FBI data for 2025 show biggest drop in violent crime in 90 years

The 2025 FBI data reveals the most significant decrease in violent crime in 90 years, according to reports reviewed by Axios. The violent crime rate dropped by 9.7%, marking the largest annual decline since the FBI's national estimates began in 1936. This surge in the decline of violent crime persisted into the first half of 2025, according to a separate Axios analysis of major cities' crime data.

Among the most notable reductions, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter fell by 18.1%, robbery decreased by 18.5%, rape dropped by 7.6%, and aggravated assault declined by 7.2%. The U.S. murder rate decreased by 18.5% to 4.1 per 100,000 residents, matching the lowest rates seen in 1955 and 1956 since the FBI's national estimates started.

Property crime also saw a decline of 12.4%, led by drops in motor vehicle theft (22.7%), burglary (15.8%), and larceny-theft (9.8%). The nationwide decrease in crime was remarkably widespread, affecting all population groups, from large cities to small towns, suburbs, and rural counties, as indicated by an Axios analysis.

The largest decrease in crime occurred in cities with between 500,000 and 999,999 people, with a 15.3% reduction, including significant drops in murder (27.4%), robbery (22.8%), and aggravated assault (12.6%). The FBI's report is the final one for 2025, but the national figures remain statistical estimates, as the FBI adjusts for missing data to produce representative figures.

Data from 17,075 law enforcement agencies were submitted, covering over 96% of the U.S. population. Every city agency serving at least 1 million residents submitted a full year's worth of data. While it's challenging to attribute this broad and timely decline to a single president, policing strategy, or local policy, the trend began under President Biden in 2022 and has continued through 2025, even into the second year of President Trump's second term.

Trump, who campaigned on the perception of rising crime, has credited his administration's National Guard and federal interventions in cities like Washington, D.C., and Memphis, among others, for the decline in violent crime.