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US Murders Plummet 20% to Historic Lows
22 Jan
Summary
- Homicides dropped over 20% in 2025, the largest single-year decrease recorded.
- Carjackings and shoplifting also saw significant declines in 2025.
- Stabilized routines and program interventions are cited as potential causes for the drop.
A new study reveals that homicides across the United States plummeted by over 20% in 2025, marking the largest single-year drop on record. This significant decline suggests that murder rates may be at their lowest point since 1900. The analysis, which examined data from 40 large cities, also reported substantial decreases in carjackings, down 61% since 2023, and shoplifting, down 10% from the previous year.
Violent crime rates in general have returned to pre-2019 levels, with drug offenses being the only category to show an increase. Experts suggest that a confluence of factors likely contributed to this positive trend. These include the stabilization of societal routines, the impact of COVID-19 relief funds, and focused interventions by law enforcement and community programs aimed at specific neighborhoods and groups driving crime.
While the overall reduction is encouraging, researchers caution that identifying definitive causes is challenging. Some cities, like Richmond, Virginia, and Los Angeles, saw dramatic decreases of 59% and 39% respectively. Others experienced more modest reductions or stable rates. The trend highlights a complex interplay of social, economic, and policy-related factors influencing public safety nationwide.
