2026-03-15 · percent of world population

Europe remains a low-violence continent

Rates rose in spots — but averages stay low.

Homicide is the most serious crime — and where you live shapes your risk. 2026 data on intentional homicides per 100,000 place Europe in the low-rate band, yet the continent holds just 8% of the world's population. Rates rose in spots, but averages stay low; the other 92% of humanity lives outside that band.

1 cell = 0.1 percent of world population (0.1% of world population) · 1,000 cells

Context

The grid splits the world's population into regional bands: Europe, the low-rate band, holds 8%; Asia & Pacific 47.8%; Africa 25.8%; and the Americas 18.4%. Europe's small share is the point — a low-violence continent is home to a small slice of humanity.

Figures are intentional homicides per 100,000 from UNODC, compiled by Our World in Data, which defines homicide as intentionally and illegally killing another person for personal reasons — a common cause of death globally and a leading one in some countries.

Comparisons carry caveats: UNODC, WHO, and IHME measure homicide differently, so read the bands as broad levels rather than exact rankings. And the lede holds — rates rose in spots, but averages stay low.

Intentional homicides per 100,000 (UNODC via OWID).