The homicide rate in Iceland varied between 2010 and 2022, from roughly 0.3 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2019, to 1.37 in 2020. In real figures, the total number of homicides reached five in 2020, an unusually high number for Iceland; since 1994 there were six years where no intentional homicides were committed in Iceland, although the last of these was in 2008. Iceland generally has one of the lowest homicide rates in Europe. The most dangerous countries in Europe and worldwide In Europe, Latvia had the highest murder rate in 2021 with 5.1 per 100,000 inhabitants. Malta had the lowest with 0.39. Worldwide, Saint Kitts and Nevis is the world's most dangerous country to live in in terms of murder rate. The Caribbean island country had a homicide rate of 65 per 100,000 inhabitants. Nine of the 10 countries with the highest murder rates worldwide are located in Latin America and the Caribbean. Celaya in Mexico was the city with the highest homicide rate worldwide. Victims of homicides In most of the European countries, a higher share of the victims of homicides are men. France was the country with the highest number of homicides on the continent, whereas Malta and Iceland had the lowest. France both had the highest number of female and male victims.

Historical dataset showing Iceland murder/homicide rate per 100K population by year from 1994 to 2021.

Iceland IS: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data was reported at 0.603 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.000 Ratio for 2015. Iceland IS: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 Ratio from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.223 Ratio in 2014 and a record low of 0.000 Ratio in 2015. Iceland IS: 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 Iceland – Table IS.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.; ;

Iceland IS: Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data was reported at 0.900 Ratio in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.300 Ratio for 2014. Iceland IS: Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 0.400 Ratio from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2015, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.800 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 0.000 Ratio in 2008. Iceland IS: 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 Iceland – Table IS.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;

Iceland IS: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data was reported at 0.000 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.811 Ratio for 2015. Iceland IS: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data is updated yearly, averaging 0.928 Ratio from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.028 Ratio in 2005 and a record low of 0.000 Ratio in 2016. Iceland IS: 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 Iceland – Table IS.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.; ;

In 2022, the number of homicides in Denmark increased again after years of decline. That year, 55 homicides were registered. According to the Danish Penal Code, the penalty for homicide ranges from a minimum of a five-year prison sentence to imprisonment for life. Imprisonment for life implies 12 years in prison, before the inmate can apply for probation. Over the past decade, the total number of reported crimes in Denmark decreased.

Victims of crime  In 2021, the number of victims of criminal offences reported in Denmark fell below 60,000. This was the lowest number over the past 10 years. The most common type of crime experienced by Danes was violent crimes. The number was higher for men than for women.

Peaceful country  In general, Denmark is considered a safe and peaceful country. In 2022, the country was ranked the sixth most peaceful country in the world, only behind Iceland, New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, and Portugal. This ranking is measured by the level of social safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflicts, and the degree of militarization.

In 2022, 700 cases of cyberattacks were detected in Iceland. Companies and individuals in the country encountered around 600 cyberattacks in the year prior. In comparison, the number of detected cyberattacks in Iceland in 2020 was 266.

Since 2014, Sweden has the highest rate of reported serious assaults of the Nordic countries. In 2022, 44.4 serious assaults per 100,000 citizens were reported in the country, compared to 38.8 in Iceland in second. Sweden has experienced increasing problems with gang violence in recent years.

The four Nordic countries Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark are between the five countries with the highest rate of reported sexual violence in Europe in 2022. More than 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants were reported in Sweden.Please note that reporting varies from country to country, and the willingness of victims to come forward can vary across regions and cultures, therefore a comparison between the countries should be taken with caution.

Iceland was the most peaceful country in the world in 2024 with an index value of 1.1. Ireland, Austria, and New Zealand followed behind.What is the Global Peace Index? The Global Peace Index is an effort by the Institute for Economics and Peace to measure the degree of peacefulness in countries across the world and rank them accordingly. The first list was created in 2007 and has since then been published annually. The index includes a number of indicators relating to both domestic and international peacefulness. International indicators In regards to international affairs the majority of indicators relate to involvement in military conflict or the efforts of the state in question to resolve conflict and ensure the safety of those affected. For example those states that give more financial support to UN peacekeeping missions are considered to be more peaceful while those who have a higher military expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) are considered to be less peaceful. The United States never reached the top 20 of the list, in part due to it having a high level of military spending as a percentage of GDP. Domestic factors Domestic indicators focus on both the amount of violence and crime in addition to incarceration rates. Again, the United States fails to reach levels akin to other countries. The country’s incarceration rates are significantly higher than in other OEDC countries. Moreover, the number of deaths from gun violence also contributes to the relatively low peacefulness ranking of the United States.