How Much Lifetime is Lost Due to Homicides: A Cross-National Comparison

• In Event: Lethal Inequalities: Understanding the Structural Predictors, Gendered Patterns, and Life Lost to Violence

Abstract

This study estimates the lifetime lost to homicides across various countries and regions, focusing on the United States. We contextualize these estimates by investigating trends from 2000 to 2021 and across age groups, highlighting the global loss of life among youth. Findings indicate that while global homicide rates have generally declined, the Americas, including the United States, continue to experience high rates of youth homicides, resulting in substantial lifetime losses. In 2021, persons globally lost 27.8 million years to homicide, for a per capita loss of 1.29 days. The Americas had the highest regional loss at 2.29 days per person. The United States saw a loss of 1.25 days per person and a total life-course loss of 14.73 days, nearly half of which is accrued between ages 15 to 29. The total statistical value of that lifetime loss is $117.864 billion, which represents 43.5% of all local and state expenditures with justice. By quantifying the lifetime lost to homicides, the research provides a compelling measure of the societal harm caused by violence, offering a basis for comparing the impact of homicides with other causes of premature death which ultimately justifies much greater investments in preventing the killing of youth.

Authors

• Mateus Renno Santos, University of South Florida

• Yunmei Lu, State University of New York at Buffalo

• Alex Testa, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston