Murder Rate by State

Introduction

In 2019, there were 14,742 murders reported in the United States according to FBI data. The annual rate of murder has been falling since its peak in 1991 at 9.8 victims per 100,000 people. However, despite a steady decline since then, the U.S. still ranks amongst the worst countries in developed nations for homicide rates. This is due largely to higher levels of gun violence in the U.S. than other industrialized countries. Other contributing factors are poverty, unemployment, and gang activity which can lead to an increase of violent crime. The states with the highest murder rates in 2019 were Louisiana, which ranks first in the U.S. with a homicide rate of 22.9 per 100,000 people, and Missouri, which ranks second, with a homicide rate of 18 per 100,000 people. In contrast, New Hampshire had a murder rate of 1.5 per 100,000 people – making it one of the safest states for homicides in 2019.

Homicide Rate by State

Murder Rate in America

The murder rate in the US is a statistic that is far higher than other industrialized nations. The disparity between states is even more extreme; Louisiana’s murder rate, for example, stands at 22.9 per 100,000, more than four times that of the national average. This alarming trend can be attributed to many causes like poverty levels, access to guns and firearms and gang violence which tend to vary from state to state and city to city. For instance, Louisiana has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the country as well as high poverty levels which could help explain why its murder rate is so much higher compared to other states. Additionally, areas with gang activity are often plagued by homicide regardless of economic status or access to weapons as turf wars and retaliatory violence occur regularly among rival groups.

States with Highest Murder Rates

The states with the highest murder rates in the United States are Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alaska, Maryland, Oklahoma, Mississippi and North Carolina, but it is the District of Columbia that has the highest murder rate in the US, with a rate of 49.2 murder per 100,000 people. The state with the highest murder rate is Louisiana with a homicide rate of 22.9 per 100,000 people. The second state with the highest murder rate in the US is Missouri, with a murder rate of 18 murders per 100,000. The third state with the most murders is South Carolina, at 17.4 homicides per 100,000, while Arkansas comes as the fourth state with the highest murder rate, with a rate of 16.1. The fifth and sixth states with the highest murder rates are Tennessee, at 14, and Alaska, at 12.3. Maryland and Oklahoma both have a murder rate of 11.9, making them the seventh and eighth states with the most murders. Finally, the ninth and tenth states with the highest murder rates are Mississippi, with a murder rate of 11.8, and North Carolina, at 11.4 murders per 100,000 people.

Most Murders by State

1. Louisiana – 22.9
2. Missouri – 18
3. South Carolina – 17.4
4. Arkansas – 16.1
5. Tennessee – 14
6. Alaska – 12.3
7. Maryland – 11.9
8. Oklahoma – 11.9
9. Mississippi – 11.8
10. North Carolina – 11.4

State with the Highest Murder Rate

Louisiana is currently the state with the highest murder rate in the US, with a rate that stands at 22.9 homicides per 100,000 people. This puts Louisiana at more than double the overall national average and far above other states in terms of homicide rates. In fact, New Orleans – the largest city in Louisiana – falls within the top 10 most dangerous cities in the US and leads all other cities in terms of violence-related deaths per capita. To make matters worse, many programs dedicated to preventing crime have been defunded or cut significantly due to financial constraints making it even more difficult to reduce gun violence and homicide rates in Louisiana.

Highest Murder Rate in US

The District of Columbia has the highest murder rate in America, at 49.2 murders per 100,000 people. This is a startlingly high rate compared to other cities and states throughout the country. The number of homicides in DC rose by 83% between 2013 and 2018, making it even more apparent that something needs to be done to make the streets safer. There are many different potential causes for this jump in crime, including poverty, inequality, gang activity, and availability of firearms. Unfortunately, due to its unique status as a federal district rather than a state, the District of Columbia has limited power when it comes to formulating its own laws or implementing specific measures that could combat crime.

States with Lowest Murder Rates

The states with the lowest murder rates in the US are New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Vermont, Rhode Island, Oregon, Hawaii, and Utah. The lowest murder rate in the US is New Hampshire, with a murder rate of 1.5 per 100,000 people. The second state with the lowest murder rate is Maine, at 2.9 murders per 100,000 people. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania both have murder rates of 3.3 per 100,000 people, making them third and fourth states with the lowest murder rates. Idaho, ranked fifth lowest murder rate in the US, and Vermont, ranked sixth lowest murder rate in the country, both have a murder rate of 3.7 per 100,000. Rhode Island has the seventh lowest murder rate, at 4.2, and Oregon is ranked eighth state with the lowest murder rate, at 4.4. Finally, both Hawaii and Utah have a murder rate of 4.5 homicides per 100,000 people, making them the ninth and tenth states with the lowest murder rates in the US.

Lowest Murder Rates in the US

1. New Hampshire – 1.5
2. Maine – 2.9
3. Massachusetts – 3.3
4. Pennsylvania – 3.3
5. Idaho – 3.7
6. Vermont – 3.7
7. Rhode Island – 4.2
8. Oregon – 4.4
9. Hawaii – 4.5
10. Utah – 4.5

Lowest Murder Rate in the US

New Hampshire has the lowest murder rate in the United States, with only 1.5 homicides per 100,000 people. This impressive statistic shows that New Hampshire is a safe place to live and work, and offers its citizens peace of mind in comparison to other states with higher homicide rates. Beyond just low murder rates, New Hampshire has a crime rate below the national average too; this means that property crimes and violent offenses are also lower than average. In addition, the state’s law enforcement activities have been more successful in preventing homicides, such as their focus on controlling guns and providing assistance for families in crisis. This proactive approach to crime prevention has allowed New Hampshire to maintain its low murder rate despite an increase in population over the years.