Homicide Rate in Denmark: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

A homicide rate is more than a statistical figure; it is a measure of a society's collective security. Behind every data point lies a life extinguished unexpectedly, marking the shifting boundaries of safety. These figures track the intentional taking of human life, revealing how the risk of violence has fundamentally altered for those residing within these borders. To look at this data is to observe the evolution of a nation’s stability and the gradual strengthening of the social fabric over two centuries.

The historical arc reveals a steady decline, beginning with the 1800s estimate 5.65. By 1900 it was 2.3 per 100,000, signaling a transition away from the higher rates of the previous century. This downward trajectory continued through the 1910s estimate 2.11 and into the 1990s 1.25. Looking forward, the 2030s projection 0.95 and the 2100s projection 0.66 suggest a future where instances of violence become increasingly rare, reflecting a long-term movement toward greater peace.

In the 2020s, homicide rate in Denmark stands at 1 per 100,000 — ranking #21 of 157 countries. If you were born in the 1800s, your environment carried a level of risk significantly higher than the reality faced by a contemporary citizen today. This shift defines a changing landscape of security, where personal safety has become increasingly predictable compared to the lives of ancestors. Now, life in Denmark exists within a context of historic lows in intentional violence.

Explore how these trends compare to the parallel lives of your own ancestors on MYRIAD.