Warning: You Might Die a Violent Death If You Go to Any of These Countries

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• With 27,445 violent deaths (8.14 per 100,000 people) per capita, the United States did not make this list — though it would have if only ranking by firearm deaths.
• The top most dangerous country on our list experiences firearm deaths of 56.80 per 100,000 people.
• Violent crime often makes it difficult for countries to progress politically, socially, and economically.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

In late July and early August 2024, Ugandan runner Rebecca Cheptegei competed in the Paris Olympics, coming in 44th place in the women’s marathon. Less than one month later, Cheptegei was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in Kenya, where she lived. He poured gasoline over her head and lit her on fire. Cheptegei passed away four days later, having suffered serious burns over 80% of her body. Unfortunately, violence against women in Uganda — where Cheptegei was born — or Kenya is not uncommon. The UN Women Programme found that 95% of Ugandan women experienced sexual or physical violence past 15 years old; the Carnegie Endowment found that up to 47% of Kenyan women experience the same, and 75% of female homicide victims in Kenya were killed by either their partner or family members.

Femicide is a real problem in many areas around the world. But this is not the only violence that these countries face. Some countries experience high rates of violence because of poverty, political instability, organized crime, war, or weak law enforcement that fails to adequately protect citizens. Over two dozen protestors recently died in Kenya, for example, while protesting potential tax increases from President William Ruto and soaring costs of living. It can be scary, stressful, and uncertain living in these environments. (State Department warnings say that Americans should not travel here.)

To find the country where the most people die violent deaths, whether by firearms or by other means, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2023 Small Arms Survey’s Global Violent Deaths Database, which has data from  2004–2021. We ranked countries based on all violent deaths per capita and added civilian firearm holdings from the same source, as well as recent gross domestic product per capita in current U.S. dollars for the most recent year available from the World Bank. Civilian firearm holdings data is only current as of 2017, though this is the most up-to-date information at this time. Also, while the violent deaths survey includes 230 countries, we only considered the 214 countries with over 30,000 populations.

The 41 countries on the list have nearly double the U.S. violent death rate, ranging from 15.3 violent deaths per 100,000 people in the Dominican Republic to as much as 112.3 per 100,000 in Afghanistan. For seven countries on the list — Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, Myanmar, Somalia, and Ethiopia — conflict deaths comprise most of the violent deaths. For the 34 other countries, intentional homicide comprises the most violent deaths. Though in some countries, such as Central African Republic, there are nearly as many deaths from homicide (2,200) and conflict (1,708). (Which countries are constantly at war in the 21st century?)

There are 14 Caribbean countries on the list, the most of any region, likely partly because of their smaller populations. Still, there were over 1,800 violent deaths in Jamaica, a country of 2.8 million, and nearly 570 deaths in Trinidad and Tobago, a country of just 1.5 million. There are also 11 countries on the list from Central (5) and South (6) America. Eleven African countries are also on the list, as well as five Asian countries.

Why We Feel This is Must-Know Information

Violence often hinders economic and social development. While not all the countries on the list rank among the poorest half, a large majority — 28 — do, with GDPs per capita lower than the $12,687 world average in 2022. Understanding the countries with rampant violent deaths, and the factors that contribute to the high rates of violence, provides insight into where intervention is needed and what policies or procedures could address the conflict. For this reason, it is important to keep track of how countries deal with violence within their border.

Here are the 41 countries with high rates of violent death:

41. Dominican Republic

• Violent deaths, 2021: 1,702 or 15.31 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,041 or 9.36 per 100,000 (33rd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,349
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 7.4 per 100 people (104th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $10,111 (89th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 11,117,873 (Caribbean)

40. Chad

• Violent deaths, 2021: 2,642 or 15.38 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,212 or 7.05 per 100,000 (38th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,541
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 1 per 100 people (40th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $717 (13th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 17,179,740 (Middle Africa)

39. Haiti

• Violent deaths, 2021: 1,806 or 15.78 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 689 or 6.02 per 100,000 (43rd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,489
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 2.6 per 100 people (72nd lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $1,748 (39th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 11,447,569 (Caribbean)

38. Ecuador

• Violent deaths, 2021: 2,871 or 16.13 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 2,098 or 11.79 per 100,000 (21st highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 2,496
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 2.4 per 100 people (64th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $6,391 (93rd lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 17,797,737 (South America)

37. Ethiopia

• Violent deaths, 2021: 19,430 or 16.15 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 6,407 or 5.33 per 100,000 (49th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 9,053
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 0.4 per 100 people (19th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $1,028 (23rd lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 120,283,026 (Eastern Africa)

36. French Guiana

• Violent deaths, 2021: 49 or 16.47 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 24 or 8.07 per 100,000 (34th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 40
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 19.6 per 100 people (26th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: N/A
• Country population and region: 297,449 (South America)

35. Iraq

• Violent deaths, 2021: 7,505 or 17.24 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 4,620 or 10.61 per 100,000 (27th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 3,832
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 19.6 per 100 people (26th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $5,937 (89th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 43,533,592 (Western Asia)

34. Nigeria

• Violent deaths, 2021: 37,035 or 17.35 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 16,309 or 7.64 per 100,000 (35th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 21,021
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.2 per 100 people (81st lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $2,163 (44th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 213,401,323 (Western Africa)

33. Dominica

• Violent deaths, 2021: 13 or 17.95 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1 or 1.38 per 100,000 (94th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 10
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 6.2 per 100 people (112nd highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $8,351 (98th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 72,412 (Caribbean)

32. Eswatini

• Violent deaths, 2021: 220 or 18.45 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 53 or 4.45 per 100,000 (53rd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 151
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 4.8 per 100 people (108th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $3,987 (70th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 1,192,271 (Southern Africa)

31. Antigua And Barbuda

• Violent deaths, 2021: 18 or 19.31 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 5 or 5.36 per 100,000 (48th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 16
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 5.4 per 100 people (113th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $19,920 (64th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 93,219 (Caribbean)

30. Somalia

• Violent deaths, 2021: 3,334 or 19.54 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,695 or 9.93 per 100,000 (28th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 3,262
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 12.4 per 100 people (66th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $592 (9th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 17,065,581 (Eastern Africa)

29. Guyana

• Violent deaths, 2021: 163 or 20.26 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 40 or 4.97 per 100,000 (50th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 131
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 15.8 per 100 people (47th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $18,199 (70th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 804,567 (South America)

28. Puerto Rico

• Violent deaths, 2021: 694 or 21.31 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 694 or 21.31 per 100,000 (14th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 602
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 11.5 per 100 people (74th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $35,209 (38th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 3,256,028 (Caribbean)

27. Mali

• Violent deaths, 2021: 4,689 or 21.41 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 2,366 or 10.80 per 100,000 (25th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 2,393
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 1.1 per 100 people (43rd lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $833 (18th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 21,904,983 (Western Africa)

26. El Salvador

• Violent deaths, 2021: 1,405 or 22.25 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 890 or 14.10 per 100,000 (20th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,147
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 12 per 100 people (71st highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $5,127 (82nd lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 6,314,167 (Central America)

25. Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Violent deaths, 2021: 21,364 or 22.28 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 9,015 or 9.40 per 100,000 (32nd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 12,982
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 1.2 per 100 people (45th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $654 (12th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 95,894,118 (Middle Africa)

24. Guatemala

• Violent deaths, 2021: 4,054 or 23.02 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 2,690 or 15.28 per 100,000 (19th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 3,520
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 12.1 per 100 people (69th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $5,473 (86th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 17,608,483 (Central America)

23. Brazil

• Violent deaths, 2021: 52,102 or 24.31 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 39,963 or 18.65 per 100,000 (16th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 39,961
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 8.3 per 100 people (97th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $8,918 (95th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 214,326,223 (South America)

22. South Sudan

• Violent deaths, 2021: 3,452 or 32.12 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,239 or 11.53 per 100,000 (22nd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 2,160
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 9.6 per 100 people (90th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: N/A
• Country population and region: 10,748,272 (Eastern Africa)

21. Myanmar

• Violent deaths, 2021: 17,344 or 32.24 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 5,966 or 11.09 per 100,000 (23rd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 11,007
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 1.6 per 100 people (52nd lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $1,149 (26th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 53,798,084 (South-eastern Asia)

20. Mexico

• Violent deaths, 2021: 41,444 or 32.71 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 28,342 or 22.37 per 100,000 (13th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 35,700
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 12.9 per 100 people (60th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $11,497 (85th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 126,705,138 (Central America)

19. Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Violent deaths, 2021: 16 or 33.61 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 14 or 29.41 per 100,000 (8th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 14
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.4 per 100 people (87th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $20,262 (62nd highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 47,606 (Caribbean)

18. Colombia

• Violent deaths, 2021: 18,595 or 36.10 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 10,848 or 21.06 per 100,000 (15th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 14,159
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 10.1 per 100 people (81st highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $6,624 (95th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 51,516,562 (South America)

17. Belize

• Violent deaths, 2021: 146 or 36.50 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 104 or 26.00 per 100,000 (11th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 125
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 10 per 100 people (84th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $6,984 (101st lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 400,031 (Central America)

16. Bahamas

• Violent deaths, 2021: 150 or 36.77 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 133 or 32.61 per 100,000 (5th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 119
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 18.8 per 100 people (33rd highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $31,458 (46th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 407,906 (Caribbean)

15. Trinidad and Tobago

• Violent deaths, 2021: 567 or 37.16 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 400 or 26.22 per 100,000 (10th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 448
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.2 per 100 people (81st lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $19,629 (65th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 1,525,663 (Caribbean)

14. Venezuela

• Violent deaths, 2021: 10,517 or 37.29 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 8,255 or 29.27 per 100,000 (9th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 7,115
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 18.5 per 100 people (35th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: N/A
• Country population and region: 28,199,867 (South America)

13. Saint Vincent And The Grenadines

• Violent deaths, 2021: 39 or 37.38 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 26 or 24.92 per 100,000 (12th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 32
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.4 per 100 people (87th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $9,125 (94th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 104,332 (Caribbean)

12. Turks and Caicos Islands

• Violent deaths, 2021: 17 or 37.68 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1 or 2.22 per 100,000 (72nd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 15
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.3 per 100 people (82nd lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $24,918 (55th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 45,114 (Caribbean)

11. Honduras

• Violent deaths, 2021: 4,561 or 44.37 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 3,356 or 32.65 per 100,000 (4th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 3,941
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 14.1 per 100 people (54th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $3,040 (56th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 10,278,345 (Central America)

10. Saint Lucia

• Violent deaths, 2021: 82 or 45.64 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 55 or 30.61 per 100,000 (6th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 70
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 3.4 per 100 people (87th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $13,031 (79th highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 179,651 (Caribbean)

9. Lesotho

• Violent deaths, 2021: 1,077 or 47.21 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 217 or 9.51 per 100,000 (31st highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 923
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 4.8 per 100 people (108th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $970 (22nd lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 2,281,454 (Southern Africa)

8. South Africa

• Violent deaths, 2021: 28,956 or 48.75 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 2,786 or 4.69 per 100,000 (51st highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 24,865
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 9.7 per 100 people (89th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $6,766 (98th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 59,392,255 (Southern Africa)

7. United States Virgin Islands

• Violent deaths, 2021: 53 or 52.95 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 49 or 48.96 per 100,000 (3rd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 45
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 16.6 per 100 people (44th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $41,976 (32nd highest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 100,091 (Caribbean)

6. Syrian Arab Republic

• Violent deaths, 2021: 12,580 or 58.99 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 3,818 or 17.90 per 100,000 (17th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 5,876
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 8.2 per 100 people (99th highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $421 (3rd lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 21,324,367 (Western Asia)

5. Yemen

• Violent deaths, 2021: 20,144 or 61.08 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 10,056 or 30.49 per 100,000 (7th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 18,404
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 52.8 per 100 people (3rd highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $650 (11th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 32,981,641 (Western Asia)

4. Jamaica

• Violent deaths, 2021: 1,823 or 64.47 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 1,565 or 55.35 per 100,000 (2nd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 1,474
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 8.8 per 100 people (92nd highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $6,047 (90th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 2,827,695 (Caribbean)

3. British Virgin Islands

• Violent deaths, 2021: 22 or 70.69 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 3 or 9.64 per 100,000 (29nd highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 19
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 0.8 per 100 people (35th lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: N/A
• Country population and region: 31,122 (Caribbean)

2. Central African Republic

• Violent deaths, 2021: 4,248 or 77.84 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 934 or 17.12 per 100,000 (18th highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Intentional homicide: 2,200
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 1.8 per 100 people (53rd lowest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $427 (4th lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 5,457,154 (Middle Africa)

1. Afghanistan

• Violent deaths, 2021: 45,022 or 112.28 per 100,000 people
• Violent firearm deaths, 2021: 22,776 or 56.80 per 100,000 (1st highest)
• Category with most deaths, 2021: Conflict death: 42,643
• Civilian firearms, 2017: 12.5 per 100 people (63rd highest of 230 countries)
• GDP per capita: $356 (2nd lowest of 206 countries)
• Country population and region: 40,099,462 (Southern Asia)

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