The issue of unsolved murders in Guyana remains a significant concern within the context of national security and public safety. While no single official figure exists for the cumulative historical backlog of unsolved homicides, an analysis of annual data from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Bureau of Statistics, and international bodies provides a clearer picture of the current landscape.
Between 2015 and 2025, Guyana recorded a total of 1,472 murders. Applying the average clearance rate of approximately 71% observed in recent years, it is estimated that roughly 427 of these cases remain unsolved.
Annual Snapshot
Recent annual statistics highlight fluctuations in the clearance rate of homicide cases. In 2022, the Guyana Police Force reported an 80.3% clearance rate for the 131 murders recorded that year, leaving an estimated 26 cases unsolved. In 2024, the clearance rate stood at 71.0% for 117 murders, resulting in approximately 34 unsolved cases. The data for 2025 indicates a clearance rate of 61.7% for 130 murders, which translates to roughly 50 unsolved cases for that year. These figures demonstrate the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in bringing all homicide investigations to a conclusive resolution.
| Year | Total Murders | Clearance Rate | Est. Solved | Est. Unsolved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 131 | 80.3% | ~105 | ~26 |
| 2024 | 117 | 71.0% | ~83 | ~34 |
| 2025 | 130 | 61.7% | ~80 | ~50 |
Per Capita Impact
When examining these figures on a per capita basis, the impact on the population becomes more apparent. Using the 2024 population estimate of approximately 956,044, the total murder rate was 12.24 per 100,000 people, with the unsolved murder rate at 3.55 per 100,000. In 2025, the total murder rate increased slightly to 13.60 per 100,000, and the unsolved murder rate rose to 5.21 per 100,000.
Global Ranking
From an international perspective, data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for 2023 placed Guyana’s homicide rate at 19.12 per 100,000, ranking it approximately 22nd highest globally among tracked nations and territories. This places Guyana within the top 20 most dangerous countries by homicide rate in the Latin America and Caribbean region — a region known for disproportionately high levels of violent crime.
These figures underscore the continued need for investment in investigative capacity, witness protection frameworks, and judicial efficiency to improve case resolution rates and deliver justice to victims and their families.
Sources: Guyana Police Force / GPF Crime Chief Statements (2022, 2024, 2025); Bureau of Statistics Guyana — Reported Serious Crimes 1990–2025; Department of Public Information (DPI), Guyana; UNODC Global Study on Homicide (2026 update).
