The pandemic era brought the largest single-year murder increase on record in 2020, driven by pandemic disruptions, police pullbacks, and social upheaval. The spike was concentrated in specific communities.
Population
332,031,554
Violent Crime Rate
387.0
-2.6% YoY
Murder Rate
6.8
+26.2% YoY
Property Crime Rate
1832.3
-25.3% YoY
Compared to 1991 peak: Violent crime rate 49% lower · Murder rate 31% lower
Notable Events in 2021
- •January 6 Capitol attack
- •Derek Chauvin convicted of George Floyd's murder
- •Murder remains elevated from 2020 spike
Violent Crime Breakdown
| Offense | Total | Rate per 100K | % of Violent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Violent Crime | 1,284,885 | 387.0 | 100% |
| Aggravated Assault | 903,897 | 272.2 | 70.3% |
| Robbery | 217,550 | 65.5 | 16.9% |
| Rape | 140,902 | 42.4 | 11.0% |
| Murder | 22,536 | 6.8 | 1.8% |
Property Crime Breakdown
| Offense | Total | Rate per 100K | % of Property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Property Crime | 6,083,874 | 1832.3 | 100% |
| Larceny-Theft | 4,334,764 | 1305.5 | 71.3% |
| Burglary | 899,369 | 270.9 | 14.8% |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 849,741 | 255.9 | 14.0% |
Related Analysis
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2021 national estimates.