List of U.S. states by intentional homicide rate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of U.S. states by intentional homicide rate. US territories can be found at List of countries by intentional homicide rate. The homicide rate is typically expressed in units of deaths per 100,000 individuals per year; a homicide rate of 4 in a population of 100,000 would mean 4 murders a year, or 0.004% out of the total. The data is from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),[2] and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).[1] The reasons for the different results can be confusing. From the Reason Foundation: "While the FBI data relies on reports by law enforcement agencies, the CDC data is derived from coroners' reports, encompassing non-criminal homicides such as cases of self-defense. Consequently, the CDC mortality data shows a slightly higher number of homicides annually compared to the FBI data."[5][6] The agency quotes below make more sense in light of this. The CDC reports all homicides, and does not indicate whether it was justified or self-defense. To a coroner a homicide is a homicide, regardless of the reason.

Homicide rate by state. FBI. 2022 data.[1]
Homicide rate by state. CDC. 2021 data.[2]
Since 1900, US homicide rates have varied by a factor of more than 2.[3]
Homicide rate by county. CDC. 2014 to 2020 data.[4]

FBI: "The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines murder and nonnegligent manslaughter as the willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another. The classification of this offense is based solely on police investigation as opposed to the determination of a court, medical examiner, coroner, jury, or other judicial body. The UCR Program does not include the following situations in this offense classification: deaths caused by negligence, suicide, or accident; justifiable homicides; and attempts to murder or assaults to murder, which are classified as aggravated assaults."[7]

CDC: "Homicide – injuries inflicted by another person with intent to injure or kill, by any means. Excludes injuries due to legal intervention and operations of war. Justifiable homicide is not identified in WISQARS."[8] WISQARS is short for Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System.[9]

Definitions

In the United States, the law for murder varies by jurisdiction. In many US jurisdictions there is a hierarchy of acts, known collectively as homicide, of which first-degree murder and felony murder[10] are the most serious, followed by second-degree murder and, in a few states, third-degree murder, which in other states is divided into voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter such as reckless homicide and negligent homicide, which are the least serious, and ending finally in justifiable homicide, which is not a crime. However, because there are at least 52 relevant jurisdictions, each with its own criminal code, this is a considerable simplification.[11]

Sentencing varies widely depending upon the specific murder charge. "Life imprisonment" is a common penalty for first-degree murder, but its meaning varies widely.[12] Capital punishment is a legal sentence in 27 states,[13][14] and in the federal civilian and military legal systems, though eight of these states have indefinitely suspended the practice. The United States is unusual in actually performing executions,[15] with 34 states having performed executions since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. The methods of execution have varied, but the most common method since 1976 has been lethal injection.[16] In 2019 a total of 22 people were executed,[17] and 2,652 people were on death row.[18] The federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, enacted in 2004 and codified at 18 U.S. Code § 1841,[19] allows for a fetus to be treated as a victim in a crime. Subsection (c) of that statute specifically prohibits prosecutions related to consented abortions and medical treatments.[19]

Homicide rates by year: FBI data

Note: The location links in this table, as in all the tables below, are "Crime in LOCATION" links, except for Maine.

The following list shows homicide rates for the most recent five years. Data are from the FBI.[1]

More information Location ...
Homicides per 100,000 people by year. FBI
Location2018201920202021202220232024
 United States5.05.16.56.86.35.95.0
 District of Columbia22.823.428.241.029.338.725.5
 Louisiana11.411.715.819.616.114.610.8
 New Mexico7.38.87.812.912.011.810.5
 Alabama7.87.99.69.410.910.58.7
 Tennessee7.57.59.610.28.610.07.9
 Missouri9.89.411.810.210.19.47.8
 South Carolina8.18.810.511.411.28.97.5
 North Carolina5.56.28.09.48.18.07.5
 Mississippi7.210.010.69.37.87.27.4
 Arkansas7.47.810.611.010.29.67.3
 Maryland8.19.09.111.08.58.77.2
 Alaska6.49.46.76.19.58.06.9
 Georgia6.25.78.87.98.27.56.9
 Oklahoma5.56.97.47.66.76.36.3
 Nevada6.74.75.77.66.87.36.1
 Kentucky5.65.17.28.36.86.46.1
 Illinois7.16.79.19.17.86.65.8
 Delaware4.84.87.49.74.84.45.7
 Indiana6.25.57.57.26.25.75.5
 West Virginia4.25.66.66.04.66.05.3
 Texas4.64.96.67.16.76.15.2
 Michigan5.65.87.67.66.95.95.2
 Pennsylvania6.15.37.98.47.96.75.0
 Ohio5.15.07.07.56.16.05.0
 Arizona5.45.46.96.76.86.54.9
 Virginia4.95.26.16.67.36.24.8
 South Dakota1.41.84.53.04.32.84.7
 Colorado3.84.05.16.26.45.44.5
 California4.44.35.66.05.75.04.5
 Wisconsin3.03.25.35.65.35.04.2
 Florida5.25.25.94.35.04.83.9
 Kansas4.23.33.44.84.65.33.8
 Washington3.12.73.94.35.04.83.8
 Oregon2.12.82.94.84.54.53.7
 Vermont1.81.82.21.43.42.63.4
 Minnesota1.92.33.43.63.23.22.9
 New York2.92.94.24.44.03.32.7
 Montana3.53.05.03.34.53.22.7
 North Dakota2.43.34.21.83.53.52.6
 Utah2.02.43.12.82.02.32.6
 Connecticut2.43.03.94.33.83.82.4
 Wyoming2.42.23.13.12.63.22.4
 Maine1.71.61.61.52.24.32.3
 New Jersey3.23.03.74.13.12.92.3
 Nebraska2.32.33.62.93.23.52.1
 Rhode Island1.52.53.03.41.52.62.1
 Iowa2.22.23.52.31.72.52.1
 Massachusetts2.02.22.31.92.12.11.8
 Idaho1.91.62.22.32.72.51.6
 Hawaii2.82.62.91.62.12.51.6
 New Hampshire1.62.40.90.91.81.81.0
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Homicide rates by year: CDC data

More information State ...
Homicides per 100,000 people by year. CDC.[2][20][21][22][23]
State 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
 Alabama 12.9 12.2 12.8 14.2 15.9
 Alaska 10.6 7.5 10.8 7.3 6.4
 Arizona 6.6 6.1 5.9 7.5 8.1
 Arkansas 9.8 9.1 9.4 13 11.7
 California 5.1 4.8 4.5 6.1 6.4
 Colorado 4.6 4.7 4.3 5.8 6.3
 Connecticut 3.2 2.8 3.1 4.6 4.8
 Delaware 6.9 6.8 6.1 9.9 11.3
 Florida 6.4 6.6 6.7 7.8 7.4
 Georgia 7.9 7.7 8.1 10.5 11.4
 Hawaii 2.5 3.1 2.5 3.3 2.7
 Idaho 3 2.3 1.7 2.5 2.2
 Illinois 9 8 8.1 11.2 12.3
 Indiana 7.2 7.4 7.2 9.7 9.6
 Iowa 3.4 2.7 2.7 3.6 3.2
 Kansas 6.5 5.9 4.9 7 6.4
 Kentucky 7.3 6.1 5.9 9.5 9.6
 Louisiana 14.4 13.3 14.7 19.9 21.3
 Maine N/A N/A 1.8 1.6 1.7
 Maryland 10.2 9.3 10 11.4 12.2
 Massachusetts 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.7 2.3
 Michigan 6.3 6.5 6.5 8.7 8.7
 Minnesota 2.2 2.3 2.8 3.6 4.3
 Mississippi 12.7 13.4 15.4 20.5 23.7
 Missouri 11.3 11.4 10.8 14 12.4
 Montana 4.3 4.2 3.7 6.6 4.4
 Nebraska 2.7 1.9 3.1 4.1 3.6
 Nevada 7.6 7.7 5.5 7.3 8.5
 New Hampshire N/A 1.8 2.8 N/A N/A[20]
 New Jersey 4.1 3.7 3.4 4.3 4.8
 New Mexico 8.5 10.8 11.8 10.8 15.3
 New York 3 3.2 3.2 4.7 4.8
 North Carolina 6.9 6.4 7 8.6 9.7
 North Dakota N/A 2.5 3.1 4.4 3.4
 Ohio 7.5 6.8 6.6 9.1 9.3
 Oklahoma 8.5 7 8.8 9 8.9
 Oregon 3.1 2.5 3 3.8 4.9
 Pennsylvania 6.6 6.4 6.1 8.5 9.2
 Rhode Island N/A N/A 2.5 3 3.6
 South Carolina 9.3 10.2 11 12.7 13.4
 South Dakota 4.2 3.9 3.6 6.5 5.3
 Tennessee 8.8 9.2 9.2 11.5 12.2
 Texas 5.8 5.4 5.9 7.6 8.2
 Utah 2.6 2.2 2.6 2.9 2.7
 Vermont N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A[21]
 Virginia 5.4 5.1 5.3 6.4 7.2
 Washington 3.6 3.7 3.2 4.2 4.5
 Washington, D.C. 30.0[23]
 West Virginia 6.5 5.8 5.7 7 6.9
 Wisconsin 3.7 3.9 4.2 6.1 6.4
 Wyoming N/A 4.1 4.4 4.9 N/A[22]
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Homicide rates by type: CDC data

The following list shows homicide rates by mechanism, for types where total deaths exceeded 100. Data are from the CDC and average the years 2018 to 2021.[24] Blank values indicate that the underlying homicide count was between 1 and 9, and was suppressed.[25] Excludes unspecified or unclassified data types, but the "Total" includes all deaths including suppressed, unspecified and/or unclassified data.

More information Location, Total ...
Homicide per 100,000 people by mechanism. CDC. Average of 2018 to 2021
Location Total Gun Stab Choke Struck Poison Fire
 United States6.75.20.60.10.10.10.0
 District of Columbia25.720.42.50.0
 Mississippi17.214.91.00.20.10.1
 Louisiana16.513.90.90.20.20.10.1
 Alabama12.911.00.70.20.1
 New Mexico11.58.01.40.2
 Missouri11.49.70.60.10.10.2
 South Carolina11.19.30.60.20.10.1
 Arkansas10.38.00.90.20.2
 Maryland10.28.30.60.10.1
 Tennessee10.18.50.60.20.0
 Illinois9.58.00.50.20.00.10.0
 Georgia9.27.60.50.20.10.0
 Alaska8.15.01.10.50.50.0
 Indiana8.16.40.60.20.10.00.1
 Oklahoma8.16.00.70.2
 North Carolina7.76.20.50.10.1
 Delaware7.66.30.5
 Ohio7.56.00.50.10.10.10.0
 Kentucky7.46.20.50.20.10.1
 Michigan7.15.80.50.10.00.1
 Nevada7.05.00.60.20.1
 Pennsylvania7.05.40.50.10.10.40.0
 Texas6.75.20.50.10.10.00.0
 Arizona6.64.80.70.20.1
 Florida6.55.10.50.20.10.00.0
 Virginia5.84.70.50.10.10.0
 West Virginia5.84.40.4
 Kansas5.84.50.40.0
 California5.43.90.70.10.10.00.0
 Colorado5.33.70.60.20.10.0
 Wisconsin4.83.60.40.10.10.0
 Montana4.42.50.50.3
 South Dakota4.42.20.90.3
 Washington3.92.60.50.10.1
 New York3.82.40.70.10.10.00.0
 New Jersey3.82.60.50.10.00.00.1
 Wyoming3.82.50.00.0
 Connecticut3.62.30.50.10.1
 Oregon3.52.40.40.10.10.0
 Minnesota3.12.10.30.10.0
 North Dakota3.12.00.40.0
 Nebraska3.12.10.30.10.0
 Iowa2.81.80.20.1
 Hawaii2.81.30.5
 Utah2.61.80.20.1
 Rhode Island2.51.70.40.0
 Massachusetts2.41.50.40.1
 Idaho2.11.40.20.1
 Vermont1.91.20.0
 New Hampshire1.60.90.0
 Maine1.50.9
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Homicide rates by decade: FBI data

The following list shows homicide rates by decade, averaging the rates for each year. Data are from the FBI.[1] Data for the 2020s are for 2020 to 2022.

More information Location, 1980s ...
Homicides per 100,000 people by decade. FBI
Location1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
 United States8.78.15.64.96.6
 District of Columbia37.767.335.819.232.8
 Louisiana13.616.512.411.117.2
 South Carolina9.79.37.47.311.0
 New Mexico10.79.67.86.610.9
 Missouri8.89.06.47.810.7
 Arkansas8.29.76.36.410.6
 Alabama10.410.57.57.210.0
 Maryland9.411.29.17.79.6
 Tennessee9.49.76.96.59.5
 Mississippi11.212.28.27.89.2
 Illinois9.110.26.66.48.7
 North Carolina8.79.66.35.48.5
 Georgia11.99.86.96.08.3
 Pennsylvania5.56.05.55.38.0
 Alaska10.97.85.16.27.5
 Kentucky7.86.34.64.87.4
 Michigan10.58.96.46.07.4
 Delaware5.24.14.05.47.3
 Oklahoma8.27.65.65.77.3
 Indiana6.37.45.65.47.0
 Ohio6.05.44.54.86.9
 Texas13.910.16.04.76.8
 Arizona8.18.67.45.56.8
 Nevada12.510.97.76.16.7
 Virginia7.77.85.34.76.7
 Colorado6.25.13.63.35.9
 California11.310.36.44.75.8
 West Virginia5.45.23.74.45.7
 Wisconsin3.14.23.13.15.4
 Florida12.38.05.75.25.1
 Washington5.04.63.02.74.4
 Kansas5.16.04.23.84.3
 Montana3.83.43.03.24.2
 New York11.49.84.63.34.2
 Oregon5.04.02.22.44.1
 Connecticut4.84.93.12.94.0
 South Dakota2.11.72.52.63.9
 New Jersey5.74.74.33.93.6
 Minnesota2.33.12.31.93.4
 Nebraska3.13.33.02.83.2
 North Dakota1.31.21.62.63.1
 Wyoming4.93.52.62.62.9
 Utah3.23.02.12.12.6
 Rhode Island3.83.53.02.42.6
 Iowa2.11.81.62.02.5
 Idaho3.23.02.12.02.4
 Vermont2.72.21.91.72.3
 Hawaii4.83.72.12.02.2
 Massachusetts3.63.12.62.32.1
 Maine2.51.91.51.71.7
 New Hampshire2.41.91.21.41.2
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Homicide totals by year: FBI data

The following list shows homicide totals for the most recent five years. Data are from the FBI.[1]

More information Location ...
Homicides by year. FBI
Location20182019202020212022
 United States16,37416,66921,57022,53621,156
 California1,7391,6902,2032,3462,231
 Texas1,3271,4321,9312,0872,026
 Florida1,1071,1221,2909371,113
 Pennsylvania7846761,0091,0871,020
 Illinois9028511,1511,150982
 Georgia647605943851893
 North Carolina574653852995862
 New York562565808871783
 Louisiana533547734907740
 Ohio596584820883718
 Michigan555576754761695
 Virginia417447524573638
 Missouri599576723630624
 Tennessee508515663709609
 South Carolina411455549590592
 Alabama383390471476552
 Maryland491545553680526
 Arizona383397513485500
 Indiana418373505490427
 Washington236205301331387
 Colorado215229294360375
 Wisconsin175189308332314
 Arkansas222237321334312
 Kentucky250229323374306
 New Jersey285263329381286
 Oklahoma215275296304270
 New Mexico153185164273253
 Mississippi214298315274228
 Nevada202144180239216
 District of Columbia160166201274197
 Oregon86117125204192
 Minnesota107127190203182
 Massachusetts138153160134148
 Connecticut86107140155136
 Kansas12295100142134
 West Virginia7610011710881
 Alaska4769494570
 Utah63771029467
 Nebraska4445695762
 Iowa70701117353
 Idaho3428414353
 Montana3732543650
 Delaware4647739749
 South Dakota1216402739
 Hawaii4037412330
 Maine2322222030
 North Dakota1825321427
 New Hampshire2133121325
 Vermont111114922
 Rhode Island1626323716
 Wyoming1413181815
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See also

References

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