Murder Cases in Indonesia Continue to Decrease Over the Past Five Years

The number of violent crimes resulting in death or murder in Indonesia has steadily decreased between 2016 and 2020.

According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), there were 1,292 murder cases in Indonesia in 2016. This is the highest number of cases recorded over the past five years.

The number decreased to 1,150 cases in 2017, further dropping to 1,024 cases in 2018, 964 cases in 2019, and 898 cases in 2020.

Murder is classified as one of the most serious crimes in international crime classifications. Furthermore, murder carries the most severe punishment under the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP).

Based on provincial data, in 2020, the highest number of murder cases occurred in the North Sumatra Regional Police jurisdiction (Polda Sumatera Utara), with 99 cases. This was followed by South Sumatra with 77 cases, and North Sulawesi with 74 cases.

Conversely, the province with the fewest murder cases was North Maluku, with only 1 case. This was followed by Yogyakarta Special Region and Bali, each with 6 cases.

(See also: Prevalence of Physical and Sexual Violence Against Women Decreased in 2021)