California reported the largest number of homicides to the FBI in 2023, at 1,929 for the year. Texas recorded the second-highest number of murders, with 1,845 for the year. Homicide victim demographics There were a total of 19,252 reported homicide cases in the U.S. in 2023. When looking at murder victims by gender and ethnicity, the vast majority were male, while just over half of the victims were Black or African American. In addition, homicide victims in the United States were found most likely to be between the ages of 20 and 34 years old, with the majority of victims aged between 17 to 54 years old. Are murders up? In short, no – since the 1990s the number of murders in the U.S. has decreased significantly. In 1990, the murder rate per 100,000 people stood at 9.4, and stood at 5.7 in 2023. It should be noted though that the number of homicides increased slightly from 2014 to 2017, although figures declined again in 2018 and 2019, before ticking up once more in 2020 and 2021. Despite this decline, when viewed in international comparison, the U.S. murder rate is still notably high. For example, the Canadian homicide rate stood at 1.94 in 2023, while the homicide rate in England and Wales was even lower.

In 2023, the District of Columbia had the highest reported violent crime rate in the United States, with 1,150.9 violent crimes per 100,000 of the population. Maine had the lowest reported violent crime rate, with 102.5 offenses per 100,000 of the population. Life in the District The District of Columbia has seen a fluctuating population over the past few decades. Its population decreased throughout the 1990s, when its crime rate was at its peak, but has been steadily recovering since then. While unemployment in the District has also been falling, it still has had a high poverty rate in recent years. The gentrification of certain areas within Washington, D.C. over the past few years has made the contrast between rich and poor even greater and is also pushing crime out into the Maryland and Virginia suburbs around the District. Law enforcement in the U.S. Crime in the U.S. is trending downwards compared to years past, despite Americans feeling that crime is a problem in their country. In addition, the number of full-time law enforcement officers in the U.S. has increased recently, who, in keeping with the lower rate of crime, have also made fewer arrests than in years past.

Graph and download economic data for Combined Violent and Property Crime Offenses Known to Law Enforcement in Washington County, AR (DISCONTINUED) (FBITC005143) from 2004 to 2021 about Washington County, AR; Fayetteville; crime; violent crime; property crime; AR; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Combined Violent and Property Crime Offenses Known to Law Enforcement in Fulton County, AR (DISCONTINUED) (FBITC005049) from 2005 to 2021 about Fulton County, AR; crime; violent crime; property crime; AR; and USA.

In 2023, the District of Columbia had the highest rate of murder and non-negligent manslaughter in the United States with a rate of 39 murders or non-negligent manslaughters per 100,000 inhabitants. Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, and Tennessee rounded out the top five states with the highest murder rates.

In 2022, the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area recorded the highest homicide rate of U.S. cities with a population over 250,000, at 27.1 homicides per 100,000 residents, followed by the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area. However, homicide data was not recorded in all U.S. metro areas, meaning that there may be some cities with a higher homicide rate.

St. Louis

St. Louis, which had a murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate of 11.6 in 2022, is the second-largest city by population in Missouri. It is home to many famous treasures such as the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, Washington University in St. Louis, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the renowned Gateway Arch. It is home to many corporations such as Monsanto, Arch Coal, and Emerson Electric. The economy of St. Louis is centered around business and healthcare, and in addition is home to ten Fortune 500 companies.

Crime in St. Louis

Despite all of this, St. Louis suffers from high levels of crime and violence. As of 2023, it was listed as the seventh most dangerous city in the world as a result of their extremely high murder rate. Not only does St. Louis have one of the highest homicide rates in the United States, it also reports one of the highest numbers of violent crimes. In spite of high crime levels, the GDP of the St. Louis metropolitan area has been increasing since 2001.

Graph and download economic data for Combined Violent and Property Crime Offenses Known to Law Enforcement in Cleveland County, AR (DISCONTINUED) (FBITC005025) from 2004 to 2021 about Cleveland County, AR; Pine Bluff; crime; violent crime; property crime; AR; and USA.

Handguns are by far the most common murder weapon used in the United States, accounting for 7,159 homicides in 2023. This is followed by firearms of an unstated type, with 5,295 cases in that year. Why do murders happen in the U.S.? While most of the time the circumstances of murders in the U.S. remain unknown, homicides due to narcotics come in as the second most common circumstance – making them more common than, for example, gang killings. Despite these gruesome facts, the violent crime rate has fallen significantly since 1990, and the United States is much safer than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. Knife crime vs disease: Leading causes of death The death rate in the U.S. had hovered around the same level since 1990 until there was a large increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years. Heart disease, cancer, and accidents were the three leading causes of death in the country in 2022. The rate of death from heart disease is significantly higher than the homicide rate in the United States, at 167.2 deaths per 100,000 population compared to a 5.7 homicides per 100,000. Given just 1,562 murders were caused by knife crime, it is fair to say that heart disease is a far bigger killer in the U.S.

Graph and download economic data for Combined Violent and Property Crime Offenses Known to Law Enforcement in Clark County, AR (DISCONTINUED) (FBITC005019) from 2005 to 2021 about Clark County, AR; crime; violent crime; property crime; AR; and USA.

Argentina AR: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data was reported at 1.747 Ratio in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.946 Ratio for 2014. Argentina AR: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data is updated yearly, averaging 1.847 Ratio from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2015, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.946 Ratio in 2014 and a record low of 1.747 Ratio in 2015. Argentina AR: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Argentina – Table AR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, female are estimates of unlawful female homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; ;

Graph and download economic data for Combined Violent and Property Crime Offenses Known to Law Enforcement in Jackson County, AR (DISCONTINUED) (FBITC005067) from 2005 to 2021 about Jackson County, AR; crime; violent crime; property crime; AR; and USA.

In 2023, around 3,640.56 violent crimes per 100,000 residents were reported in Oakland, California. This made Oakland the most dangerous city in the United States in that year. Four categories of violent crimes were used: murder and non-negligent manslaughter; forcible rape; robbery; and aggravated assault. Only cities with a population of at least 200,000 were considered.

In 2020, Memphis, TN-MS-AR reported 1,358.8 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, the most out of any metro area in the United States. Monroe, LA followed closely behind, with a violent crime rate of 1,308.5 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

Graph and download economic data for Combined Violent and Property Crime Offenses Known to Law Enforcement in Prairie County, AR (DISCONTINUED) (FBITC005117) from 2005 to 2021 about Prairie County, AR; crime; violent crime; property crime; AR; and USA.

This data collection describes in quantitative terms the volume of juvenile cases disposed by courts having jurisdiction over juvenile matters (delinquency, status offense, and dependency cases). Inaugurated in 1983, the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts began to collect data from intake and probation departments on each case disposed during the previous calendar year. The data include a record of each case processed formally with petition for each delinquency, dependent/neglect, or family in need of services case disposed. Information is provided on county, case type, date of filing, reason for referral to the courts, and the court action.

In 2023, there were over 1.8 million assaults in the United States where personal weapons, such as hands, fists, or feet, were used. There were a further 149,766 assault offenses where handguns were used. What are firearms? Firearms are portable weapons used to shoot bullets. There are several different types of firearms, which include rifles, shotguns, machine guns, and pistols. Gun laws in the United States vary from state to state, where some states have stricter laws than others. Each state has their own constitution, which allows them to have their own interpretation of the Second Amendment of the Constitution. Gun culture in the United States is a large part of certain regions, where they share similar attitudes and beliefs about firearms and their right to own them. Aggravated Assault Aggravated assault is an intended action to cause serious bodily harm to someone else. In 2023, New Mexico had the highest rate of aggravated assault in the U.S., with Alaska, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana rounding out the top five. In contrast, the reported violent crime rate has decreased significantly since 1990, meaning that the U.S. is safer now than it was thirty years ago.

Graph and download economic data for Combined Violent and Property Crime Offenses Known to Law Enforcement in Montgomery County, AR (DISCONTINUED) (FBITC005097) from 2007 to 2018 about Montgomery County, AR; crime; violent crime; property crime; AR; and USA.

3.9 (Number) in 2014. Accidental or violent deaths are those due to environmental events and circumstances, such as injury, poisoning and other adverse effects. They are classified as accidents, homicides and suicides.

Recorded crime for Police Force Areas. The data are rolling 12-month totals, with points at the end of each financial year between year ending March 2003 to March 2007 and at the end of each quarter from June 2007.

United States Excess Deaths: Above Upper Bound: Arkansas data was reported at 0.000 Number in 30 Oct 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.000 Number for 23 Oct 2021. United States Excess Deaths: Above Upper Bound: Arkansas data is updated weekly, averaging 9.000 Number from Jan 2017 (Median) to 30 Oct 2021, with 251 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 329.000 Number in 07 Aug 2021 and a record low of 0.000 Number in 30 Oct 2021. United States Excess Deaths: Above Upper Bound: Arkansas data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G010: Number of Excess Deaths: by States: All Causes (Discontinued).