Global Violent Deaths in 2021

The Global Violent Deaths (GVD) database has been updated to include revised data on conflict deaths, intentional homicides, and killings during legal interventions between 2017 and 2021. The addition of the 2021 data to the GVD database—where the Small Arms Survey tracks and compiles statistics on violent deaths across 222 countries and territories—presents an alarming reversal in trends. The number of people who lost their life violently has dramatically increased in 2021, with firearms accounting for 45% of these deaths. This new data casts doubts on the possibility of achieving Target 16.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

See a snapshot of the 2021 in this infographic.

And find out more about our GVD database here.