Map Shows States With Highest and Lowest Rates of Violent Crime in America
After peaking in the early 1990s, violent crime rates have generally trended downward.
The FBI's latest data reveals notable variations in violent crime rates across U.S. states, despite a nationwide decline. Alaska experienced the highest violent crime rate at 659.6 offenses per 100,000 residents, while Maine had the lowest at 88.3. New Mexico and Arkansas followed closely behind with rates of 638.4 and 525.8, respectively.
California, the most populous state, reported the highest volume of violent crimes (157,828) but had the lowest rate at 402.6. The murder rate, which fell 18.1% year-over-year, tied 1955 and 1956 for the lowest level on record at 4.1 per 100,000 residents. The FBI attributed the decline to increased use of evidence-based policing, which focuses resources on areas with higher crime concentrations.
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