The number of people who were killed in Scotland last year was almost a fifth higher than the record low of the previous year, new figures show.
The latest stats released by the Scottish government show that 56 homicides were recorded in 2025-26 - 41 men and 15 women.
This was nine more than the 47 killings in 2024-25 but was it still the fourth lowest on record - and less than half of the 121 homicides recorded 20 years ago.
The latest figures showed that two-thirds of the female victims were killed by their partner or ex-partner, the highest rate since these records began in 2006.
Violence against women and girls
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said this figure reinforced the Scottish government's "absolute determination" to tackle violence against women and girls, which First Minister John Swinney has previously called a "national emergency".
The figures also showed that the majority of male victims (66%) were killed by a friend or acquaintance.
Some of the homicides had multiple perpetrators, resulting in 81 people being accused - 75 male and six female.
All of the reported homicides from last year have been solved.
Age and location of victims
The council area with the most homicides in 2024-25 was Glasgow City, with 12.
The cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, and Edinburgh had the next highest number, with five each.
In the past 20 years, the greatest fall in homicide victims has been in those aged 16-24.
In the past five years, 28 victims were in this age range, whereas in the five years between 2006-07 and 2010-11, there were 113.
This represents a reduction of 75%.
The most common method of killing continues to be the use of a sharp instrument, such as a knife, broken bottle, or any other sharpened, pointed or edged weapon.
This accounted for 29 of the 56 homicides in the last year.