The Great Recession tested but didn't reverse the crime decline — an important finding that complicated simple poverty-causes-crime narratives. Crime reached new modern lows.
Population
304,059,724
Violent Crime Rate
458.6
-2.8% YoY
Murder Rate
5.4
-4.6% YoY
Property Crime Rate
3214.6
-1.9% YoY
Compared to 1991 peak: Violent crime rate 40% lower · Murder rate 45% lower
Notable Events in 2008
- •Great Recession — worst financial crisis since 1930s
- •Barack Obama elected president
- •Bernie Madoff fraud exposed
Violent Crime Breakdown
| Offense | Total | Rate per 100K | % of Violent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Violent Crime | 1,394,461 | 458.6 | 100% |
| Aggravated Assault | 843,683 | 277.5 | 60.5% |
| Robbery | 443,563 | 145.9 | 31.8% |
| Rape | 90,750 | 29.8 | 6.5% |
| Murder | 16,465 | 5.4 | 1.2% |
Property Crime Breakdown
| Offense | Total | Rate per 100K | % of Property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Property Crime | 9,774,152 | 3214.6 | 100% |
| Larceny-Theft | 6,586,206 | 2166.1 | 67.4% |
| Burglary | 2,228,887 | 733.0 | 22.8% |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 959,059 | 315.4 | 9.8% |
Related Analysis
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2008 national estimates.