Finland homicide rate has dropped significantly over the past ten years, yet the number of women killed has not followed the same decline, according to new research from the University of Helsinki’s Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy.
Between 2013 and 2023, the national homicide rate decreased from 1.4 to 0.9 per 100,000 people. This reduction was largely due to fewer male victims. During the same period, the number of women killed remained almost unchanged.
Data shows that male victims fell from an average of 62 per year in 2013–2015 to 49 per year in 2020–2023. Female victims, on the other hand, rose slightly from 22 to 24 annually.
The research examined long-term crime statistics, including murder, manslaughter, and negligent homicide. While the overall trend shows a decline, the reduction slowed in the early 2020s, and yearly fluctuations are still evident. Statistics Finland reported an increase in homicides in 2023, reflecting these short-term changes.
Most male victims were killed by someone they knew, usually a friend or acquaintance. In contrast, nearly 60 percent of female victims were killed by a current or former partner. Cases involving strangers were rare, making up only around 12 percent of homicides.
Men were the majority among both offenders and victims. The study also found that alcohol and other intoxicants were often involved. In six out of ten cases, both the victim and the perpetrator were under the influence, and in nearly 75 percent of cases, at least one party had consumed intoxicants.
Most homicides occurred in private homes. Both men and women were most often killed in their own residences, highlighting the dangers within domestic settings.
This study confirms the long-term decline of Finland’s homicide rate, but the steady number of female victims shows persistent risks, particularly in domestic violence. Understanding these patterns is crucial for shaping policies that protect vulnerable populations and reduce violent crimes.
