US Murder Rate Falls Nearly 20% in 2025 to Lowest Level Since 1960
Updated
Updated · Salon · Jul 20
US Murder Rate Falls Nearly 20% in 2025 to Lowest Level Since 1960
3 articles · Updated · Salon · Jul 20
Summary
Preliminary US data shows the 2025 murder rate dropped nearly 20% from 2024, likely marking the lowest level since reliable national records began in 1960.
Drug overdoses, alcohol abuse and firearm purchases all eased after the homicide peak in 2021, and the report argues that decline drove killings lower.
The reversal follows a sharp run-up that began in 2015 and pushed homicides to their highest level since the mid-1990s by 2021, with 2020 seeing the biggest jump.
The analysis says reduced proactive policing may have worsened the 2020 surge but does not fully explain it, because the increase had already started by late 2019.
Youth offending and other crime measures are also near historic lows, suggesting the broader crime decline could keep pulling murder rates down.
As the U.S. murder rate hits a historic low, why are deaths from firearm suicides reaching a record high?
With fewer police on the streets, what is the secret behind America's unprecedented and historic drop in murders?
US Murder Rate Hits Historic Low in 2025: Causes, Regional Trends, and Policy Lessons
Overview
In 2025, the US murder rate dropped by an estimated 15-20%, reaching historic lows not seen since data collection began in 1960. This sharp decline, confirmed by the Real-Time Crime Index and FBI estimates, marked a new, lower baseline for violent crime nationwide. The positive trend continued into 2026, with the murder rate falling by another 10.3%. These back-to-back reductions highlight a landmark shift in public safety, signaling a profound and sustained improvement in the nation’s fight against violent crime.