Homicide Demographics 2023
A comprehensive breakdown of homicide victims and offenders in the United States by race, gender, ethnicity, and age — plus who kills whom across racial lines. Based on FBI Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR).
Key Insights
- →15,795 homicide victims in 2023 — 77% male, 22% female
- →Black Americans are 51.6% of victims despite being ~13.7% of the population
- →77% of white victims were killed by white offenders; 85% of Black victims by Black offenders
- →22% of known offenders are aged 18–24 — the peak offending age group
- →4,008 offenders (21%) have unknown demographics — reflecting unsolved cases
Victim Demographics
Of the 15,795 homicide victims reported in the FBI's 2023 Supplementary Homicide Reports, 12,144 (77%) were male and 3,538 (22%) were female. Black Americans were disproportionately represented, comprising 8,158 victims (51.6% of all victims).
Homicide Victims by Race
Victims by Gender
| Race | Total | Male | Female | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 6,753 | 4,786 | 1,953 | 42.8% |
| Black | 8,158 | 6,794 | 1,355 | 51.6% |
| Other | 464 | 322 | 142 | 2.9% |
| Unknown | 420 | 242 | 88 | 2.7% |
| Total | 15,795 | 12,144 | 3,538 | 100% |
Victim Ethnicity
| Ethnicity | Total | Male | Female | % of Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,372 | 1,903 | 467 | 18.2% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 9,314 | 7,121 | 2,173 | 71.4% |
| Unknown | 1,364 | 1,026 | 304 | 10.5% |
Offender Demographics
The FBI recorded 19,379 offenders in homicide incidents. Of those with known gender, 88% were male. A significant 4,008 offenders have unknown demographics, largely reflecting cases where no arrest was made.
Offender Race Distribution
Offenders by Gender
| Race | Total | % of All |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,048 | 31.2% |
| Black | 8,357 | 43.1% |
| Other | 404 | 2.1% |
| Unknown | 4,570 | 23.6% |
Offender Age Distribution
Offender Age Distribution
| Age Range | Total | % of All |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1,551 | 8% |
| 18-24 | 4,263 | 22% |
| 25-29 | 2,321 | 12% |
| 30-34 | 1,988 | 10.3% |
| 35-39 | 1,467 | 7.6% |
| 40+ | 3,374 | 17.4% |
| Unknown | 4,632 | 23.9% |
Offender Ethnicity
| Ethnicity | Total | % of All |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,249 | 14.1% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 7,998 | 50% |
| Unknown | 5,746 | 35.9% |
Victim–Offender Race Matrix
This cross-tabulation shows who kills whom by race, for single-victim/single-offender homicides where both races are known. The data overwhelmingly shows that homicide is intraracial: 77% of white victims were killed by white offenders, and 85% of Black victims were killed by Black offenders.
| Victim Race | By White | By Black | By Other | Unknown | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 2,968 | 684 | 75 | 113 | 3,840 |
| Black | 334 | 3,137 | 14 | 198 | 3,683 |
| Other | 72 | 50 | 131 | 9 | 262 |
| Unknown | 71 | 56 | 11 | 56 | 194 |
Disproportionate Victimization
Black Americans make up ~13.7% of the US population but account for 51.6% of homicide victims. Homicide is the leading cause of death for Black males aged 15–34.
Intraracial Pattern
Most homicide is intraracial. 77% of white victims were killed by white offenders. 85% of Black victims were killed by Black offenders. This reflects residential segregation and social networks.
Young Male Offenders
22% of known offenders are aged 18–24, making this the single largest age group. Combined with under-18 offenders, 30% of homicide offenders are under 25 years old.
The Unknown Problem
4,008 offenders (21%) have unknown demographics. This reflects the ~50% homicide clearance rate — many killers are never identified.
Related Pages
Source: FBI Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR), 2023. Data reflects reported incidents and may undercount total homicides.