Origins of the Swiss Homicide Monitor
The Swiss Homicide Monitor traces its origins back to 2001, when the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) supported a study at the University of Lausanne aimed at increasing empirical knowledge about homicide in Switzerland. The study collected data on all intentional, completed homicides from 1979 to 2002. After the study concluded, the SNSF approved an extension to include all Swiss cantons. This follow-up project gathered data on intentional, completed homicides from 1980 (in some cantons starting from 1990) to 2004 across the country.
In 2014, the SNSF funded another project to update the homicide database with all intentional, completed homicides up to 2014. A third round of data collection — partially funded by the Swiss Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE) — covered the years 2015 to 2022.
Current Status of the Swiss Homicide Monitor
The Swiss Homicide Monitor currently includes 1,648 homicide cases with 1,843 victims and 1,749 offenders from 1990 to 2022. At present, an ongoing monitoring process is being introduced, which will record all homicides committed in Switzerland on an annual basis to ensure the data remains up to date. The project team currently consists of Prof. Dr. Nora Markwalder and Dr. Simone Walser.
Data Collected by the Swiss Homicide Monitor
The Swiss Homicide Monitor collects information on the victim, the offender, the circumstances of the crime, and the subsequent criminal proceedings. It is based on the European Homicide Monitor, allowing for international comparability of data. All collected variables are documented in the Codebook, and the latest version will be published here shortly.
Data Analyses Based on the Swiss Homicide Monitor
The figures from the Swiss Homicide Monitor are intended to serve as a basis for homicide-related analyses by cantonal authorities and the media. Requests for analyses are welcome. However, due to strict data protection regulations, no raw data will be released.
Publications Using Swiss Homicide Monitor Data
Numerous national and international publications have already been produced using data from the Swiss Homicide Monitor. These will be continuously listed here.
Walser, S., & Markwalder, N. (2025). Tötungsdelikte mit Schusswaffen im häuslichen Bereich.
Liem, M., Aarten, P., Granath, S., Kivivuori, J., Langlade, A., Larchet, K., Markwalder, N., Suonpää, K., Thomsen, A., & Walser, S. (2024). Patterns of Female Homicide Victimization in Western Europe. International Criminology, 177-190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43576-024-00127-3
Markwalder, N., Liem, M., & Kivivuori, J. (2024). Homicide Patterns and Trends in Europe and Beyond: Introduction to the Special Issue. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 40(3), 428-430. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/10439862241254915
Kivivuori, J., Liem, M., & Markwalder, N. (2024). European Homicide Monitor: Research, New Developments, and Future. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 40(3), 431-445. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/10439862241253386
Suonpää, K., Kivivuori, J., Aarten, P., Ahven, A., Granath, S., Markwalder, N., Skott, S., Thomsen, A. H., Walser, S., & Liem, M. (2024). Homicide drop in seven European countries: General or specific across countries and crime types? European Journal of Criminology, 21(1), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/14773708221103799
Krüsselmann, K., Aarten, P., Granath, S., Kivivuori, J., Markwalder, N., Suonpää, K., Thomsen, A. H., Walser, S., & Liem, M. (2023). Firearm Homicides in Europe: A Comparison with Non-Firearm Homicides in Five European Countries. Global Crime, 24(2), 145-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/17440572.2023.2211513
Walser, S., Markwalder, N., & Killias, M. (2022). Tötungsdelikte in der Schweiz von 1990 bis 2014. sui generis. https://doi.org/10.38107/029
Staubli, S., Markwalder, N., & Walser, S. (2021). Ursachen von Tötungsdelikten innerhalb der Partnerschaft. https://www.ebg.admin.ch/dam/ebg/de/dokumente/haeusliche_gewalt/studie_ursachentoetungsdelikte.pdf.download.pdf/2021_Studie_Ursachen%20T%C3%B6tungsdelikte.pdf
Liem, M., Suonpää, K., Lehti, M., Kivivuori, J., Granath, S., Walser, S., & Killias, M. (2019). Homicide clearance in Western Europe. European Journal of Criminology, 16(1), 81-101. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370818764840
Killias, M., & Markwalder, N. (2012). Firearms and homicide in Europe. In M. Liem & W. A. Pridemore (Eds.), Handbook of European Homicide Research (pp. 261-272). Springer.
Markwalder, N., & Killias, M. (2012). Homicide in Switzerland. In M. Liem & W. A. Pridemore (Eds.), Handbook of European Homicide Research (pp. 343-354). Springer.
Liem, M., Barber, C., Markwalder, N., Killias, M., & Nieuwbeerta, P. (2011). Homicide–suicide and other violent deaths: An international comparison. Forensic Science International, 207(1), 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.09.003
Markwalder, N. (2011). Robbery Homicide: A Swiss and International Perspective [Thesis, University of Zurich]. Schulthess.
Killias, M., Markwalder, N., Walser, S., & Dilitz, C. (2009). Homicide and suicide in Switzerland over twenty years (1980-2004): A study based on forensic medicine, police and court files [Report to the Swiss National Science Foundation].
