Snapshot of Firearm Incidents in South East Europe – 2025

Firearm incidents continue to affect citizens' security across South East Europe (SEE). A new infographic, based on data from the Armed Violence Monitoring Platform (AVMP), offers a more detailed overview of firearm incidents recorded in 2025.

The infographic highlights key patterns related to types of incidents, weapons involved, locations, as well as the victims and perpetrators, while also pointing to shifts in trends compared to the previous year.

In 2025, a total of 3,511 firearm incidents were reported in SEE, with weapon seizures accounting for 53% of these incidents. As a result of firearm incidents, 119 people were killed, 326 were injured, and 415 were threatened.

The 2025 data also indicate changes in trends. Domestic violence ceased to be the most frequent context associated with firearm-related deaths, although men continued to account for a higher proportion of fatalities in domestic settings, consistent with patterns observed in 2024.
 

About the Armed Violence Monitoring Platform (AVMP)

The Armed Violence Monitoring Platform is currently supported with funding from the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3006 to support SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South East Europe, reducing the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons and their ammunition. It captures data on firearm-related incidents happening in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo¹, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, and the Republic of Moldova, with the purpose of making essential data available to all interested parties working on small arms and light weapons control.

The data is gathered daily from the relevant authorities' official websites, as well as print and online media. The collected data ranges from the type of incident, firearms used, age and gender of the victim and the perpetrator, outcome of the incident, etc. Basic data analysis is also provided for various data sets, aiming to discover trends related to the incidents. Insights drawn from these trends provide a foundation for informed decision-making and targeted interventions that address firearm-related risks and promote safer environments.