Murders across the United States dropped sharply in 2025, marking the largest one year decline ever recorded and pushing homicide levels to their lowest point since 1900, according to new data from the Council on Criminal Justice.
The report examined crime trends in 35 large cities and found that murders fell by 21 percent compared to 2024. Overall crime also declined, with 11 of 13 major crime categories showing year over year decreases. Nine offenses dropped by 10 percent or more.
Source : Council on Criminal Justice
Gun assaults and robberies recorded some of the steepest declines, falling by 22 percent and 23 percent respectively. Aggravated assaults dropped by 9 percent. Drug related offenses were the only category to rise, increasing by 7 percent, while sexual assault levels remained largely unchanged.
Of the cities analyzed, 31 reported fewer homicides than the previous year. Denver saw the largest decline at 41 percent, followed by Washington, D.C. and Omaha, each down by 40 percent. Little Rock was the only city to record a notable increase, rising by 16 percent.
Researchers cautioned against attributing the decline to a single factor. Experts pointed to a combination of improved policing strategies, advances in crime fighting technology, economic stabilization, the return of normal routines after the pandemic, and targeted community intervention programs.
Compared to pre pandemic levels, homicide rates in 2025 were approximately 25 percent lower than in 2019 and 44 percent below the peak reached in 2021. Analysts estimate that the national murder rate will settle near 4 per 100,000 people once final federal data is released later this year.
Criminal justice experts emphasized that while the overall trend is encouraging, national averages can hide disparities at the neighborhood level, and sustaining long term reductions will require continued investment in prevention and community based solutions.
