Death rate for homicide in the U.S. 1950-2019

In 2019, there were six deaths by homicide per 100,000 of the population in the United States, compared to 5.9 deaths by homicide in the previous year. This is an increase from 1950, when there were 5.1 deaths by homicide per 100,000 resident population in the United States. However, within the provided time period, the death rate for homicide in the U.S. was highest in 1980, when there were 10.4 deaths by homicide per 100,000 of the population in the United States.

Homicides in the United States

The term homicide is used when a human being is killed by another human being. Criminal homicide takes several forms, for example murder; but homicide is not always a crime, it also includes affirmative defense, insanity, self-defense or the execution of convicted criminals. In the United States, youth homicide has especially been seen as a problem of urban areas, due to poverty, limited adult supervision, involvement in drug and gang activities, and school failure. Both homicide rates and suicide rates in the U.S. among people aged 20 to 24 and teenagers aged 15 to 19 have vastly increased since 2001.

Deaths by homicide per 100,000 resident population in the U.S. from 1950 to 2019

Characteristic	Homicide deaths per 100,000 resident population
2019	6
2018	5.9
2017	6.2
2016	6.2
2015	5.7
2014	5.1
2013	5.2
2012	5.4
2010	5.3
2009	5.5
2008	5.9
2007	6.1
2006	6.2
2005	6.1
2004	5.9
2003	6
2002	6.1
2001	7.1
2000	5.9
1995	8.3
1990	9.4
1980	10.4
1970	8.8
1960	5
1950	5.1

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Release date

June 2023

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

1950 to 2019

Supplementary notes

Data for 1950 and 1960 Include deaths of persons who were not residents of the 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.). Underlying cause of death was coded according to the 6th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in 1950, 7th Revision in 1960, 8th Revision in 1970, and 9th Revision in 1980-1998. Starting with 1999 data, cause of death is coded according to ICD-10.
Rates are age-adjusted. Age-adjusted rates are calculated using the year 2000 standard population. Prior to 2003, age-adjusted rates were calculated using standard million proportions based on rounded population numbers. Starting with 2003 data, unrounded population numbers are used to calculate age-adjusted rates.
Data for years not listed in the PDF can be found in the Excel version of the Health, United States report.

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