Veera Korhonen
Research expert covering United States data for society
Homicide in the United States - statistics and facts
Homicide, the act of one person killing another, is a leading cause of death in the United States. While homicide encompasses illegal crimes of murder and manslaughter, as well as legally justified killings, such as killing someone in self-defense, data may differ depending upon the source. According to the FBI, there were 21,156 cases of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, defined as the willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another, in 2022 - equivalent to a rate of 6.3 homicides per 100,000 of the U.S. population. While this is a slight decrease from the previous year, these figures still represent the highest recorded levels since the late 90’s. Among affluent nations, the United States is an outlier; between 2000 and 2021, the U.S. had the highest homicide rate of the G7 countries, and as of 2023, was the only country outside of Mexico to feature in a ranking of the top seven most dangerous cities worldwide, as a result of the high homicide rate in St. Louis, Missouri.
Homicide in the United States differs by demographic, disproportionately affecting Black men and youth. Victims and offenders of homicide are more likely to be male, Black, and between the ages of 17 to 34 years. In contrast to the general population, death from assault or homicide was a leading cause of death for Black residents and children and teens aged five to nine years, 10 to 14 years, and 15 to 19 years as of 2021. In that same year, significantly high rates of death by homicide were recorded in people aged 20 to 24 years, reaching 18 homicides per 100,000 of the population, further depicting ongoing trends of violence among younger Americans. While the majority of the circumstances behind homicides are unknown, narcotic drug laws, robberies, and gang killings are most commonly identified.
Homicide rates also vary by region, with higher rates typically seen in urban areas compared to rural areas. As of 2022, the District of Columbia had the highest rate of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, at 29.3 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Louisiana. Additionally, Louisiana was home to the metropolitan area with a population greater than 250,000 reporting the highest homicide rate in that year, potentially indicating a correlation between financial poverty and increased violence as the state has one of the highest poverty rates nationwide. However, as the majority of homicides are committed by firearm, Louisiana’s high homicide rate may instead reflect a lack of strong gun safety laws enacted by the state.
Handguns are by far, the most common weapon used to commit murder in the United States, followed by firearms of an unstated type, suggesting that the prevalence of firearms in American society is a contributing factor to the nation’s high homicide rate. Evidently, as firearms have been the leading cause of death for children and teens since 2019, Americans’ easy access to firearms extends to its youth. School shootings have also become a common occurrence, and Black students in particular experience a disproportionately high number of school shootings relative to their population, further highlighting the inequitable impact of gun homicide on children and teens of color.
Gun homicide rates also reveal continuing racial disparities, with Black men facing the greatest risk compared to other demographic groups. Moreover, even though the risk for gun homicide was greatest among adolescents and young adults in 2021, Black people still had higher rates of gun homicide compared to White people across all age groups. Consequently, high homicide rates in the U.S. are not only alienating the nation from its peers, but adversely affecting children and adolescents, with additional consequences for people of color. As a growing share of voters cite the importance of crime and gun violence in upcoming elections, it may be crucial for the country to consider how to overcome its homicide problem. Implementing gun safety legislation and support for low-income communities, which are often made up of minority groups, would help protect America’s younger citizens while promoting equality for all.
Who has the greatest risk of homicide?
Homicide in the United States differs by demographic, disproportionately affecting Black men and youth. Victims and offenders of homicide are more likely to be male, Black, and between the ages of 17 to 34 years. In contrast to the general population, death from assault or homicide was a leading cause of death for Black residents and children and teens aged five to nine years, 10 to 14 years, and 15 to 19 years as of 2021. In that same year, significantly high rates of death by homicide were recorded in people aged 20 to 24 years, reaching 18 homicides per 100,000 of the population, further depicting ongoing trends of violence among younger Americans. While the majority of the circumstances behind homicides are unknown, narcotic drug laws, robberies, and gang killings are most commonly identified.
Homicide rates also vary by region, with higher rates typically seen in urban areas compared to rural areas. As of 2022, the District of Columbia had the highest rate of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, at 29.3 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Louisiana. Additionally, Louisiana was home to the metropolitan area with a population greater than 250,000 reporting the highest homicide rate in that year, potentially indicating a correlation between financial poverty and increased violence as the state has one of the highest poverty rates nationwide. However, as the majority of homicides are committed by firearm, Louisiana’s high homicide rate may instead reflect a lack of strong gun safety laws enacted by the state.
Fatalities by firearm
Handguns are by far, the most common weapon used to commit murder in the United States, followed by firearms of an unstated type, suggesting that the prevalence of firearms in American society is a contributing factor to the nation’s high homicide rate. Evidently, as firearms have been the leading cause of death for children and teens since 2019, Americans’ easy access to firearms extends to its youth. School shootings have also become a common occurrence, and Black students in particular experience a disproportionately high number of school shootings relative to their population, further highlighting the inequitable impact of gun homicide on children and teens of color.
Gun homicide rates also reveal continuing racial disparities, with Black men facing the greatest risk compared to other demographic groups. Moreover, even though the risk for gun homicide was greatest among adolescents and young adults in 2021, Black people still had higher rates of gun homicide compared to White people across all age groups. Consequently, high homicide rates in the U.S. are not only alienating the nation from its peers, but adversely affecting children and adolescents, with additional consequences for people of color. As a growing share of voters cite the importance of crime and gun violence in upcoming elections, it may be crucial for the country to consider how to overcome its homicide problem. Implementing gun safety legislation and support for low-income communities, which are often made up of minority groups, would help protect America’s younger citizens while promoting equality for all.
