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Contents of Homicide
trends in the U.S.
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Homicide
trends in the U.S.
Age trends
Young adults have the highest homicide victimization and offending
rates
Homicide victimization rates for teens and young adults increased
rapidly in the late 1980's while rates for older age groups declined;
after the early 1990's rates declined for all age groups
- For children under age 14, homicide victimization rates are the
lowest of all age groups. Their homicide victimization rates declined
to the lowest level recorded in 2000 and have remained stable since
then.
- For young teens (14-17 years old), the homicide victimization rate
increased almost 150% from 1985 to 1993. Since 1993 the victimization
rates for young teens have declined to levels similar to those experienced
from 1976-85.
- Older teens and young adults (18-24 years old) experienced the highest
homicide victimization rates, a change from the late 1970's when 25-34
year-olds had the highest rates. Since 1993 their vtimization
rates have declined
but still remain higher than the levels of the mid-1980's.
- For adults ages 35-49 and 50 and older, homicide victimization
rates have remained stable in recent years.
- 25-34 year-olds experienced an increase in homicide victimization
rates since 1999 when it was the lowest ever recorded.
To view data, click on the chart.
 [D]
View an animation of
homicide victimization rates by age from 1980 to 2004.
- Additional detail is available about homicides of children under age
5, infanticide, and homicides of persons
age 65 and older, eldercide.
- For more information about age patterns in violent victimization see
Key Facts at a Glance.
Homicide offending rates followed a similar pattern
- Offending rates for teens (14-17 years old) and young adults (18-24 years old) increased dramatically in the late
1980's while rates for older age groups declined.
- Offending rates for children under age 14 increased in the late 1980's
and early 1990's, but fell to the lowest level recorded in 2003.
- Young adults (18-24 years -old) have historically
had the highest offending rates and their rates nearly doubled from
1985 to 1993. Since 1993 offending rates for 18-24 year-olds have
declined but remain slightly higher than levels prior to the mid 1980's.
- Offending rates of teens (14-17 years old) increased rapidly
after 1985, surpassing the rates of 25-34 year-olds. After 2000, the
offending rates for young teens reached the lowest levels recorded
and fell below those for 25-34 year-olds.
- Offending rates for 25-34 year-olds fell from 1991 through 1999
but have increased since 1999.
To view data, click on the chart.
 [D]
View an animation
of homicide offending rates by age from 1980 to 2004.
- For more information about age patterns in violent offending see Key
Facts at a Glance.
After many years of decline, the average age of both victims and offenders
has leveled off
The average age of --
- victims is greater than that of offenders and fell from 35.2 years
in 1976 to 31.3 years in 1994
- offenders fell from about 30.3 years in 1976 to 26.4 years in 1994
- both offenders and victims has increased slightly in recent years
yet remains lower than it was prior to the mid-1980's
To view data, click on the chart.
 [D]
Young victims were more likely to know the offender than older victims
To view data, click on the chart.
 [D]
The age distribution of homicide victims and offenders differs by
type of homicide
For the years 1976-2005 combined -
- Almost one-quarter of the victims of gang-related killings were under
the age of 18. Juveniles were also unusually involved as victims of
family members, sex-related homicides, and homicide by arson or poison.
- Felony-murder, workplace murder, arson, and poison homicides claimed
a relatively large percentage of older victims (ages 50 and over).
Homicide Type by Age, 1976-2005
|
Victims |
Offenders |
| Under 18 |
18-34 |
35-49 |
50+ |
|
Under 18 |
18-34 |
35-49 |
50+ |
| |
All homicides |
9.8% |
52.7% |
22.8% |
14.7% |
|
10.9% |
65.0% |
17.3% |
6.8% |
Victim/offender
relationship |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intimate |
1.5% |
46.7% |
34.3% |
17.5% |
|
1.0% |
46.2% |
34.9% |
17.9% |
| |
Family |
19.6% |
31.9% |
26.4% |
22.1% |
|
6.0% |
49.1% |
28.1% |
16.8% |
| |
Infanticide |
100.0% |
|
|
|
|
7.9% |
81.3% |
9.7% |
1.1% |
| |
Eldercide |
|
|
|
100.0% |
|
10.3% |
49.2% |
19.1% |
21.4% |
| Circumstances |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Felony murder |
7.6% |
46.9% |
21.8% |
23.8% |
|
14.8% |
72.9% |
10.3% |
2.0% |
| |
Sex related |
19.6% |
45.1% |
16.6% |
18.7% |
|
10.7% |
73.6% |
13.7% |
2.0% |
| |
Drug related |
5.4% |
71.4% |
19.9% |
3.3% |
|
10.6% |
76.9% |
11.3% |
1.2% |
| |
Gang related |
24.2% |
68.4% |
6.1% |
1.3% |
|
28.9% |
69.2% |
1.6% |
.3% |
| |
Argument |
5.5% |
56.1% |
26.3% |
12.2% |
|
6.9% |
60.2% |
23.1% |
9.7% |
| |
Workplace |
.5% |
28.0% |
32.0% |
39.5% |
|
3.7% |
53.1% |
27.6% |
15.5% |
| Weapon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Gun homicide |
7.4% |
59.3% |
22.4% |
10.9% |
|
11.9% |
64.8% |
15.8% |
7.5% |
| |
Arson |
28.3% |
27.0% |
19.2% |
25.5% |
|
11.5% |
57.7% |
23.8% |
7.0% |
| |
Poison |
28.0% |
23.3% |
16.5% |
32.2% |
|
4.5% |
50.9% |
26.2% |
18.5% |
Multiple victims
or offenders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Multiple victims |
18.2% |
46.3% |
19.1% |
16.4% |
|
9.5% |
66.1% |
18.5% |
5.9% |
| |
Multiple offenders |
11.3% |
55.5% |
19.7% |
13.5% |
|
18.2% |
73.1% |
7.5% |
1.2% |
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.
Related charts on this site
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