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
311,587,816
Violent Crime Rate
387.1
-4.3% YoY
Murder Rate
4.7
-1.1% YoY
Property Crime Rate
2905.4
-1.4% YoY
Compared to 1991 peak: Violent crime rate 49% lower · Murder rate 52% lower
Notable Events in 2011
- •Osama bin Laden killed
- •Occupy Wall Street movement
- •Gabrielle Giffords shooting in Tucson
Violent Crime Breakdown
| Offense | Total | Rate per 100K | % of Violent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Violent Crime | 1,206,031 | 387.1 | 100% |
| Aggravated Assault | 752,423 | 241.5 | 62.4% |
| Robbery | 354,772 | 113.9 | 29.4% |
| Rape | 84,175 | 27.0 | 7.0% |
| Murder | 14,661 | 4.7 | 1.2% |
Property Crime Breakdown
| Offense | Total | Rate per 100K | % of Property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Property Crime | 9,052,743 | 2905.4 | 100% |
| Larceny-Theft | 6,151,095 | 1974.1 | 67.9% |
| Burglary | 2,185,140 | 701.3 | 24.1% |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 716,508 | 230.0 | 7.9% |
Related Analysis
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2011 national estimates.