of the victims were male, and *** victims were female. Although the majority of homicide victims are men, they are also responsible for far more homicides than females are, with the vast majority of homicide suspects being male in England and Wales.

The homicide rate in Russia reached 3.2 homicides per 100,000 population in 2023. The indicator has declined steadily since 2002, when it was measured at 30.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. Over the years observed, the highest rate was recorded at 32.6 homicides per 100,000 persons in 1994. Homicide in Russia The significant decrease in intentional homicides characterizes the general reduction in crime in Russia since the 1990s. However, murder remains one of the major causes of death in the country. In total, over 7,600 homicides and attempted homicides were recorded in Russia in 2022. Victims of homicide The number of male victims of homicide per 100,000 inhabitants in Russia was approximately three times higher than the murder rate of women. A United Nations study showed that while most people who were killed around the globe were men, women were most likely to be murdered by their partners, ex-partners, and family members.

United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data was reported at 0.874 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.776 Ratio for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data is updated yearly, averaging 0.825 Ratio from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2016, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.115 Ratio in 2007 and a record low of 0.599 Ratio in 2011. United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, female are estimates of unlawful female homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; ;

Number and rate (per 100,000 population) of victims of solved homicides, by gender (all genders; male; female; gender unknown), Indigenous identity (total, homicide victims by Indigenous identity; Indigenous identity; non-Indigenous identity; unknown Indigenous identity) and type of accused-victim relationship, Canada, 2014 to 2020.

In 2023 in the United States, 12 people were murdered by their employer. However, 3,527 people were killed by an acquaintance compared to 1,674 who were killed by a stranger. A ranking of the total number of murders by U.S. state can be found here.

Number, percentage and rate (per 100,000 population) of homicide victims, by racialized identity group (total, by racialized identity group; racialized identity group; South Asian; Chinese; Black; Filipino; Arab; Latin American; Southeast Asian; West Asian; Korean; Japanese; other racialized identity group; multiple racialized identity; racialized identity, but racialized identity group is unknown; rest of the population; unknown racialized identity group), gender (all genders; male; female; gender unknown) and region (Canada; Atlantic region; Quebec; Ontario; Prairies region; British Columbia; territories), 2019 to 2023.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is increasingly recognized as a critical global public health issue (WHO, 2021). According to UN Women (2020), GBV refers to any harm inflicted on an individual or group due to their actual or perceived sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity (Council of Europe, 2011). This broad definition encompasses various forms of violence—non-verbal, verbal, sexual, physical, economic, and psychological—impacting women, men, and the LGBTQIA+ community. The consequences of GBV are devastating and can result in long-term physical, mental, and emotional health problems, educational setbacks, job difficulties, or even death (Hazel, Kleyman, 2020; Riger et al., 2000). While both men and women may experience GBV, the majority of its burden falls on women and girls. Indeed, men and boys can be victims of GBV and so too can those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) (Carlton et al., 2016). However, it is widely acknowledged that most people affected by GBV are women and girls (Council of Europe, 2011). Thus, this highlights that violence against women is a significant part of the broader issue of GBV (Bloom, 2008). Italy is not exempt from the challenges posed by GBV. Violence against women and girls remains a long-standing issue that shows little sign of abating (Amnesty International Italia, 2021a; 2021b; EIGE, 2021a; 2021b; Istat, 2021; Eures, 2021). In recent years, Italians witnessed many high-profile cases of gender violence and femicides that attracted public attention. The forms of violence, however, are diverse, and traditional metrics of abuse have evolved due to the rise of the Internet and social media, which have created new vectors for violence against women (Amnesty International Italia, 2020; 2021b). Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, women’s rights NGOs reported a significant increase in domestic violence, with national helplines experiencing a surge in calls—from approximately 13,400 in 2019 to over 23,000 in 2020 (Amnesty International, 2021b). In recent years, violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals has also garnered significant attention, highlighted by ongoing public discussions regarding homotransphobia and related legislation. The latest statistics from ISTAT indicate that, in 2014, 1 in 3 women aged 16-70 (31.5%) have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. Specifically, 20.2% have suffered physical violence, 21% sexual violence, and 5.4% the most severe forms (e.g., rape and attempted rape). Data also reveals that the most severe forms of violence are often perpetrated by partners, relatives, or friends. As of October 24, 2024, the Ministero dell’Interno documented 249 recorded homicides in Italy since January 1, with 89 female victims. Of these women, 77 were killed in family or intimate contexts, and 48 were murdered by their partner or ex-partner. Compared to the same period in 2023, there has been a 12% decrease in overall homicides (from 282 to 249) and a 15% decrease in female victims (from 100 to 89). In response, the Italian government has adopted several proactive legal measures aimed at combating violence against women and girls (VAWG) and supporting victims. This rise suggests that awareness efforts, particularly through traditional media and the Internet, are becoming more effective. Furthermore, media narratives have played a crucial role in shaping societal attitudes towards GBV. According to Capecchi and Gius (2023), discussions have shifted from framing violence as isolated acts of brutality—often attributed to psychologically unstable individuals—to a more nuanced, gender-aware framework that recognizes social disparities in power. High-profile cases have ignited public outrage and drawn attention to the severity of GBV. It is in such context that this article explores the perception and acceptance of GBV in Italy. More specifically, the study explores the perception of GBV, extending the definition of violence to include both men and women while examining less commonly discussed and more subtle forms of violence. While previous research has primarily focused on physical and psychological violence, this study expands the scope to include 'grey zone' areas such as subtle non-verbal, verbal, and physical acts. The study argues that the acceptance of subtle acts is the first steps leading to wider normalization of violence. The study thus seeks to: 1. Examine the perceived normality and acceptance of violence 2. Study the role of the gender in the assessment of violence 3. Analyze the how the nature of the relationships between people and the social context where they are embedded influence the perceived normality and acceptance of violence and moderate the role of gender for the assessment. 4. Investigate the willingness to intervene against violence 5. Assess whether the perceived normality and the willingness to intervene varies according to respondents' gender and their previous experiences or related incidents of violence. The study uniquely examines various forms of GBV (non-verbal, verbal, physical) and the dynamics involved (e.g., the gender of the victim and offender, and their relationship), potentially expanding the discourse beyond the traditional focus on physical and psychological violence in male-offender and female-victim scenarios. Also, it tests the acceptance of violence on both men and women in Italy. This is particularly relevant in understanding male intervention, aligning with the growing recognition that men can serve as bystanders and advocates for gender transformation (Flood, 2018; Bolton et al., 2024). The study relies on a factorial survey (vignette) experiment that is administrated in the fall 2024 in Italy by Dynata.

(This study is part of a broader project titled "Inequality between reality and perception: socio-economic status, gender and immigration in Italy (IneqPer)" which is funded by the Italian competitive grant PRIN-PNRR 2022 (P2022TWZN3).)

Number of homicide victims and persons accused of homicide, by age group (total all ages; 0 to 11 years; 12 to 17 years; 18 to 24 years; 25 to 29 years; 30 to 39 years; 40 to 49 years; 50 to 59 years; 60 years and over; age unknown) and sex (both sexes; male; female; sex unknown), Canada, 1974 to 2017.

In 2024, 28 of the 32 murder offenders in Norway were men. Between 2012 and 2024, there were constantly significantly more male murder offenders than female. On the other hand, the gender of the victims was more evenly divided.

On average, 25 people were murdered every 100,000 inhabitants in Mexico in 2022, down from 28 homicide cases per 100,000 people the previous year. Mexico's murder rate increased remarkably between 2015 and 2018. Between January and June of 2023, the homicide rate stood at 12 cases.

Crime and violence in Mexico

Street violence and crime are some of the most pressing problems affecting Mexican society today. A recent survey revealed that, on average, almost 76 percent of the adult population felt unsafe. The perceived level of insecurity in Mexico is more worrisome among women than men. In recent years, violence against women in Mexico has significantly worsened.

Violence against women in Mexico

The number of femicides registered in Mexico has more than doubled between 2015 and 2023. Up to 827 women were murdered in Mexico in 2023 solely on account of their gender. Over the past decade, Mexico adopted this federal criminal typification to address the increasing cases of homicide motivated by gender. Mexico State was the region with the largest number of femicides reported as such in 2023, whereas Colima stood out as the Mexican state with the highest prevalence of femicides, based on 100,000 women.

Number of homicide victims, by method used to commit the homicide (total methods used; shooting; stabbing; beating; strangulation; fire (burns or suffocation); other methods used; methods used unknown), Canada, 1974 to 2023.

In 2022, the state of Bahia reported the largest number of homicides in Brazil. That year, ***** homicides were recorded in this northeastern state. Bahia was followed by the state of Rio de Janeiro, with ***** murders reported. Despite that, the number of homicides in Brazil reached the lowest figure that year since at least 2006, totaling ******. Homicide targets Data shows that homicides affected men disproportionaly more than women in this South American country. Considering the over ****** homicides registered in Brazil in 2022, nearly ** percent had men as victims. Again, it is important to remember the deterioration of data quality, specially in the case of femicides: there was a woman victim of violent death with no clear cause for every woman victim of homicide in Brazil. In that regard, the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Rondônia had the highest femicide rates. At least ***** of every 100,000 women who lived in those territories were murdered on account of their gender in 2023. Not only women, but the number of black and brown people murdered in Brazil had been growing throughout the years up until 2017, revealing that minorities are increasingly becoming the targets of violence. In 2022, nearly ****** people of color were killed in Brazil, over ***** times the number of non-black or non-brown people. Police Violence Police brutality has been gaining attention from the media, especially after George Floyd violent death in 2020. In Brazil, police violence, particularly in poor areas, such as favelas, is an old and well-known problem that affects society as a whole. Figures have shown that the number of civilians killed by police officers in Brazil surpassed ***** in both 2021 and 2022. Coincidentally, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, the Brazilian states with the highest number of homicides, are also the ones with the highest number of people killed by the police. In Rio, the state with the second-highest figure, people of color were the main victims of deadly police interventions.

Number and percentage of homicide victims, by type of firearm used to commit the homicide (total firearms; handgun; rifle or shotgun; fully automatic firearm; sawed-off rifle or shotgun; firearm-like weapons; other firearms, type unknown), Canada, 1974 to 2018.

In the United States, more men than women are shot to death by the police. As of October 22, the U.S. police shot 904 men and 44 women to death in 2024. In 2023, the police shot 1,107 men and 48 women to death.

Findings from the analyses based on the Homicide Index recorded by the Home Office, including long-term trends, sex of the victim, apparent method of killing and relationship to victim.