US Murder Rate Plummets 18%

The violent crime rate in the US plummeted in 2025, with the murder rate falling 18% from its 2024 level, according to the FBI's annual crime report. This decline is the largest annual drop since the FBI's national estimates began in 1936.

The US violent crime rate plunged 9.7% in 2025, with murder and nonnegligent manslaughter dropping 18.1%. Robbery fell 18.5%, rape 7.6%, and aggravated assault 7.2% in 2025. The US murder rate decreased 18.5% to 4.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, tying 1955 and 1956 for the lowest rate since FBI national estimates began.

The decline in crime was unusually broad, touching every population group in the FBI's violent-crime data. Cities with 500,000 to 999,999 people had the biggest decrease, 15.3%, in violent crime in 2025. Property crime declined 12.4% in 2025, led by drops in motor vehicle theft, burglary, and larceny-theft.

## Why it matters The FBI's 2025 report indicated that the post-pandemic declines in violent crime accelerated sharply last year in communities of all sizes across the US. This drop appeared to continue during the first half of this year, according to a separate analysis of big cities' violent crime data. The decline in crime has significant implications for communities across the US, with potential long-term effects on public safety and crime prevention strategies.

## What happens next The FBI's annual crime report is based on data submitted by 17,075 law enforcement agencies, covering more than 96% of the US population. As the US continues to monitor crime trends, it is likely that law enforcement agencies and policymakers will examine the factors contributing to the decline in violent crime and work to build on this progress. The FBI's report provides valuable insights into the state of crime in the US, and its findings will likely inform crime prevention efforts in the years to come.