U.S. public assessment of crime as a serious issue 2021

In 2021, about 54 percent of survey respondents said crime was a serious or extremely serious problem in the United States. However, only 14 percent felt their local area had a serious problem with crime. This is a slight increase from the previous year, when 10 percent of respondents felt that crime was a serious problem in their area.

Percentage of the U.S. population that assesses crime as a serious problem from 2000 to 2021, nationwide and local

Characteristic	In the United States	In your area
2021	54%	14%
2020	51%	10%
2019	52%	13%
2018	48%	9%
2017	59%	12%
2016	60%	14%
2015	59%	12%
2014	55%	16%
2013	55%	13%
2011	54%	11%
2010	60%	13%
2009	55%	12%
2008	51%	11%
2007	57%	15%
2006	56%	12%
2005	49%	12%
2004	42%	8%
2003	54%	11%
2000	60%	12%

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Release date

November 2021

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

2000 to 2021

Number of respondents

about 1,005 respondents each year

Age group

18 years and older

Method of interview

Telephone interview

Supplementary notes

The statistic above only shows the Top-Two boxes "extremely serious" and "very serious".

During the survey, this question was posed as follows: "Overall, how would you describe the problem of crime in the United States/in the area where you live -- is it extremely serious, very serious, moderately serious, not too serious, or not serious at all?"

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