South Africa Crime Rate & Statistics 1994-2024

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.
  • South Africa crime rate & statistics for 2021 was 41.87, a 23.26% increase from 2020.
  • South Africa crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 33.96, a 7.48% decline from 2019.
  • South Africa crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 36.71, a 0.14% increase from 2018.
  • South Africa crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 36.66, a 2.11% increase from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Per 100K Population
Jamaica 52.13
South Africa 41.87
St. Lucia 38.96
Belize 31.25
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 30.67
Mexico 28.18
Colombia 27.48
Guatemala 19.99
Venezuela 19.31
Guyana 16.28
Ecuador 14.02
Dominica 13.81
Namibia 12.45
Costa Rica 11.41
Botswana 10.55
Dominican Republic 10.54
Paraguay 7.83
Russia 6.80
Suriname 5.71
Grenada 4.01
Mauritius 2.62
Turkey 2.52
Montenegro 2.39
Albania 2.31
Armenia 2.19
Azerbaijan 1.91
Algeria 1.57
Bulgaria 1.28
Romania 1.26
Serbia 1.06
Jordan 1.02
Bosnia 0.98
Malaysia 0.72
South Africa Crime Rate & Statistics - Historical Data
Year Per 100K Population Annual % Change
2021 41.87 23.26%
2020 33.96 -7.48%
2019 36.71 0.14%
2018 36.66 2.11%
2017 35.90 6.53%
2016 33.70 0.85%
2015 33.42 2.72%
2014 32.53 2.96%
2013 31.60 3.58%
2012 30.51 2.86%
2011 29.66 -3.36%
2010 30.69 -6.34%
2009 32.77 -8.38%
2008 35.76 -2.82%
2007 36.80 -4.67%
2006 38.60 2.13%
2005 37.80 -2.34%
2004 38.70 -6.08%
2003 41.21 -8.87%
2002 45.22 -0.22%
2001 45.32 -2.49%
2000 46.48 -4.66%
1999 48.75 -11.04%
1998 54.80 1.35%
1997 54.07 -5.19%
1996 57.03 -6.67%
1995 61.10 1.82%
1994 60.01 1.82%