U.S. murder rate approaches a record low

4 hours ago

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.'

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