Belize

2023

19.7
Homicide rate per 100,000 population
1,087
Major crimes were registered
2,993
Cases of domestic violence registered

Key Data

  • There was a 5% increase in major crimes (homicide, rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, violent robbery, robbery and burglary) in 2023 with regard to 2022.
  • The crime with the highest incidence in 2023 was burglary with 628 reported cases.
  • Homicide (-23%), violent robbery (-7.1%) and unlawful sexual intercourse (-16.7%) decreased in 2023.
  • In 2023, there was a 23% decrease in cases of homicide, from 113 cases registered in 2022, down to 87 reported in 2023.
  • 65.5% of homicides took place in urban areas in 2023.
  • In eight out of every 10 registered homicides, firearms were used.
  • Nine in 10 victims of homicide were men.
  • Reports show incidents of rape increased 42%, but there were 10 fewer cases of unlawful sexual intercourse compared to 2022.
  • 98.8% of sexual violence victims were women in 2023.
  • In 2023, registered cases of domestic violence increased 4.2% in comparison with 2022.

 

Sources: Prepared by UNDP Infosegura with official crime data from the Belize Police Department (BPD) and the Belize National Forensic Science Service, provided by the Belize Crime Observatory (BCO). 

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The following infographic is an analysis of the situation of violence and insecurity in Belize during the year 2020. This analysis was prepared by the infosegura team…