Iceland had a relatively low number of murders each year from 2010 to 2022. There were never more than three murders yearly between 2010 and 2019. However, in 2020, five people fell victims to murders on the island, an unusually high number in the country. In 2022, there were four homicide victims in Iceland.
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.
In 2018, the Police in Iceland recorded the highest number of alcohol-related offenses between 2011 and 2021, when 828 offenses were reported. In 2020, however, the number dropped to 308 as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. By far, the alcohol-related crime reported most often was public consumption. The prohibition of alcohol in Iceland was lifted in 1989, and the current legal drinking age in Iceland is 20 years.
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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.; ;
From 2010 to 2014, the number of reported drug offenses in Iceland increased annually, reaching 2,375. However, since then, the number of drug offenses has remained relatively stable, reaching around 2,200 from 2017 to 2019. In 2021, the number of recorded drug offenses fell below 1,700.
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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.
Homicides of Iceland rocketed by 100.00% from 2 number in 2021 to 4 number in 2022. Since the 66.67% drop in 2019, homicides shot up by 300.00% in 2022. “Intentional homicide” is defined as unlawful death purposefully inflicted on a person by another person
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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;
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.
The highest number of drug-related offenses reported by the police in Iceland was possession and/or usage of drugs, amounting to more than 1,100 delicts. The second most common drug offense was importing narcotics.
In 2023, the number of domestic abuse cases in Iceland outweighed those of previous years. The number of domestic violence cases increased from 2020 with over a hundred ones. Reported conflicts also increased exponentially between 2021 and 2022.
4 (number) in 2022. “Intentional homicide” is defined as unlawful death purposefully inflicted on a person by another person
1 (number) in 2022. “Homicide” is defined as unlawful death purposefully inflicted on a person by another person
The rate of reported sexual violence crimes in Iceland was at almost 230 in 2013, but sank by almost 100 by the following year. The rate gradually increased until 2019, before dropping to 142.8 in 2020. In 2021, it reached 177 per 100,000 inhabitants.
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冰岛 IS: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female在2016达0.603 Ratio,相较于2015的0.000 Ratio有所增长。冰岛 IS: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female数据按每年更新,2005至2016期间平均值为0.000 Ratio,共10份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于2014,达1.223 Ratio,而历史最低值则出现于2015,为0.000 Ratio。CEIC提供的冰岛 IS: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female数据处于定期更新的状态,数据来源于World Bank,数据归类于Global Database的冰岛 – Table IS.World Bank: Health Statistics。
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.
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Iceland had a relatively low number of murders each year from 2010 to 2022. There were never more than three murders yearly between 2010 and 2019. However, in 2020, five people fell victims to murders on the island, an unusually high number in the country. In 2022, there were four homicide victims in Iceland.