Mortality from Homicides in Europe

Mortality from homicides in Europe decreased significantly between 2000 and 2020 going on average from a value of 3.15 units to a value of 1.02 units or a reduction equal to an amount of -2.13 units equal to a value of -67.54%. The reduction in homicides occurred in all countries even if the Baltic countries have a high homicide mortality rate compared to the countries of central and southern Europe. It should be considered that probably the process of integration into the European Union has had a significant role in reducing the mortality from homicides in the Baltic countries. The indicator does not consider the mortality for homicides committed in a war scenario and therefore is not able to consider the mortality connected to the Russo-Ukrainian war. The reduction in mortality could be positively connected to the growth of legality, the reduction of crime, greater efficiency of the police force and the judicial system. However, the reduction in mortality from homicides could also be due to socio-economic phenomena. Growth in per capita income, the ability to receive a medium-high level formal education and to actively participate in the labor market could play a role in reducing mortality from homicides. The reduction in mortality from homicides could also be due to a lack of diffusion of firearms among the European population. In fact, if the firearms market were liberalized in many European countries, we could see an increase in mortality from homicides. Finally, the suppression of the mafia phenomenon of organized crime could also play a role in reducing the mortality rate for homicides. However, it is very probable that this value is destined to further also decrease thanks to the use of technological and IT tools capable of predicting aggressions, such as in the case of feminicides, for example, reducing the overall value of mortality from homicides in Europe.