U.S. murder rate approaches a record low
5 hours ago
- #U.S. homicide rate
- #violence prevention
- #crime statistics
- The U.S. murder rate in 2025 is projected to be the lowest since FBI records began in the 1960s, and may drop even lower in 2024.
- Preliminary data from around 600 police agencies shows an 18.7% decrease in murders and a 6.4% drop in all violent crime in early 2024 compared to 2023.
- The murder rate had spiked by 54% to 6.8 per 100,000 in 2021, raising fears of a 'new normal' of violence, but has since declined sharply.
- Experts attribute the recent decline to factors like post-pandemic normalization, re-engagement of policing strategies, and the return of in-person activities for youth.
- Despite the improvement, the U.S. homicide rate remains about double that of Canada, with thousands of murders still occurring annually, indicating it is 'not a solved problem.'