In the 21st century, homicide has been responsible for roughly 0.6 to 0.8 percent of all deaths in the United States. While this is higher than annual rates observed in the post-WWII era, it is significantly less than the rates seen between the mid-1960s and mid-1990s, where over one percent of all deaths in the U.S. were from homicide in most years.
Crime wave of the late 20th century
There are a variety of factors attributed to the crime wave of the late 20th century. Demographic factors include the arrival of the baby boomer generation into adolescence, a rise in urbanization, and a growing share of the population living in poverty. A series of economic recessions saw the prosperity of the post-war period come to an end, and many turned to crime in response.
This coincided with a rise in the illegal drug trade and drug consumption, as well as the federal government's response via the so-called "War on Drugs", which changed the dynamics of inter-city crime and law enforcement for decades to come. A rise in incarceration rates has been cited as one of the reasons for the "Great Crime Decline" of the 1990s, although many are skeptical of its long-term effectiveness.
Annual share of homicides in total deaths in the United States from 1950 to 2020
Characteristic
Share of homicides in all deaths
2020
0.73
2019
0.67
2018
0.66
2017
0.69
2016
0.71
2015
0.66
2014
0.6
2013
0.62
2012
0.66
2011
0.65
2010
0.66
2009
0.69
2008
0.72
2007
0.76
2006
0.77
2005
0.74
2004
0.72
2003
0.72
2002
0.72
2001
0.84
2000
0.7
1999
0.71
1998
0.77
1997
0.84
1996
0.89
1995
0.98
1994
1.08
1993
1.13
1992
1.16
1991
1.21
1990
1.15
1989
1.05
1988
1
1987
0.98
1986
1.02
1985
0.94
1984
0.96
1983
0.99
1982
1.12
1981
1.18
1980
1.2
1979
1.16
1978
1.06
1977
1.05
1976
1.02
1975
1.13
1974
1.11
1973
1.04
1972
1
1971
0.97
1970
0.88
1969
0.81
1968
0.76
1967
0.73
1966
0.62
1965
0.59
1964
0.55
1963
0.51
1962
0.51
1961
0.5
1960
0.49
1959
0.49
1958
0.47
1957
0.47
1956
0.49
1955
0.49
1954
0.52
1953
0.5
1952
0.54
1951
0.51
1950
0.55
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OWID. (March 1, 2023). Annual share of homicides in total deaths in the United States from 1950 to 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1386331/us-share-deaths-homicide-historical/
OWID. "Annual share of homicides in total deaths in the United States from 1950 to 2020." Chart. March 1, 2023. Statista. Accessed October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1386331/us-share-deaths-homicide-historical/
OWID. (2023). Annual share of homicides in total deaths in the United States from 1950 to 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1386331/us-share-deaths-homicide-historical/
OWID. "Annual Share of Homicides in Total Deaths in The United States from 1950 to 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Mar 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1386331/us-share-deaths-homicide-historical/
OWID, Annual share of homicides in total deaths in the United States from 1950 to 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1386331/us-share-deaths-homicide-historical/ (last visited October 31, 2024)
Annual share of homicides in total deaths in the United States from 1950 to 2020 [Graph], OWID, March 1, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1386331/us-share-deaths-homicide-historical/