Japan Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Japan
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Normal Precautions
Updated May 15, 2025
Japan recorded 0.2 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2023, a rate that is among the lowest in the world. That places Japan #191 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Asia average of 2.0 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide has stayed rare over the past decade (0.3 per 100,000 in 2013, 0.2 today). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Japan at Level 1 of 4: Exercise Normal Precautions.
Homicide Rate
0.2 /100k
Safety Rank
#5 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 (0.3 per 100,000 in 2013, 0.2 today). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Japan Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Japan, the homicide rate for men is 1.0× that of the rate for women — 0.2 vs 0.2 per 100,000 (2023).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Japan:
Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise normal precautions in Japan. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Japan. If you decide to travel to Japan, U.S. citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad. Use these general tips to stay safe: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Japan. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist .
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.
Japan Population & Demographics
Population of 123,975,371, growth trends, economy, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Japan safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Japan at Level 1 of 4 (Exercise Normal Precautions). The homicide rate of 0.2 per 100,000 is among the lowest in the world.
What is the crime rate in Japan?
Japan has an intentional homicide rate of 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #191 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Japan?
Japan 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 Japan compare to other countries?
Japan's homicide rate of 0.2 per 100,000 is below the world average of 5.2 and below the Asia average of 2.0.