FBI Reports Violent Crime Dropped In 2024; Numbers Continue To Fall In 2025
Violent crime in the U.S. decreased by 4.5% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to data released Tuesday by the FBI — a trend that appears to be continuing in the first half of 2025.
Homicides and non-negligent manslaughter decreased by 14.9%, while rape and robbery decreased by 5.2% and 8.9% respectively in 2024 compared to estimates from the year before.
A separate analysis by the Major Cities Chiefs Association shows homicides dropped by nearly 20% in major U.S. cities during the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
These 2024 crime improvements occurred during the Biden administration, while then former President Trump repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail that crime was surging in the U.S. They follow a spike in violent crime amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which researchers have connected to unemployment and school closures in low-income areas.
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The violent crime rate in the U.S. has dramatically decreased over the past 25 years. However, on average, about every 25 seconds, there was a violent crime in the U.S. last year.
This year's report used data submitted by nearly 17,000 law enforcement agencies, which the FBI said covers more than 95% of the U.S. population.
Alarming trends: Hate crimes in 2024 reached their second-highest level on record, behind only 2023, according to modern data dating back to the early 1990s. Black Americans were the most targeted group, followed by Jewish Americans and gay men.