From Homicide in Scotland 2025-26 published yesterday:

• In 2025-26, 56 victims of homicide were recorded, 19% (or nine victims) more than the 47 victims recorded in 2024-25 (Table 1). This is the fourth lowest number of recorded homicide victims since comparable records began in 1976.
• Over the latest 10 year period from 2016-17 to 2025-26, the number of victims fell by 14% (or nine victims) from 65 to 56.
• Over the latest 20 year period from 2006-07 to 2025-26, the number of homicide victims in Scotland fell by 54% (or 65 victims) from 121 to 56.
• The greatest reduction in homicide victims over the last 20 years has been amongst young people aged 16-24. In the five years between 2006-07 to 2010-11 there were 113 victims in this age range. This fell to 28 across the latest five years between 2021-22 to 2025-26 (Worksheet 5). https://www.gov.scot/publications/homicide-scotland-2025-26/

The line graph above reveals the long -term downward trend in homicide and this table below reveals using the more statistically reliable 5 year average fall, not that apparent in the line graph, of 36% from 85 to 53.