America's Violent Crime Rate, 1986 to 2023

What We're Showing

The violent crime rate per 100,000 individuals in the U.S. from 1986 to 2023. Violent crimes are composed of four offenses: homicide (murder and nonnegligent manslaughter), rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Figures come from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and World Bank, and are updated as of Sept. 2024.

Violent Crime Has Been on The Decline

The violent crime rate in the U.S. has generally declined since its peak in the early 1990s, reaching its highest point in 1991 at 721 violent offenses per 100,000 people under George H. W. Bush, before starting to decrease steadily throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

The most substantial decline occurred during Bill Clinton's presidency (1993-2000). The violent crime rate dropped from 692 in 1993 to 473 in 2000, reflecting the longest consistent period of decline.

After reaching a historic low in 2021 during the pandemic, violent crime rates saw an uptick in 2022, before decreasing by about 4% in 2023.