In 2023, there were approximately 3.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in the country, less than half from the homicide rate of 8.3 reported in 2020 and the lowest rate recorded since the beginning of the mentioned period. The homicide rate in Peru increased significantly between 2013 and 2018, jumping from a rate of 6.6 to 9.1. Still, in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries, Peru ranked with one of the lowest homicide rates.

Historical chart and dataset showing Peru murder/homicide rate per 100K population by year from 2011 to 2020.

Between November 2023 and April 2024, the crime with the highest victim rate in Peru was robbery with ** victims per 100 inhabitants. The second highest was robbery attempts, followed by scams, both with over * victims per 100 inhabitants.

Metropolitan Lima was the district with the highest number of confirmed femicide victims in Peru in the 2024, accounting for about 59 cases. Huánuco, Ica, Cusco, and Áncash followed with more than 12 femicides each.

Through the time frame displayed, there was an overall increase in the share of the Peruvian population who were victims of crime. From ************* to **********, around **** percent of the population were victims of a crime.

Peru PE: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data was reported at 3.258 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.593 Ratio for 2015. Peru PE: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data is updated yearly, averaging 2.166 Ratio from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2016, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.258 Ratio in 2016 and a record low of 1.872 Ratio in 2011. Peru PE: 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 Peru – Table PE.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.; ;

From 2010 to 2023, there were over ***** confirmed femicides in Peru. The deadliest year for women in terms of femicides in the past decade was 2023, with *** victims. Lima is the Peruvian district with the largest number of femicide cases, and adult women are usually at more risk of being victims of femicide in Peru than other age groups.

Peru PE: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data was reported at 12.083 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.738 Ratio for 2015. Peru PE: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data is updated yearly, averaging 11.166 Ratio from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2016, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.083 Ratio in 2016 and a record low of 9.001 Ratio in 2011. Peru PE: 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 Peru – Table PE.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 2024, the highest homicide rate among 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries surveyed was in Haiti, with around 62 murders committed per 100,000 inhabitants. Trinidad and Tobago came in second, with a homicide rate of 46, while Honduras ranked seventh, with 25. In the same year, the lowest rate was recorded in El Salvador, with a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. A violence-ridden region Violence and crime are some of the most pressing problems affecting Latin American society nowadays. More than 40 of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world are located in this region, as well as one of the twenty countries with the least peace in the world according to the Global Peace Index. Despite governments’ large spending on security and high imprisonment rates, drug and weapon trafficking, organized crime, and gangs have turned violence into an epidemic that affects the whole region and a solution to this issue appears to be hardly attainable. The cost of violence in Mexico Mexico stands out as an example of the great cost that violence inflicts upon a country, since beyond claiming human lives, it also affects everyday life and has a negative impact on the economy. Mexicans have a high perceived level of insecurity, as they do not only fear becoming victims of homicide, but also of other common crimes, such as assault or rape. Such fear prevents people from performing everyday activities, for instance, going out at night, taking a taxi or going to the movies or the theater. Furthermore, the economic toll of violence in Mexico is more than considerable. For example, the cost of homicide and violent crime amounted to 2099.8 and 1778.1 billion Mexican pesos in 2023, respectively.