General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: H2O Man Survey #39 [View all]CajunBlazer
(5,648 posts)When you look up statistics of countries ranked by the number violent deaths per year 100,000 of population, you first notice that the US is not as violent as you might think. Of the 192 countries for which statistics are available, the US ranks in the middle in 92th place with 6.5 violent deaths per 100,000 of population. Guatemala is 1st with 74.9, more than 11 times worst than the US. Many of us have visited Jamaica which I was surprised to find in 4th place with 52.9 deaths per 100,000 in population. Russia occupies 53rd place with 16.2 - 2 1/2 times that of the US.
On the other hand of all of the countries of Europe, including those formally belonging to the Eastern block, had violent death rates of 2.2 or less per 100,000. That is Finland's static in 126th place. Canada ranks in 140 place with a 1.6 rate and Japan 181st with a 0.4 rate.
Looking at the countries in the with their various statistics, three factors seem to lead to greater violent death rates, 1) the poverty of large numbers of people a country's population, 2) greater ethnic diversity, and 3) the availability of weapons.