US Murders Drop 11.6% as Crime Remains Central to 2024 Election Debate

 

By Jack Date and Luke Barr

September 23, 2024, 9:00 PM

Murders in the United States fell by 11.6% in 2023, according to new data released by the FBI on Monday. The national murder rate dropped from 6.2 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 5.7 per 100,000 in 2023, marking a steeper decline compared to previous years. This follows a 6.1% drop in 2022 from the prior year.

Overall, violent crime—which is a prominent issue for voters in the upcoming presidential election—decreased by 3% from 2022 to 2023. According to an FBI official, the drop in murders represents the "largest decline" since the agency began tracking such data.

In 2023, there were an estimated 1,218,467 violent crime offenses, resulting in a rate of 363.8 violent crimes per 100,000 people, down from 377.1 per 100,000 in 2022, as reported by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

Rape incidents decreased by 9.4%, aggravated assault by 2.8%, and robbery by 0.3%. Notably, robberies had decreased during the pandemic but have since returned to pre-pandemic levels.

An increase in motor vehicle theft stood out, rising by 12.6% in 2023, while property crimes overall decreased by 2.4%. Burglary dropped by 7.6%, and larceny-theft by 4.4%.

The FBI also noted a rise in hate crimes from 2022 to 2023, with increases in incidents, offenses, and victims reported.

The number of law enforcement agencies submitting data to the FBI also improved, with 85% participation, covering a population of over 315 million Americans. All 12 U.S. cities with populations over one million reported their data. 

Crime remains a key issue as voters head into the 2024 presidential election, with many candidates positioning their platforms around public safety and criminal justice reform.