Around 170-180 men are murdered in Australia each year, with males consistently making up the majority (about two-thirds) of homicide victims, according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Criminology (AIC) for recent years like 2022-23, where 170 male victims were reported. This translates to roughly one male victim every 2-3 days, though figures vary slightly by year.
Haiti tops the global ranking, reflecting a Caribbean crisis, with Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia close behind. By contrast, Jamaica (–15%) and Ecuador (–18%) recorded sharp reductions in 2024 after years of rising violence.
Dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) is now Australia's leading cause of death overall, closely followed by ischaemic heart disease, with the gap narrowing as the population ages; however, coronary heart disease remains the top killer for males, while dementia leads for females. Other major causes include cerebrovascular disease (stroke), lung cancer, and chronic lower respiratory diseases (COPD).
According to the latest National Homicide Monitoring Program report (July 2024 – June 2025), Australia saw a total of 277 homicides. Queensland had the highest number, with 111 victims, and Victoria wasn't far behind with 88 victims.
Low crime rates for your peace of mind
Canberra is officially Australia's #1 safest city, with a crime index rating of 26 out of 100. That places it as the 49th safest city in the world. This ranking comes from Compare the Market Australia, which analysed 6 years of public data from Numbeo's crime index.
The most significantly underreported crime in Australia is sexual assault and sexual violence, with vast discrepancies between survey data (revealing millions of incidents) and police-recorded statistics (showing far fewer reports) due to high fear, shame, and perceived lack of support, making it a hidden epidemic despite increasing awareness. Domestic and family violence is also highly underreported, often linked to power dynamics and fear, while child sexual abuse remains a critical hidden issue.
Suicide is the biggest killer of people under the age of 35 and the biggest killer of men under the age of 50.
Of the 1,635 drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2023, 340 or 21% were due to heroin (Table NMD2). People who use heroin have a particularly high risk of overdose, especially when heroin is used in conjunction with other drugs like benzodiazepines (for example, alprazolam, diazepam) and alcohol.
The World's Safest Havens: A Look at Countries with the Lowest Homicide Rates When it comes to personal safety, some countries stand out for their remarkably low homicide rates. According to 2024 data, Vatican City and Tuvalu share the top spot, both reporting a homicide rate of 0 per 100,000 people yearly.
The 2024 GPI indicates Iceland, Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, Malaysia and Canada to be the most peaceful countries, while Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Congo, Russia, Syria, Israel and Mali to be the least peaceful.
The most common crimes in Australia include theft, assault, and property damage. According to recent Australian crime statistics, property-related offences like break-ins and motor vehicle theft remain prevalent, while cybercrime and domestic violence are increasingly reported.
It aims to unpack whether offender behaviour affects solvability in Australian homicides, and if so, how. 1989, the most recent data (2015-2016) reveals approximately 264 incidents per annum; a rate of 0.9 per 100,000 with 10.5% remaining unsolved (Bryant & Bricknell, 2017).
Crime levels
Australia reported 46.01 crimes per 100,000 citizens. Australia is ranked 69th out of 164 countries when it comes to crime in general while Canada did better with only 39.03 crimes per 100,000 and ranking 80th.
Malignant diseases and diseases related to consumption of alcohol were at least as prominent as cardiovascular disorders in causing premature death in the cohort of men studied. All three types of conditions are potentially avoidable and seem to be associated with significant and distinctive patterns of risk factors.
The numbers of deaths from ischaemic heart diseases (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease have decreased over time, but IHD remains the leading cause of death in males.
The number one killer in the world is cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, responsible for about one-third of all global deaths, claiming nearly 18-20 million lives annually, and remains the leading cause across all regions, according to WHO and World Heart Federation. While COVID-19 caused significant deaths in recent years, CVD has consistently held the top spot for decades, with increases seen globally, especially in younger populations.
Do you know the biggest threats to men's health? Heart disease and cancer top the list. Others include injury, lung disease, stroke and diabetes.
The 'Somerton Man' is the case of an unidentified man found dead on Somerton Beach near Adelaide on 1 December 1948. The mystery also became known the 'Tamam Shud case' and, to this day, the man's identity and the truth about how he met his fate are still unknown.
Top 10 most dangerous cities in Australia
Homicide rate: Australia's homicide rate hovers around 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to the U.S. rate of approximately 6 per 100,000. Property crime: Both countries experience property crime, but Australia's rates are generally lower, and violent property crimes (like armed burglary) are less common.