U.S. homicide rate reaches historic low

A report from the Council on Criminal Justice shows the United States homicide rate is projected to fall to about 4.0 deaths per 100,000 people in 2025, a 21% decline from the previous year and the lowest level recorded since at least 1900. The drop follows a broader trend of crime reduction, with gun assaults down 22%, robberies 23% and carjackings 43% over the same period. Cities such as Richmond and Los Angeles have seen homicide reductions of 59% and 39% respectively, while Atlanta recorded fewer than 100 murders for the first time since before the pandemic.

Analysts note that despite the record low, the rate still translates to roughly 13,000–14,000 deaths annually. Critics point out that earlier FBI data only date back to 1960, so earlier lows in the 1950s‑60s and 2014 are also comparable. The decline is attributed to a mix of social recovery efforts rather than any single policy action.