South Africa Crime Rate & Statistics 1994-2023

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 2020 was 33.46, a 8.11% decline from 2019.
  • South Africa crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 36.42, a 0.05% increase from 2018.
  • South Africa crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 36.40, a 2.04% increase from 2017.
  • South Africa crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 35.67, a 5.44% increase from 2016.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Per 100K Population
Jamaica 44.95
South Africa 33.46
Mexico 28.37
St. Lucia 28.32
Belize 25.65
Colombia 22.64
Brazil 22.45
Dominica 20.84
Guyana 19.96
Guatemala 17.47
Grenada 12.44
Namibia 11.92
Costa Rica 11.19
Suriname 9.38
Dominican Republic 8.86
Ecuador 7.78
Russia 7.33
Paraguay 6.74
Kazakhstan 3.23
Montenegro 2.87
Mauritius 2.75
Turkey 2.48
Azerbaijan 2.27
Fiji 2.23
Albania 2.12
Lebanon 1.88
Armenia 1.75
Romania 1.46
Algeria 1.32
Bosnia 1.31
Jordan 1.20
Serbia 1.02
Bulgaria 0.99
South Africa Crime Rate & Statistics - Historical Data
Year Per 100K Population Annual % Change
2020 33.46 -8.11%
2019 36.42 0.05%
2018 36.40 2.04%
2017 35.67 5.44%
2016 33.83 0.35%
2015 33.71 3.28%
2014 32.64 2.95%
2013 31.71 3.32%
2012 30.69 2.60%
2011 29.91 -3.61%
2010 31.03 -6.58%
2009 33.22 -8.56%
2008 36.33 -3.02%
2007 37.46 -4.93%
2006 39.40 1.82%
2005 38.70 -2.62%
2004 39.74 -6.35%
2003 42.43 -9.14%
2002 46.70 -0.57%
2001 46.97 -2.93%
2000 48.39 -5.09%
1999 50.98 -11.37%
1998 57.52 0.99%
1997 56.96 -5.53%
1996 60.30 -7.04%
1995 64.86 1.33%
1994 64.01 1.33%