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 Homicide trends in the U.S.
Trends by city size

Changes in homicide trends have been driven by changes in the number of homicides in large American cities

From 1976-2005 --

  • over half of the homicides occurred in cities with a population of 100,000 or more

  • almost one-quarter of the homicides occurred in cities with a population of over 1 million.

To view data, click on the chart.

Homicides by urban, suburban, and rural[D]

Note: Large cities have a population of 100,000 or more while small cities have a population of less than 100,000.

Until recently, homicide rates for large American cities varied by size

The homicide victimization rates of cities with a population of --

  • one million or more have plummeted, reaching the lowest level in the past two decades

  • 100,000 to 249,999 are the lowest rates among large cities.

Since 2003, homicide rates for cities with populations of 250,000 to 499,999 and 500,000 to 999,999 have remained stable.

To view data, click on the chart.

Victimization trends by city size [D]

Trends in homicide offending rates of cities show patterns similar to their victimization rates

To view data, click on the chart.

Offending rates by city size [D]

Certain homicide types vary by size of place

For the years 1976-2005 combined, large cities are -

  • much more commonly the site of drug-related and gang-related killings

  • relatively less likely to be the location of family-related and work-related homicides.
Homicide Type by Urbanicity, 1976-2005
    Percent of all homicides
 
Large city Small city Suburban Rural
All homicides 57.3% 11.5% 21.0% 10.2%
Victim/offender relationship      
  Intimate 40.7% 14.5% 28.0% 16.8%
  Family 38.7% 13.2% 29.1% 19.0%
  Infanticide 47.9% 15.0% 25.5% 11.6%
  Eldercide 46.9% 13.5% 24.2% 15.3%
Circumstance      
  Felony murder 61.0% 11.1% 20.3% 7.7%
  Sex related 48.4% 12.2% 27.2% 12.2%
  Drug related 67.4%  9.9% 18.1% 4.5%
  Gang related 69.3% 13.1% 16.9% 0.7%
  Argument 53.4% 12.7% 21.0% 12.9%
  Workplace 31.4% 13.4% 37.2% 17.9%
Weapon      
  Gun homicide 59.3% 10.6% 19.8% 10.4%
  Arson 54.8% 13.1% 21.7% 10.4%
  Poison 38.9% 15.7% 29.3% 16.0%
Multiple victims or offenders      
  Multiple victims 47.4% 11.9% 27.0% 13.7%
  Multiple offenders 61.7%  10.2% 19.1%  8.9%

The proportion of homicides that are intimate homicides differs by type of area

Intimate homicides (spouses, ex-spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends) made up a larger percentage of murders in rural areas than in suburban or urban areas.

Intimate homicides declined in all types of places. From 1976 to 2005, the number of intimate murders --

  • in large cities fell by more than half, while the number of nonintimate murders increased slightly

  • in small cities dropped by more than 40%, although the number of nonintimate homicides increased slightly

  • in rural areas dropped by 55%, while nonintinmate homicides dropped by 50%

  • in suburban areas declined by 29%, while nonintimate homicides declined by 1%.

To view data, click on the chart.

Percent of homicides that were of intimates by type of place [D]

Note: Large cities have a population of 100,000 or more while small cities have a population of less than 100,000.

Source: FBI, Supplementary Homicide Reports, 1976-2005.
     See also Additional information about the data.

Note: The victims of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks are not included in this analysis.

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