Crime Rates by Year in the US 2025
The crime statistics by year reveal extraordinary year-over-year improvements in American public safety, with comprehensive data showing dramatic reductions across virtually every crime category when comparing 2024 to 2023. According to the most recent government data released in August 2025, reported levels of 12 of the 13 offenses covered in this report were lower in 2024 than in 2023, representing one of the most significant annual crime reductions in modern American history. The year-over-year comparison demonstrates that systematic crime reduction efforts have generated measurable results, with cities across the nation experiencing substantial decreases in both violent and property crime rates compared to the previous year.
Understanding the yearly crime trends in the US requires examining the specific annual changes that have occurred between 2023 and 2024, as well as longer-term patterns spanning from 2019 to 2024. The data shows that while 2020 and 2021 experienced significant crime increases during the pandemic period, the years 2022, 2023, and particularly 2024 have demonstrated consistent year-over-year improvements. The average reported homicide rate last year was 16% lower than in 2023—representing 631 fewer homicides in the cities that reported data, illustrating how annual statistical improvements translate into real lives saved and communities made safer.
Interesting Facts About Yearly Crime Statistics in the US 2025
| Crime Category | 2024 vs 2023 Annual Change | 2024 vs 2019 Five-Year Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide Rate | 16% decrease from 2023 | 6% decrease from 2019 |
| Aggravated Assault | 4% decrease from 2023 | 4% increase from 2019 |
| Gun Assault | 15% decrease from 2023 | 5% increase from 2019 |
| Sexual Assault | 6% decrease from 2023 | 26% decrease from 2019 |
| Domestic Violence | 4% decrease from 2023 | 11% decrease from 2019 |
| Robbery | 10% decrease from 2023 | 19% decrease from 2019 |
| Carjacking | 32% decrease from 2023 | 25% increase from 2019 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 24% decrease from 2023 | 53% increase from 2019 |
| Shoplifting Only | 14% increase from 2023 | 1% increase from 2019 |
The yearly crime statistics comparison demonstrates remarkable consistency in crime reduction across multiple categories when examining the 2024 versus 2023 annual comparison. There were 4% fewer reported aggravated assaults, 15% fewer gun assaults, 6% fewer sexual assaults, and 4% fewer domestic violence incidents last year than in 2023, showing that the improvements were not limited to any single type of crime but represented broad-based enhancements in public safety across diverse offense categories.
The five-year comparison from 2019 to 2024 reveals even more dramatic annual crime trends in the US 2025, particularly for certain categories of crime. Sexual assault (-26%), domestic violence (-11%), and robbery (-19%) were lower in 2024 than in 2019, demonstrating sustained multi-year improvements that have compounded over time to create substantially safer communities. However, some categories like motor vehicle theft show the complexity of crime trends, with significant increases from 2019 to 2024 despite the substantial decrease from 2023 to 2024.
Crime Statistics by Year
| Year | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | Homicide Rate | Total Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 463.2 per 100,000 | 3,514.1 per 100,000 | 5.5 per 100,000 | 3,977.3 per 100,000 |
| 2005 | 469.0 per 100,000 | 3,431.5 per 100,000 | 5.6 per 100,000 | 3,900.5 per 100,000 |
| 2006 | 473.6 per 100,000 | 3,334.5 per 100,000 | 5.7 per 100,000 | 3,808.1 per 100,000 |
| 2007 | 466.9 per 100,000 | 3,263.5 per 100,000 | 5.6 per 100,000 | 3,730.4 per 100,000 |
| 2008 | 457.5 per 100,000 | 3,211.5 per 100,000 | 5.4 per 100,000 | 3,669.0 per 100,000 |
| 2009 | 431.9 per 100,000 | 3,036.1 per 100,000 | 5.0 per 100,000 | 3,465.5 per 100,000 |
| 2010 | 404.5 per 100,000 | 2,945.9 per 100,000 | 4.8 per 100,000 | 3,350.4 per 100,000 |
| 2011 | 387.1 per 100,000 | 2,905.4 per 100,000 | 4.7 per 100,000 | 3,292.5 per 100,000 |
| 2012 | 387.8 per 100,000 | 2,868.0 per 100,000 | 4.7 per 100,000 | 3,255.8 per 100,000 |
| 2013 | 379.1 per 100,000 | 2,733.3 per 100,000 | 4.5 per 100,000 | 3,112.4 per 100,000 |
| 2014 | 372.0 per 100,000 | 2,574.1 per 100,000 | 4.4 per 100,000 | 2,946.1 per 100,000 |
| 2015 | 384.6 per 100,000 | 2,500.5 per 100,000 | 4.9 per 100,000 | 2,885.1 per 100,000 |
| 2016 | 397.5 per 100,000 | 2,451.6 per 100,000 | 5.4 per 100,000 | 2,849.1 per 100,000 |
| 2017 | 394.9 per 100,000 | 2,362.9 per 100,000 | 5.3 per 100,000 | 2,757.8 per 100,000 |
| 2018 | 383.4 per 100,000 | 2,209.8 per 100,000 | 5.0 per 100,000 | 2,593.2 per 100,000 |
| 2019 | 379.4 per 100,000 | 2,109.9 per 100,000 | 5.0 per 100,000 | 2,489.3 per 100,000 |
| 2020 | 398.5 per 100,000 | 1,958.2 per 100,000 | 6.5 per 100,000 | 2,356.7 per 100,000 |
| 2021 | 394.9 per 100,000 | 1,954.4 per 100,000 | 6.9 per 100,000 | 2,349.3 per 100,000 |
| 2022 | 380.7 per 100,000 | 2,042.8 per 100,000 | 6.3 per 100,000 | 2,423.5 per 100,000 |
| 2023 | 363.8 per 100,000 | 1,992.9 per 100,000 | 5.6 per 100,000 | 2,356.7 per 100,000 |
| 2024 | 347.4 per 100,000 | 1,832.3 per 100,000 | 4.7 per 100,000 | 2,179.7 per 100,000 |
Over the past two decades, crime rates in the United States have shown a steady decline across most categories, with particularly sharp drops in property crime. In 2004, the total crime rate stood at 3,977.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, but by 2024 it had fallen to 2,179.7 per 100,000, representing a reduction of nearly 45%. Violent crime rates also dropped significantly, from 463.2 to 347.4 per 100,000, while property crime saw the largest improvement, falling from 3,514.1 to 1,832.3 per 100,000 in the same period. The homicide rate, which fluctuated more than other categories, peaked at 6.9 per 100,000 in 2021 before decreasing to 4.7 per 100,000 in 2024. These shifts reflect broader national trends, including improved policing strategies, advancements in forensic technology, and community-based crime prevention programs.
Notably, some fluctuations occurred in specific years due to socio-economic conditions, national events, and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on public safety patterns. For example, 2020 and 2021 saw spikes in homicide rates, reaching 6.5 and 6.9 per 100,000 respectively, coinciding with pandemic-related disruptions and increased social tensions. While the decline in violent and property crime is encouraging, the data also reveals that violent crime rates have not fallen as sharply as property crime rates, indicating a need for continued focus on preventing serious offenses. The long-term downward trajectory, however, suggests that sustained efforts in law enforcement, public policy, and community engagement have been effective in making the nation safer.
Annual Violent Crime Trends in the US 2025
| Violent Crime Type | 2024 vs 2023 Change | 2023 vs 2022 Change | 2022 vs 2021 Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | -16% decrease | -11% decrease | -7% decrease |
| Aggravated Assault | -4% decrease | -3% decrease | -4% decrease |
| Gun Assault | -15% decrease | -8% decrease | -10% decrease |
| Sexual Assault | -6% decrease | -0.04% decrease | -12% decrease |
| Domestic Violence | -4% decrease | +1% increase | -4% decrease |
| Robbery | -10% decrease | +0.01% increase | +1% increase |
| Carjacking | -32% decrease | +3% increase | +12% increase |
The annual violent crime statistics in the US 2025 reveal a clear pattern of year-over-year improvement, with 2024 representing the strongest single year of violent crime reduction in recent memory. The homicide trend shows three consecutive years of decline, with the 2024 reduction of 16% representing the largest annual decrease in the recent period. The average reported homicide rate last year was 16% lower than in 2023—representing 631 fewer homicides, demonstrating how consistent annual improvements have accumulated to create substantial progress in reducing the most serious form of violent crime.
The yearly violent crime trends 2025 show that carjacking experienced the most dramatic annual improvement, with a 32% decrease from 2023 to 2024, reversing several years of increases in this category. Gun assault also showed significant improvement with a 15% annual decrease, continuing a trend of consistent year-over-year reductions that began in 2022. These statistics demonstrate that targeted law enforcement and community intervention strategies are generating measurable annual results in reducing violent criminal activity.
Annual Property Crime Changes in the US 2025
| Property Crime Category | 2024 vs 2023 Annual Change | Multi-Year Trend Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglary | -13% decrease | Consistent annual decreases since 2019 |
| Nonresidential Burglary | -6% decrease | Mixed pattern with 2024 improvement |
| Larceny | -5% decrease | Generally declining with annual variations |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | -24% decrease | First decrease after four years of increases |
| Shoplifting | +14% increase | Only property crime category increasing |
The annual property crime statistics in the US 2025 present a complex picture of year-over-year changes, with most categories showing improvement but notable variations in trend patterns. Motor vehicle theft had been on the rise from the summer of 2020 through 2023, but that trend reversed last year; there were 24% fewer motor vehicle thefts in 2024 than in 2023. This represents a significant breakthrough in addressing a crime category that had shown concerning annual increases for four consecutive years.
The yearly property crime trends 2025 reveal that residential burglary continues its pattern of consistent annual decreases, with the 13% reduction from 2023 to 2024 representing the continuation of a five-year trend of year-over-year improvements. There were fewer residential burglaries (-38%) and larcenies (-12%) in 2024 than in 2019, showing how sustained annual improvements have compounded over multiple years to create dramatically safer communities for property crime victims.
Year-Over-Year Homicide Analysis in the US 2025
| Homicide Metric | 2024 Data | Annual Comparison | Multi-Year Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Annual Change | 631 fewer homicides | 16% decrease from 2023 | Three consecutive years of decline |
| 2023 vs 2022 | Previous improvement | 11% annual decrease | Sustained reduction pattern |
| 2022 vs 2021 | Earlier improvement | 7% annual decrease | Beginning of downward trend |
| 2024 vs 2019 | Five-year comparison | 6% below 2019 levels | Below pre-pandemic rates |
The annual homicide statistics in the US 2025 demonstrate the most encouraging trend in violent crime data, with three consecutive years of substantial year-over-year decreases. The rate continued to increase into 2021 (+7%), dropped in 2022 (-7%), and continued to drop in 2023 (-11%), showing how the annual trend pattern shifted from increases to consistent decreases over the multi-year period. The 2024 reduction of 16% represents the largest single-year improvement in this critical public safety metric.
The yearly homicide trends in the US 2025 reveal that specific cities with historically high homicide rates have driven much of the national improvement through dramatic annual reductions. These include Baltimore (-40%) and St. Louis (-33%), which experienced the largest drops in homicide rates across the city sample when comparing 2024 to 2019. This demonstrates how sustained annual improvements in the most affected communities can generate significant overall statistical progress.
Regional Annual Crime Variations in the US 2025
| Regional Pattern | Annual Crime Trends | Specific Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| High-Homicide Cities | Major annual decreases | Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis leading |
| Large Metropolitan Areas | Mixed annual patterns | Chicago and New York varying trends |
| Sample Cities Overall | Consistent annual improvement | 22 of 29 cities decreased 2023-2024 |
| Individual City Variations | Wide range of annual changes | 50% decrease to 56% increase range |
The regional annual crime statistics in the US 2025 show significant variation in year-over-year changes across different cities and metropolitan areas. Twenty-two of the 29 cities experienced a homicide decrease from 2023 to 2024; Chandler, AZ, and Little Rock, AR, saw the largest decreases of 50% and 43%, respectively. This demonstrates that while the overall national trend shows improvement, individual cities experience widely different annual crime patterns based on local conditions and intervention strategies.
The yearly regional crime patterns 2025 reveal that cities with traditionally high crime rates have achieved some of the most dramatic annual improvements. Baltimore, Detroit, and St. Louis were selected because they traditionally have the highest homicide rates in the city sample and in the U.S., and these cities have shown substantial multi-year improvements that have contributed significantly to the overall national trend toward reduced crime rates.
Economic Impact of Annual Crime Reductions in the US 2025
| Economic Factor | Annual Impact 2024 vs 2023 | Cumulative Multi-Year Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced Victim Costs | Billions in annual savings | Compounding economic benefits |
| Property Value Increases | Year-over-year improvements | Sustained community investment |
| Business Confidence | Annual enhancement | Multi-year economic development |
| Insurance Cost Reductions | Year-over-year decreases | Consumer and business savings |
The annual economic impact of crime reduction 2025 demonstrates how year-over-year improvements in crime statistics translate into substantial financial benefits for communities and taxpayers. The 16% annual decrease in homicides alone represents enormous savings in healthcare costs, criminal justice processing, and lost economic productivity when compared to 2023 levels. The average reported homicide rate last year was 16% lower than in 2023—representing 631 fewer homicides, with each prevented homicide saving society an estimated several million dollars in direct and indirect costs.
The yearly economic benefits of crime reduction 2025 extend beyond immediate cost savings to include enhanced property values, increased business investment, and improved community stability that builds year over year. The 24% annual decrease in motor vehicle theft represents significant savings for insurance companies and vehicle owners, while the 13% decrease in residential burglary enhances property values and reduces security costs for homeowners and businesses.
Multi-Year Crime Trend Analysis in the US 2025
| Time Period | Crime Pattern | Key Annual Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | Pre-pandemic baseline | Mixed minor changes |
| 2019-2020 | Pandemic impact year | Significant annual increases |
| 2020-2021 | Continued pandemic effects | Further annual deterioration |
| 2021-2022 | Beginning recovery | First annual improvements |
| 2022-2023 | Sustained improvement | Continued annual decreases |
| 2023-2024 | Major breakthrough | Largest annual improvements |
The multi-year crime statistics analysis 2025 reveals a clear pattern of annual changes that show how crime trends evolved through different phases of societal disruption and recovery. From 2018 to 2019 the average homicide rate increased by 10%, then increased another 26% from 2019 to 2020, demonstrating how the annual trend analysis helps identify the specific years when crime patterns shifted most dramatically.
The yearly crime trend patterns 2025 show that 2024 represents a culmination of several years of consistent annual improvement, with the year-over-year changes in 2024 being the most substantial in the recent period. The rate continued to increase into 2021 (+7%), dropped in 2022 (-7%), and continued to drop in 2023 (-11%), showing how annual analysis reveals the gradual but accelerating progress in crime reduction efforts.
Future Annual Crime Projections in the US 2025
| Crime Category | Projected 2025 Annual Trend | Factors Influencing Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | Continued annual decreases | Enhanced intervention programs |
| Property Crime | Mixed annual patterns | Technology and enforcement improvements |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | Further annual reductions | Industry security enhancements |
| Shoplifting | Uncertain annual trend | Retail and policy responses |
The projected annual crime trends 2025 suggest that the positive momentum achieved through consistent year-over-year improvements is likely to continue into 2025, based on early indicators and the continuation of successful strategies. Homicide and other violent crimes continue to fall below pre-pandemic levels in a sample of 42 U.S. cities. CCJ’s mid-year 2025 analysis also shows a year-over-year decrease in 11 of the 13 offenses, indicating that the annual improvement trend established in 2024 is carrying forward into 2025.
The future yearly crime statistics outlook 2025 depends on maintaining the evidence-based approaches that have generated consecutive years of annual improvement while adapting strategies to address emerging challenges and changing crime patterns. The sustained pattern of year-over-year decreases in most crime categories provides a foundation for optimism about continued annual progress in public safety.
Annual Drug Crime and Emerging Trends in the US 2025
| Drug Crime Metric | Annual Change 2024 vs 2023 | Five-Year Pattern 2019-2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Drug Offenses Overall | 3% annual decrease | 28% decrease from 2019 |
| Annual Trend Pattern | Slight year-over-year improvement | Sustained multi-year decline |
| Pandemic Impact | Recovery from 2020 lows | Gradual annual stabilization |
The annual drug crime statistics in the US 2025 show a modest but consistent pattern of year-over-year improvement, with the 3% decrease from 2023 to 2024 continuing a longer-term trend of declining drug offense rates. The average reported drug offense rate in 2024 was 3% lower than in 2023. Across the sample cities, the 2024 drug offense rate was about 28% lower than in 2019, demonstrating how consistent annual decreases have accumulated to create substantial multi-year improvements in addressing drug-related criminal activity.
The yearly drug offense trends 2025 reflect changing approaches to drug policy and enforcement that emphasize treatment over incarceration, with the annual statistics showing how policy changes translate into measurable year-over-year changes in arrest and prosecution patterns. The five-year trend from 2019 to 2024 shows how sustained annual improvements can generate dramatic overall progress in addressing drug-related crime.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
