Damon Mcknight
Homicide rates in Australia have been decreasing since 1989–1990. In 2021, the homicide rate was 0.86 per 100,000, lower than that of New Zealand, the UK, the US, and Canada. Between 2017 and 2020, the homicide rate was stable at around 0.87 per 100,000. In 2023, there was an increase of 5% in the number of victims of homicide and related offences, with 409 victims recorded by police. This increase was reflected in certain states, such as Western Australia, which saw a rise of 19 victims from the previous year. However, in New South Wales, the number of victims remained stable. The decrease in homicide rates since the 1980s may be attributed in part to stricter gun control laws and the implementation of a gun buy-back program in 1996, which reduced the number of homicides involving firearms by 57% between 1989–1990 and 2013–2014.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Homicide and related offences in New South Wales in 2023 | 79 |
| Percentage of family and domestic violence (FDV) related homicides in New South Wales in 2023 | 56% |
| Homicide and related offences in Western Australia in 2023 | 68 |
| Percentage of family and domestic violence (FDV) related homicides in Western Australia in 2023 | 27% |
| Homicide and related offences in Tasmania in 2023 | 8 |
| Homicide incidents in Australia between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 | 232 |
| Australia's homicide rate in 2020 | 0.86 |
| Australia's homicide rate in 2021 | 0.74 |
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What You'll Learn
Homicide rates in 2023
Homicide rates in Australia have been a topic of discussion and concern, with varying trends over the years. In 2023, the number of homicides in Australia rose by 2.73%, from 220 in 2022 to 226. This increase follows a slump in 2021, with a 12.67% decline, and the number of homicides soared by 17.10% in 2023.
While there has been a general decline in the murder/homicide rate from 2019 to 2021, with rates of 0.89, 0.86, and 0.74 respectively, the rate started to climb back up in 2023. News reports of violent crimes and homicides, including the murder of 49 women and several high-profile cases, have contributed to the perception of an increase in violent crime.
At the state level, New South Wales recorded 79 victims of homicide and related offences in 2023, remaining stable compared to the previous year. Western Australia saw an increase in homicide cases, with 68 victims in 2023, a rise of 19 victims from the previous year. The homicide victimisation rate in Western Australia remained stable at 2 victims per 100,000 persons. Tasmania recorded 8 victims of homicide and related offences in 2023.
Assault and related offences have also been a concern in Australia in 2023. In South Australia, there were 21,878 victims of assault, an increase of 11% from the previous year. Western Australia experienced a similar trend, with a total of 42,826 victims of assault, an 11% increase, the highest recorded in a thirty-one-year period. Tasmania also saw a rise in assault cases, with a total of 4,085 victims, an 8% increase from the previous year.
While there have been fluctuations and increases in homicide and assault cases in certain states, it is important to consider the broader context and long-term trends. Overall, Australia's murder rate remains low by world standards, and short-term spikes may not necessarily indicate a societal shift towards greater violence.
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Domestic violence
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 79 victims of homicide and related offences in New South Wales in 2023, with the number remaining stable from the previous year. Of these, 44 victims (or 56%) were related to family and domestic violence (FDV). In Western Australia, there were 68 victims of homicide and related offences in 2023, an increase of 19 victims from the previous year. 18 of these (or 27%) were FDV-related. Tasmania recorded 8 victims of homicide and related offences in 2023. While the report does not specify how many of these were FDV-related, it is mentioned that there were 4,085 victims of assault, an increase of 8% from the previous year. In South Australia, there were 21,878 victims of assault, an increase of 11% from the previous year, of which 10,666 victims (or 49%) were FDV-related.
Domestic and family violence in Australia is disturbingly common and is one of the main drivers of homelessness among women, children, and men. It involves abusive and violent behaviour towards a partner, former partner, or family member, and can include actions that control, humiliate, or scare the victim. Many incidents go unreported, and the true scale of the problem may be much worse than official statistics suggest.
In 2021-22, 4,620 women aged 15 and over (an average of 13 women per day) were hospitalised due to family and domestic violence. 1 in 4 women have experienced violence, emotional abuse, or economic abuse by a cohabiting partner since the age of 15, and 1 in 3 women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, and 1 in 2 women have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime. Research shows that around 1 in 4 men aged 18 to 45 have used physical and/or sexual violence against an intimate partner. Men aged 18-30 who identify with rigid stereotypes of masculinity are 17 times more likely to say they have hit a partner.
In 2021-22, 39% of people seeking help from specialist homelessness services (or 108,000 individuals) had experienced domestic and family violence. 1 in 6 women and 1 in 9 men experience physical or sexual abuse before the age of 15. Approximately 2.5 million Australian adults (13%) experienced abuse during their childhood, and the majority knew the perpetrator and experienced multiple incidents. Indigenous people were 32 times more likely to be hospitalised for family violence as non-Indigenous people. In 2017, the majority of Indigenous assault victims recorded by police were victims of family violence, ranging from 64% in New South Wales to 74% in the Northern Territory.
Lesbian, bisexual, and queer women experience higher rates of sexual violence than heterosexual women in Australia. Transgender and gender diverse people also experience very high rates of family, domestic, and sexual violence. Elder abuse often occurs in relationships where there is an expectation of trust, such as with family, friends, and carers. In 2017-18, the number of women calling elder abuse helplines exceeded the number of men in every state, with emotional and financial abuse being the most commonly reported issues. Young women (aged 18-34) experience significantly higher rates of physical and sexual violence than older women. Women from migrant and refugee backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to financial abuse, reproductive coercion, and immigration-related violence.
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Interpersonal violence
In Australia, interpersonal violence encompasses a range of violent acts committed by individuals or small groups. This includes violent crimes such as assault, which have seen an increase in recent years, with a notable spike in 2023. For example, in Western Australia, the number of victims of assault increased by 11% to 42,826 victims in 2023, the highest record in a thirty-one-year time series. Similarly, South Australia recorded a rise of 11% in assault cases, amounting to 21,878 victims.
Family and domestic violence (FDV) constitutes a significant portion of interpersonal violence in Australia. In 2023, over a quarter of homicide and related offences in Western Australia were FDV-related, with 18 victims. Similarly, in New South Wales, over half of the homicide victims (44 victims) were related to FDV. This trend extends to assault cases, with almost half of all assaults in South Australia being FDV-related, impacting 10,666 victims.
While Australia's homicide rate remains low compared to other countries, the recent upward trend and the significant impact of interpersonal violence highlight the urgency to address this issue. By understanding the underlying causes and implementing effective prevention strategies, Australia can mitigate the devastating consequences of interpersonal violence and foster a safer environment for its citizens.
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Homicide by state
Homicide rates in Australia vary across states and territories. In 2023, New South Wales recorded 79 victims of homicide and related offences, with over half (54%) resulting from family and domestic violence (FDV). This translates to a rate of around 0.93 homicides per 100,000 persons, considering the state's population of approximately 8.2 million people.
In Western Australia, there were 68 victims of homicide and related offences in 2023, an increase of 19 victims from the previous year. The homicide victimisation rate remained stable at 2 victims per 100,000 persons. Over a quarter (27%) of these homicides were FDV-related.
South Australia witnessed an 11% increase in assault cases in the same year, recording 21,878 victims. Nearly half (49%) of these assaults were FDV-related. However, the report does not specify the number of homicides in this state for 2023.
Tasmania reported 8 victims of homicide and 4,085 victims of assault, an increase of 8% from the previous year. The victimisation rate rose from 662 to 713 victims per 100,000 persons when accounting for population change.
The Northern Territory (NT), with a small population, had 4 murders, resulting in a rate of 2 murders per 100,000 people. This region has a higher indigenous population and faces challenges associated with marginalised communities, including drug abuse and high crime rates.
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Homicide data collection
In 2023, the ABS reported 79 victims of homicide and related offences in New South Wales, remaining stable from the previous year. Among these cases, over half (54%) were family and domestic violence (FDV) related. Moving to South Australia, the data revealed 21,878 victims of assault, with a quarter of these cases being FDV-related. Additionally, the sexual assault numbers in this state are concerning, with a recorded increase of 11% from the previous year.
Western Australia witnessed 68 victims of homicide and related offences in 2023, marking a notable increase of 19 victims compared to the previous year. Similar to other states, family and domestic violence played a significant role in these cases, accounting for over a quarter of the total. The assault numbers in Western Australia are also worth noting, with an 11% increase in victims from the previous year, amounting to 42,826 victims in total.
Tasmania, a state in Australia, recorded a lower number of homicide cases, with eight victims of homicide and related offences in 2023. Alongside this, the state experienced an increase in assault cases, with 4,085 victims, reflecting an 8% rise compared to the previous year. Overall, the data collected by the ABS provides valuable insights into the trends and patterns of homicide and related offences in Australia, helping inform policy decisions, allocate resources, and develop strategies to address these critical issues.
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Frequently asked questions
The homicide rate in Australia in 2021 was 0.86 per 100,000.
Yes, between 2013 and 2023, the number of homicides and related offences in Australia decreased from 434 to 409.
The National Homicide Monitoring Program is Australia's only national data collection on homicide incidents, victims, and offenders.
Yes, there were 409 victims of homicide and related offences recorded by police in Australia in 2023, an increase of 5% (20 victims) from 2022.
Yes, the national homicide rate decreased from 1.8 per 100,000 people to 1 per 100,000 during this period.
