The police in Japan's Kanto region recorded *** homicide cases in 2024. The Kanto region was followed by the the Kinki region, with more than *** recognized murder cases. That year, the total number of murder cases recorded across Japan amounted to ***.

In 2023, approximately 0.7 homicide cases were recognized by the police per 100,000 inhabitants in Japan. The murder rate in the country did not fluctuate much in the observed period.

Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) in Japan was reported at 0.22871 in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Intentional homicides (per 100;000 people) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

The police in Japan recorded *** murder cases in 2024, a slight ******** from the previous year. A regional breakdown of murder cases showed that the majority of cases in 2024 occurred in Japan's ***** region.

Japan JP: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data was reported at 0.302 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.333 Ratio for 2015. Japan JP: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data is updated yearly, averaging 0.366 Ratio from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2016, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.517 Ratio in 2008 and a record low of 0.291 Ratio in 2013. Japan JP: 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 Japan – Table JP.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.; ;

The average for 2017 based on 97 countries was 7.4 homicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in El Salvador: 61.8 homicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Japan: 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The police in Japan cleared *** homicide cases in 2024, an increase from *** in the previous year. In 2024, the police recorded 970 murder cases.

Japan JP: Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data was reported at 0.300 Ratio in 2015. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.300 Ratio for 2014. Japan JP: Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 0.500 Ratio from Mar 1996 (Median) to 2015, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.600 Ratio in 2005 and a record low of 0.300 Ratio in 2015. Japan JP: Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides are estimates of unlawful 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.; Weighted average;

The United States had, by far, the highest homicide rate of the G7 countries between 2000 and 2023. In 2023, it reached 5.76 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, a decrease from 6.78 in 2021. By comparison, Canada, the G7 nation with the second-highest homicide rate, had 1.98 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023. Out of each G7 nation, Japan had the lowest rate with 0.23 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

JP: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data was reported at 0.265 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.232 Ratio for 2015. JP: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data is updated yearly, averaging 0.363 Ratio from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2016, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.582 Ratio in 2004 and a record low of 0.232 Ratio in 2015. JP: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, male are estimates of unlawful male 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.; ;

The average for 2017 based on 23 countries was 2.3 homicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in the Philippines: 8.4 homicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Japan: 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The police in Japan cleared 814 homicide cases in 2023, excluding unfounded or unpunishable cases. 268 murder cases involved the use of kitchen knives, followed by 69 cases using other types of knives.

Historical chart and dataset showing Japan crime rate per 100K population by year from 1990 to 2021.

The average for 2017 based on 10 countries was 1.5 homicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in the USA: 5.3 homicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Japan: 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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 2024.

In 2023, the police in Japan cleared *** homicide cases that involved suspects and victims who were acquainted. In ** cleared murder cases that year, suspects and victims did not know each other.

The average for 2017 based on 16 countries was 7.5 homicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in South Africa: 35.9 homicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Japan: 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

PERIOD: 1925-1934. SOURCE: [Survey by the Ministry of Home Affairs]; [Statistical Report of the Ministry for Home Affairs].

PERIOD: Japan proper. 1924-1928. SOURCE: [Survey by the Ministry of Home Affairs].

In 2023, **** cases of incidents involving the discharge of firearms were reported in Japan. Although figures fluctuated from year to year, this continued a general downward trend after the decade-high number of ** gun shooting incidents reported in 2014. ***** people died from gun shooting incidents in 2023. Gun control Gun possession for general citizens in Japan is strictly regulated under the Act for Controlling the Possession of Firearms or Swords and Other Such Weapons enacted in 1958. According to the act, gun possession is only allowed for hunting and shooting sports purposes. The only firearms permitted for ownership are hunting rifles, shotguns, other hunting guns, and air guns. It is required to undergo numerous procedures to obtain a gun permit, such as providing a resume and a medical certificate from a psychiatrist, attending classroom lectures and technical training, and passing exams. Applicants must repeat similar procedures every three years to renew the permit. As of 2023, about ******* guns were owned with licenses among citizens across the country. The number of confiscated weapons in 2023 amounted to *** pistols, ***** hunting guns, and ** air guns. Killing of Shinzo Abe Ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history, was shot and killed in July 2022. The incident marked the first assassination of a former Japanese prime minister since 1936. The suspect used a homemade gun created with DIY store materials. Following the incident, experts suggest tightening the security system for politicians and regulations for handmade or modified guns.