Australia Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Australia
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Normal Precautions
Updated May 30, 2025
Australia recorded 0.8 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2023, a rate that is among the lowest in the world. That places Australia #159 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Oceania average of 5.9 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide has stayed rare over the past decade (1.1 per 100,000 in 2013, 0.8 today). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Australia at Level 1 of 4: Exercise Normal Precautions.
Homicide Rate
0.8 /100k
Safety Rank
#37 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 1 of 4
Data Year
2023
Homicide Rate Trend (1990-2023)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide has stayed rare over the past decade (1.1 per 100,000 in 2013, 0.8 today). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Australia Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Australia, the homicide rate for men is 2.2× higher than the rate for women — 1.2 vs 0.5 per 100,000 (2023).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Armed Conflict Context
Australia has recorded battle-related deaths in recent years. Conflict deaths are counted separately from homicides — a country can have a moderate crime rate but significant conflict risk, and travel advisories weigh both.
Battle-Related Deaths
1(2018)
Military Spending
1.9% GDP(2024)
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Australia:
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. Exercise normal precautions in Australia. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Australia. If you decide to travel to Australia: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Australia. Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist . Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States.
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
About This Data
Homicide figures are intentional homicides per 100,000 people, compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and published by the World Bank (indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5). Homicide is the most reliably comparable crime statistic across countries because definitions of other offences (assault, theft, robbery) vary widely between national legal systems and reporting practices.
Travel advisory levels are issued by the US Department of State and updated continuously. They reflect risks to travelers including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, and natural disasters — not only crime rates. Countries report crime data with different lags; the most recent available year is shown for each metric.
Australia Population & Demographics
Population of 27,196,812, growth trends, economy, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Australia at Level 1 of 4 (Exercise Normal Precautions). The homicide rate of 0.8 per 100,000 is among the lowest in the world.
What is the crime rate in Australia?
Australia has an intentional homicide rate of 0.8 per 100,000 people (2023, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #159 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Australia?
Australia is currently at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Australia compare to other countries?
Australia's homicide rate of 0.8 per 100,000 is below the world average of 5.2 and below the Oceania average of 5.9.