Turks and Caicos Islands saw a murder rate of ***** per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the most dangerous country for this kind of crime worldwide as of 2024. Interestingly, El Salvador, which long had the highest global homicide rates, has dropped out of the top 29 after a high number of gang members have been incarcerated. Meanwhile, Colima in Mexico was the most dangerous city for murders. Violent conflicts worldwide Notably, these figures do not include deaths that resulted from war or a violent conflict. While there is a persistent number of conflicts worldwide, resulting casualties are not considered murders. Partially due to this reason, homicide rates in Latin America are higher than those in Afghanistan or Syria. A different definition of murder in these circumstances could change the rate significantly in some countries. Causes of death Also, noteworthy is that murders are usually not random events. In the United States, the circumstances of murders are most commonly arguments, followed by narcotics incidents and robberies. Additionally, murders are not a leading cause of death. Heart diseases, strokes and cancer pose a greater threat to life than violent crime.

Handguns are by far the most common murder weapon used in the United States, accounting for 7,159 homicides in 2023. This is followed by firearms of an unstated type, with 5,295 cases in that year. Why do murders happen in the U.S.? While most of the time the circumstances of murders in the U.S. remain unknown, homicides due to narcotics come in as the second most common circumstance – making them more common than, for example, gang killings. Despite these gruesome facts, the violent crime rate has fallen significantly since 1990, and the United States is much safer than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. Knife crime vs disease: Leading causes of death The death rate in the U.S. had hovered around the same level since 1990 until there was a large increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years. Heart disease, cancer, and accidents were the three leading causes of death in the country in 2022. The rate of death from heart disease is significantly higher than the homicide rate in the United States, at 167.2 deaths per 100,000 population compared to a 5.7 homicides per 100,000. Given just 1,562 murders were caused by knife crime, it is fair to say that heart disease is a far bigger killer in the U.S.

In 2025, Pietermaritzburg in South Africa ranked as the world's most dangerous city with a crime rate of 82 per 100,000 inhabitants. Five of the 10 cities with the highest crime rates worldwide are found in South Africa. The list does not include countries where war and conflict exist. South Africa dominates crime statistics When looking at crime rates, among the 10 most dangerous cities in the world, half of them are found in South Africa. The country is struggling with extremely high levels of inequality, and is struggling with high levels of crime and power outages, harming the country's economy and driving more people into unemployment and poverty. Crime in Latin America On the other hand, when looking at murder rates, Latin America dominates the list of the world's most dangerous countries. Violence in Latin America is caused in great part by drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and gang wars.

In Europe, the Baltic countries of Latvia and Lithuania had the highest and third highest homicide rates respectively in 2022. Latvia had the highest rate at over four per 100,000 inhabitants. Meanwhile, the lowest homicide rate was found in Liechtenstein, with zero murders The most dangerous country worldwide Saint Kitts and Nevis is the world's most dangerous country to live in in terms of murder rate. The Caribbean 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. Whereas Celaya in Mexico was listed as the city with the highest murder rate worldwide, Colima in Mexico was the city with the highest homicide rate in Latin America, so the numbers vary from source to source. Nevertheless, several Mexican cities rank among the deadliest in the world when it comes to intentional homicides. Violent conflicts worldwide Notably, these figures do not include deaths that resulted from war or a violent conflict. While there is a persistent number of conflicts worldwide, resulting casualties are not considered murders. Partially due to this reason, homicide rates in Latin America are higher than those in countries such as Ukraine or the DR Congo. A different definition of murder in these circumstances could change the rate significantly.

Stab Proof Vest Market Outlook

The global stab proof vest market size was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach around $2.3 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. The increasing need for personal safety and security, driven by rising crime rates and heightened awareness, serves as a significant growth factor for this market.

One of the primary growth drivers for the stab proof vest market is the escalating threat of knife crimes and violent assaults in urban settings. Governments and law enforcement agencies are increasingly investing in advanced personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of officers. This has led to a surge in demand for stab proof vests, particularly those made from high-performance materials such as Kevlar and Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Technological advancements have made these vests lighter, more comfortable, and more effective, which further boosts their adoption.

The rise in public awareness about personal safety has also significantly contributed to market growth. Civilians, in addition to military and law enforcement personnel, are increasingly purchasing stab proof vests for personal use. This trend is particularly noticeable in regions with high crime rates. Marketing campaigns and increased media coverage of violent incidents have played crucial roles in educating the public about the benefits of stab proof vests, thus driving market expansion.

Military applications represent another significant segment of the stab proof vest market. Armed forces around the world are continuously upgrading their protective gear to shield soldiers from multiple threats, including knife attacks. The ongoing geopolitical tensions and military expenditures in various countries are expected to further stimulate the demand for these vests. Additionally, the integration of stab proof technology with ballistic protection is becoming a standard requirement in modern military gear.

Regionally, North America leads the market due to high crime rates and substantial investments in law enforcement and military sectors. Europe follows closely, driven by stringent safety regulations and a strong focus on personal security. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period, owing to increasing crime rates and rising defense budgets in countries like India and China. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are also anticipated to show significant growth due to improving economic conditions and increased government spending on law enforcement.

Material Type Analysis

The material type segment of the stab proof vest market can be broadly categorized into Kevlar, Steel, Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), and others. Kevlar has long been the material of choice for stab proof vests, owing to its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and proven effectiveness in stopping knife attacks. The material is lightweight, flexible, and capable of dissipating the energy from a stab to prevent penetration, making it a popular choice among law enforcement and military personnel. Continuous innovations have made Kevlar even more efficient, further driving its demand.

Steel, though less common than Kevlar, is another vital material in the stab proof vest market. Steel plates are often used in conjunction with other materials to provide additional protection. While heavier and less flexible than Kevlar, steel offers unparalleled resistance to stab attacks, making it an excellent option for situations requiring maximum protection. The use of advanced alloys and manufacturing techniques has made modern steel plates lighter and more practical for use in personal protective equipment.

Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) is gaining traction in the stab proof vest market due to its remarkable properties. This material is lighter than both Kevlar and steel while offering comparable levels of protection. UHMWPE is also highly resistant to chemicals and UV radiation, making it suitable for various environmental conditions. The increasing adoption of UHMWPE vests among law enforcement agencies and military units underscores its growing importance in the market.

Other materials used in stab proof vests include advanced composites and hybrid materials that combine the strengths of Kevlar, steel, and UHMWPE. These materials are often used to create multi-threat vests that provide protection against both stab and ballistic threats. The ongoing re

Since 2012, a knife or another stab weapon was the most common murder weapons used in homicides in Norway. In 2024, in ** of the ** homicides registered, a knife or another stab weapon was the murder weapon. By comparison, the number of people murdered by firearms was lower.

Knives or other sharp objects were involved in ** percent of homicides in England and Wales in 2023/24, the most of any method of killing. Homicides which involved hitting or kicking without a weapon made up **** percent of homicides, while shootings were identified as the method in *** percent of homicides. Overall, there were *** homicides in this reporting year, which was slightly lower than in the previous year, when there were ***, but noticeably higher than in 2014/15, when there were ***. Firearm homicides rare in England and Wales In 2023/24, there were *** knife homicides in England and Wales, compared with *** in 2021/22, which was the highest figure recently. By comparison, homicides which involved the use of a firearm were far less common, with just ** in the 2023/24 reporting year. Due to strict gun laws and low levels of ownership, the UK contrasts starkly with the United States, which has struggled with high levels of gun violence. Although some specialist police officers in England and Wales are licensed to carry firearms, the majority of police officers are unarmed. In 2023/24, for example, there were just ***** armed police, out of around ******* police officers. Overall knife crime on the rise Like many other types of crime, knife crime offences in the ***** started to decline at the start of the decade before creeping up again from 2014 onwards, reaching almost ****** in 2019/20. In London, where much of the media’s attention on knife crime is focused, there were ****** knife crime offences alone in 2019/20. Although this fell during subsequent reporting years, which were influenced by COVID-19 restrictions, it remains to be seen if the trend will continue. In 2023/24, the number of knife offences in the capital was higher than in any other year since 2019/20.

In 2024/25, there were 104 homicide offences recorded in London, the most of any region of the United Kingdom during that time period. North West England, which includes the large cities of Manchester and Liverpool, had 69 homicides and had the second-highest number of homicides. In the same reporting period, the constituent countries of Wales and Northern Ireland reported the fewest homicides, at 23, and 13 respectively. Homicides in the UK falling despite recent uptick Since 2002/03, all three jurisdictions of the UK; England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, have seen their homicide rates fall, with Scotland seeing the steepest decline. The most significant decline in homicides in this period occurred between 2002/03 and 2014/15, which saw the annual number of homicides in England and Wales half from over 1,000 to around 500. This trend was suddenly reversed from 2015/16 onwards, with homicides rising to around 700 per year between 2016/17 and 2019/20. While homicides fell back to 535 in 2024/25, it remains to be seen if this pattern will continue. Knives used in almost half of all murders In 2024/25 a knife or other sharp instruments were used in approximately 46 percent of all murders in England and Wales, making this, by far, the most common method of killing in that reporting year. The overall number of knife homicides reached 262 in 2023/24, compared with 243 in the previous year. Firearm homicides were much rarer than knife homicides, with only 22 taking place in the same reporting year, and homicides caused by shooting only accounting for 3.9 percent of homicides overall.