In 2023-24, 57 victims of homicide were recorded, 10 per cent, or five victims, more than the 52 victims recorded in 2022-23.

Over the latest 10 year period, from 2014-15 to 2023-24, the number of victims fell by 10 per cent (six victims) from 63 to 57. Over the latest 20 year period from 2004-05 to 2023-24, the number of homicide victims in Scotland fell by 58 per cent (or 80 victims) from 137 to 57.

The greatest reduction in homicide victims over the last 20 years has been amongst young people aged 16-24. In the five years between 2004-05 to 2008-09 there were 125 victims in this age range. This dropped to 29 across the latest five years between 2019-20 to 2023-24.

Of the 57 victims recorded in 2023-24, 77 per cent (44) were male and 23 per cent (13) were female.

In 2023-24, 85 persons were accused of homicide, of which 81 per cent (69) were male and 19 per cent (16) were female. For all the 57 homicide victims recorded in 2023-24, the associated case was solved.

For each of the last 20 years, the most common method of killing was with a sharp instrument. In 2023-24, a sharp instrument was the main method of killing for 49 per cent (or 28) of homicide victims.

For the latest year of 2023-24, the majority (64 per cent) of male victims were killed by an acquaintance (28 of 44 male victims). Female victims were most likely to be killed by a partner or ex-partner (38 per cent, or five of 13 female victims).

Whilst most recorded incidents of homicide in these statistics have one victim and one accused, some incidents can have multiple victims and/or accused. There were 57 homicide incidents recorded in 2023-24, 12 per cent (or six incidents) more than the 51 recorded in 2022-23.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Scotland continues to be a safe place to live and I am encouraged that recorded homicides remain at a near record low, falling by 53 per cent since 2006-07. However one homicide victim is one too many, with the consequences devastating for their loved ones and communities.

“The greatest reduction in homicide victims over the last 20 years has been amongst young people aged 16-24, dropping to 29 between 2019-20 and 2023-24, from 125 victims in this age range between 2004-05 and 2008-09. This follows focused action that we have taken in this area.”