Violent crime statistics in the U.S.

In the United States, violent crimes are defined as incidents involving force or the threat of force. The main offences reported under violent crime are murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape and sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. Despite the horrific nature of, and high number of casualties from mass shootings, they are generally not reported as a separate category owing to their relative infrequency. Violent crime is generally contrasted with property crime, with the latter defined as the taking of money or property without force (or the threat of force) against the victims. Note that in these definitions, robbery counts as violent crime whereas burglary does not. Comparing the the number of committed crimes in U.S. by category, property crime far outnumbers violent crime, while aggravated assault accounts for some two-thirds of all violent crime.

Is violent crime increasing?

The number of violent crimes in the United States has dramatically fallen over the last two decades, although the number of reported violent crimes has risen slightly in the past few years. A similar story is told by looking at the violent crime rate per 100,000 residents, which factors in the role population growth plays in increasing the overall number of crimes. It is important to note that violent crime figures may not always be precise, as there is a worryingly high rate of violent crimes not reported to police. This is particularly the case for rape and sexual assault, where only around one quarter of offences are reported. It is therefore almost certain that the actual rate of violent crime is considerably higher than official figures suggest.

Canada is safer: Violent crime statistics by country

It can be difficult to compare violent crime rates between countries as many countries use different categories to distinguish between crimes. One metric that can be relatively easily compared, though, is the murder rate. Looking at the cities with the highest murder rate in the world, even the most dangerous U.S. cities are much safer than some Latin American cities. However, St Louis recorded the thirteenth-highest murder rate of any city in 2020, and the United States has the dubious honor of being the only developed country with any cities in the top fifty – of which it has four. At the country level, comparing U.S. and Canadian rates of violent crimes tells a similar but more complex story. While the rate of crimes like robbery and homicide are significantly lower in Canada, the rate of serious assaults appears only slightly below that of the U.S. – although the differing reporting categories between each country means these comparisons are provisional at best.

The prevalence of violent crime by race

Despite a widespread perception that crime is more common among some ethnic communities than others, the racial breakdown of the prevalence of violent crime shows little difference between the share of people who were victims of violent crime in America’s three main racial groups. This similarity suggests the need to consider other factors, such as poverty and opportunities for social mobility, in order to understand how crime levels may differ between communities.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Total number of violent crimes in the U.S.: 2.55m

Violent crime rate in the U.S. (per 100,000 inhabitants): 395.7

Violent crime rate in the District of Columbia (per 100,000 inhabitants): 999.8

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Reported violent crime rate in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (per 100,000 of the population)

Justice System

Reported violent crime rate in the U.S. 1990-2021

Violent Crime

Most dangerous cities in the U.S. 2020, by violent crime rate

Violent Crime

U.S.: number of reported violent crime 1990-2021

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Overview

Basic Statistic U.S.: number of reported violent crime 1990-2021
U.S.: number of reported violent crime 1990-2021
Total violent crime reported in the United States from 1990 to 2021
Basic Statistic Reported violent crime rate in the U.S. 1990-2021
Reported violent crime rate in the U.S. 1990-2021
Reported violent crime rate in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (per 100,000 of the population)
Basic Statistic Reported violent crime rate in the U.S. 2020, by state
Reported violent crime rate in the U.S. 2020, by state
Reported violent crime rate in the United States in 2020, by state (per 100,000 of the population)
Basic Statistic USA - percentage of violent crimes reported to the police 2021
USA - percentage of violent crimes reported to the police 2021
Percentage of violent crimes in the United States reported to the police in 2021
Basic Statistic Most dangerous cities in the U.S. 2020, by violent crime rate
Most dangerous cities in the U.S. 2020, by violent crime rate
Leading cities with the largest number of violent crimes per 100,000 residents in the United States in 2020

Murder, manslaughter & homicide

Basic Statistic U.S.: reported murder and nonnegligent manslaughter cases 1990-2021
U.S.: reported murder and nonnegligent manslaughter cases 1990-2021
Number of reported murder and nonnegligent manslaughter cases in the United States from 1990 to 2021
Basic Statistic USA - reported murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate 1990-2021
USA - reported murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate 1990-2021
Reported murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (per 100,000 of the population)
Basic Statistic Murder and non-negligent manslaughter rate in the U.S. 2020, by state
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter rate in the U.S. 2020, by state
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter rate in the United States in 2020, by state (per 100,000 inhabitants)
Basic Statistic Murder in the U.S.: number of victims in 2020, by race/ethnicity and gender
Murder in the U.S.: number of victims in 2020, by race/ethnicity and gender
Number of murder victims in the United States in 2020, by race/ethnicity and gender
Basic Statistic Number of murder offenders in the U.S. 2020, by gender
Number of murder offenders in the U.S. 2020, by gender
Number of murder offenders in the United States in 2020, by gender
Basic Statistic Homicide in the U.S. - number of victims 2021, by age
Homicide in the U.S. - number of victims 2021, by age
Number of homicide victims in the United States in 2021, by age
Basic Statistic Murder in the U.S.: number of offenders 2020, by age
Murder in the U.S.: number of offenders 2020, by age
Number of murder offenders in the United States in 2020, by age
Basic Statistic Murder victims by weapon used in the U.S 2021
Murder victims by weapon used in the U.S 2021
Number of murder victims in the United States in 2021, by weapon used
Basic Statistic Murder in the U.S. - relationship of victim to offender 2021
Murder in the U.S. - relationship of victim to offender 2021
Number of murders in the United States by relationship of victim to offender in 2021
Basic Statistic Number of justifiable homicides U.S. 2007-2021
Number of justifiable homicides U.S. 2007-2021
Number of justifiable homicides by law enforcement officers and private citizens in the United States from 2007 to 2021

Rape & sexual assault

Basic Statistic U.S.: reported forcible rape cases 1990-2021
U.S.: reported forcible rape cases 1990-2021
Number of reported forcible rape cases in the United States from 1990 to 2021
Basic Statistic USA - reported forcible rape rate 1990-2021
USA - reported forcible rape rate 1990-2021
Reported forcible rape rate in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (per 100,000 of the population)
Basic Statistic Forcible rape rate in the U.S. by state 2020
Forcible rape rate in the U.S. by state 2020
Forcible rape rate per 100,000 inhabitants in the United States in 2020, by state
Premium Statistic Forcible rape and sexual assault victims in the U.S. 1993-2020, by sex
Forcible rape and sexual assault victims in the U.S. 1993-2020, by sex
Number of forcible rape and sexual assault victims in the United States from 1993 to 2020, by sex
Premium Statistic U.S. forcible rape/sexual assault victims 2020, by victim/offender relationship
U.S. forcible rape/sexual assault victims 2020, by victim/offender relationship
Number of forcible rape and sexual assault victims in the United States in 2020, by victim/offender relationship
Premium Statistic U.S. forcible rape/sexual assault victims 2020, by weapon presence
U.S. forcible rape/sexual assault victims 2020, by weapon presence
Number of forcible rape and sexual assault victims in the United States in 2020, by weapon presence

Robbery

Basic Statistic U.S.: reported robbery cases 1990-2021
U.S.: reported robbery cases 1990-2021
Number of reported robbery cases in the United States from 1990 to 2021
Basic Statistic USA - reported robbery rate 1990-2021
USA - reported robbery rate 1990-2021
Reported robbery rate in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (per 100,000 of the population)
Basic Statistic Robbery rate in the U.S. 2020, by state
Robbery rate in the U.S. 2020, by state
Robbery rate in the United States in 2020, by state (per 100,000 inhabitants)
Basic Statistic Robbery - number in the U.S. 2021, by location
Robbery - number in the U.S. 2021, by location
Number of robberies in the United States in 2021, by location
Basic Statistic Number of robberies in the U.S. 2021, by weapon
Number of robberies in the U.S. 2021, by weapon
Number of robberies in the United States in 2021, by weapon used

Aggravated assault

Basic Statistic U.S.: reported cases of aggravated assault 1990-2021
U.S.: reported cases of aggravated assault 1990-2021
Number of reported cases of aggravated assault in the United States from 1990 to 2021
Basic Statistic USA - reported aggravated assault rate 1990-2021
USA - reported aggravated assault rate 1990-2021
Reported aggravated assault rate in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (per 100,000 of the population)
Premium Statistic Aggravated assault rate in the U.S 2020, by state
Aggravated assault rate in the U.S 2020, by state
Aggravated assault rate in the United States in 2020, by state (per 100,000 inhabitants)
Basic Statistic Number of assaults U.S. 2021, by weapon used
Number of assaults U.S. 2021, by weapon used
Number of assaults in the United States in 2021, by weapon used

Mass shootings

Basic Statistic Worst mass shootings in the U.S., as of January 2023
Worst mass shootings in the U.S., as of January 2023
Number of victims of the worst mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and January 2023
Basic Statistic Mass shootings in the U.S.: shooters by gender, as of February 2023
Mass shootings in the U.S.: shooters by gender, as of February 2023
Number of mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and February 2023, by shooter's gender
Basic Statistic Mass shootings in the U.S. by shooter’s by race/ethnicity as of February 2023
Mass shootings in the U.S. by shooter’s by race/ethnicity as of February 2023
Number of mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and February 2023, by shooter's race or ethnicity
Basic Statistic Mass shootings in the U.S.: legality of shooter's weapons, as of February 2023
Mass shootings in the U.S.: legality of shooter's weapons, as of February 2023
Number of mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and February 2023, by legality of shooter's weapons

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