Murder Rates Nationally and By State
Posted: December 09, 2002
- By Region
- Alphabetical by State
- By Rank, Highest to Lowest
- National Rates, 1970-Current
- Murder Rate of Death Penalty States Compared to Non-Death Penalty States
DATA SOURCE: FBI Uniform Crime Report for 2008 (Published Sept, 2009)
REGIONAL MURDER RATES, 2001 - 2008
MURDER RATES PER 100,000 PEOPLE
| REGION | Projection for 2009* |
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | EXECUTIONS SINCE 1976 (As of 6/1/10) |
| South | 6.1 |
6.6 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.6 |
6.6 |
6.9 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 1000 |
| West | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.8 |
5.7 |
5.7 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 67 |
| Midwest | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 |
4.7 |
4.9 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 141 |
| Northeast | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
4.2 |
4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4 |
| NATIONAL RATE |
5.0 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 |
*Based on FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2009 Projections (pub. May 2010).
NATIONWIDE MURDER RATES, 1996 - 2008
MURDER RATES PER 100,000 PEOPLE
States marked in yellow have no death penalty statute
| YEAR | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 |
| Alabama | 7.6 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 8.5 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 9.9 | 10.4 |
| Alaska | 4.1 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 4.3 | 8.6 | 6.7 | 8.9 | 7.4 |
| Arizona | 6.3 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.9 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7 | 8 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8.5 |
| Arkansas | 5.7 | 6.7 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 5.6 | 8 | 9.9 | 8.7 |
| California | 5.8 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6 | 6.6 | 8 | 9.1 |
| Colorado | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4 | 4.7 |
| Connecticut | 3.5 | 3 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.8 |
| Delaware | 6.5 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 2 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 4.3 |
| Florida | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 6.9 | 7.5 |
| Georgia | 6.6 | 7.5 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 8 | 7.5 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 9.5 |
| Hawaii | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 2 | 4 | 3.4 |
| Idaho | 1.5 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.6 |
| Illinois | 6.1 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6 | 6.1 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7.9 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 10 |
| Indiana | 5.1 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 7.2 |
| Iowa | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.9 |
| Kansas | 4 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 6.3 | 6 | 5.9 | 6 | 6.6 |
| Kentucky | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| Louisiana | 11.9 | 14.2 | 12.4 | 9.9 | 12.7 | 13 | 13.2 | 11.2 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 12.8 | 15.7 | 17.5 |
| Maine | 2.4 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Maryland | 8.8 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 9 | 10 | 9.9 | 11.6 |
| Massachusetts | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
| Michigan | 5.4 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 7 | 7.3 | 7.8 | 7.5 |
| Minnesota | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.6 |
| Mississippi | 8.1 | 7.1 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 7.8 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.9 | 9 | 7.7 | 11.4 | 13.1 | 11.1 |
| Missouri | 7.7 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 6.2 | 5 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 8.1 |
| Montana | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 3.9 |
| Nebraska | 3.8 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3 | 2.9 |
| Nevada | 6.3 | 7.5 | 9 | 8.5 | 7.4 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 9.1 | 9.7 | 11.2 | 13.7 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 1.1 | 1 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.7 |
| New Jersey | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| New Mexico | 7.2 | 8.2 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 8.9 | 6 | 8.2 | 5.4 | 7.4 | 9.8 | 10.9 | 7.7 | 11.5 |
| New York | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5.1 | 6 | 7.4 |
| North Carolina | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 7 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.5 |
| North Dakota | 0.5 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 2.2 |
| Ohio | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Oklahoma | 5.8 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.9 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 6.9 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 6.8 |
| Oregon | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2 | 2.4 | 2 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 5.9 | 5.7 |
| Rhode Island | 2.8 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| South Carolina | 6.8 | 8 | 8.3 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 8 | 8.4 | 9 |
| South Dakota | 3.2 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Tennessee | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Texas | 5.6 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 7.7 |
| Utah | 1.4 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2 | 3 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| Vermont | 2.7 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Virginia | 4.7 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 5.2 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| Washington | 2.9 | 2.7 | 3 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3.3 | 3 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| West Virginia | 3.3 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
| Wisconsin | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 4 | 4.2 |
| Wyoming | 1.9 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 3 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
For 2008, the average Murder Rate of Death Penalty States was 5.2, while the average Murder Rate of States without the Death Penalty was 3.3
For a weighted average which takes into account the population of each state, see additional murder rate data.
BY 2008 RANK, HIGHEST TO LOWEST
(2008 to 1996 Shown for Comparison)
MURDER RATES PER 100,000 PEOPLE
YEAR
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
Louisiana
11.9
14.2
12.4
9.9
12.7
13
13.2
11.2
12.5
10.7
12.8
15.7
17.5
Maryland
8.8
9.8
9.7
9.9
9.4
9.5
9.4
8.3
8.1
9
10
9.9
11.6
Mississippi
8.1
7.1
7.7
7.3
7.8
9.3
9.2
9.9
9
7.7
11.4
13.1
11.1
Missouri
7.7
6.5
6.3
6.9
6.2
5
5.8
6.6
6.2
6.6
7.3
7.9
8.1
Alabama
7.6
8.9
8.3
8.2
5.6
6.6
6.8
8.5
7.4
7.9
8.1
9.9
10.4
New Mexico
7.2
8.2
6.8
7.4
8.9
6
8.2
5.4
7.4
9.8
10.9
7.7
11.5
South Carolina
6.8
8
8.3
7.4
6.9
7.2
7.3
6.3
5.8
6.6
8
8.4
9
Tennessee
6.6
6.4
6.8
7.2
5.9
6.8
7.2
7.4
7.2
7.1
8.5
9.5
9.5
Georgia
6.6
7.5
6.4
6.2
6.9
7.6
7.1
7.1
8
7.5
8.1
7.5
9.5
Delaware
6.5
4.3
4.9
4.4
2
2.9
3.2
2.9
3.2
3.2
2.8
2.5
4.3
North Carolina
6.5
6.5
6.1
6.7
6.2
6.1
6.6
6.2
7
7.2
8.1
8.3
8.5
Florida
6.4
6.6
6.2
5
5.4
5.4
5.5
5.3
5.6
5.7
6.5
6.9
7.5
Nevada
6.3
7.5
9
8.5
7.4
8.8
8.3
8.5
6.5
9.1
9.7
11.2
13.7
Arizona
6.3
7.4
7.5
7.5
7.2
7.9
7.1
7.5
7
8
8.1
8.2
8.5
Illinois
6.1
5.9
6.1
6
6.1
7.1
7.5
7.9
7.2
7.7
8.4
9.2
10
California
5.8
6.2
6.8
6.9
6.7
6.8
6.8
6.4
6.1
6
6.6
8
9.1
Oklahoma
5.8
6.1
5.8
5.3
5.3
5.9
4.7
5.3
5.3
6.9
6.1
6.9
6.8
Arkansas
5.7
6.7
7.3
6.7
6.4
6.4
5.2
5.5
6.3
5.6
8
9.9
8.7
Pennsylvania
5.6
5.8
5.9
6.1
5.2
5.3
5.1
5.3
4.9
4.9
5.3
5.9
5.7
Texas
5.6
5.9
5.9
6.2
6.1
6.4
6
6.2
5.9
6.1
6.8
6.8
7.7
Michigan
5.4
6.7
7.1
6.1
6.4
6.1
6.7
6.7
6.7
7
7.3
7.8
7.5
Indiana
5.1
5.6
5.8
5.7
5.1
5.5
5.9
6.8
5.8
6.6
7.7
7.3
7.2
Virginia
4.7
5.3
5.2
6.1
5.2
5.6
5.3
5.1
5.7
5.7
6.2
7.2
7.5
Ohio
4.7
4.5
4.7
5.1
4.5
4.6
4.6
4
3.7
3.5
4
4.7
4.8
Kentucky
4.6
4.8
4
4.6
5.7
4.6
4.5
4.7
4.8
5.4
4.6
5.8
5.9
New York
4.3
4.2
4.8
4.5
4.6
4.9
4.7
5
5
5
5.1
6
7.4
New Jersey
4.3
4.4
4.9
4.8
4.5
4.7
3.9
4
3.4
3.5
4
4.2
4.2
Alaska
4.1
6.4
5.4
4.8
5.6
6
5.1
6.1
4.3
8.6
6.7
8.9
7.4
Kansas
4
3.9
4.6
3.7
4.5
4.5
2.9
3.4
6.3
6
5.9
6
6.6
Nebraska
3.8
3.8
2.8
2.5
2.3
3.2
2.8
2.5
3.7
3.6
3.1
3
2.9
Connecticut
3.5
3
3.1
2.9
2.6
3
2.3
3.1
2.9
3.3
4.1
3.8
4.8
West Virginia
3.3
3.5
4.1
4.4
3.7
3.5
3.2
2.2
2.5
4.4
4.3
4.1
3.8
South Dakota
3.2
2.1
1.2
2.3
2.3
1.3
1.4
0.9
0.9
2.5
1.4
1.4
1.2
Colorado
3.2
3.1
3.3
3.7
4.4
3.9
4
3.6
3.1
4.6
4.6
4
4.7
Washington
2.9
2.7
3
3.3
3.1
3
3
3
3.3
3
3.9
4.3
4.6
Rhode Island
2.8
1.8
2.6
3.2
2.4
2.3
3.8
3.7
4.3
3.6
2.4
2.5
2.5
Vermont
2.7
1.9
1.9
1.3
2.6
2.3
2.1
1.1
1.5
2.9
2.6
1.5
1.9
Wisconsin
2.6
3.3
3
3.5
2.8
3.3
2.8
3.6
3.2
3.4
3.6
4
4.2
Massachusetts
2.6
2.9
2.9
2.7
2.6
2.2
2.7
2.3
2
2
2
1.9
2.6
Iowa
2.5
1.2
1.8
1.3
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.9
1.8
1.9
Maine
2.4
1.6
1.7
1.4
1.4
1.2
1.1
1.4
1.2
2.2
2
2
2
Montana
2.4
1.5
1.8
1.9
3.2
3.3
1.8
3.8
1.8
2.6
4.1
4.8
3.9
Oregon
2.2
1.9
2.3
2.2
2.5
1.9
2
2.4
2
2.7
3.8
2.9
4
Minnesota
2.1
2.2
2.4
2.2
2.2
2.5
2.2
2.4
3.1
2.8
2.6
2.8
3.6
Hawaii
1.9
1.7
1.6
1.9
2.6
1.7
1.9
2.6
2.9
3.7
2
4
3.4
Wyoming
1.9
3.1
1.7
2.7
2.2
2.8
3
1.8
2.4
2.3
4.8
3.5
3.3
Idaho
1.5
3.3
2.5
2.4
2.2
1.8
2.7
2.3
1.2
2
2.9
3.2
3.6
Utah
1.4
2.2
1.8
2.3
1.9
2.5
2
3
1.9
2.1
3.1
2.4
3.2
New Hampshire
1
1.1
1
1.4
1.4
1.4
0.9
1.4
1.8
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.7
North Dakota
0.5
1.9
1.3
1.1
1.4
1.9
0.8
1.1
0.6
1.6
1.1
0.9
2.2
For 2008, the average Murder Rate of Death Penalty States was 5.2, while the average Murder Rate of States without the Death Penalty was 3.3
For a weighted average which takes into account the population of each state, see additional murder rate data.
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 |
| 7.9 | 8.6 | 9 | 9.4 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 9 | 9.8 | 10.2 | 9.8 | 9.1 |
| 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
| 8.3 | 7.9 | 8 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 9.4 | 9.8 | 9.3 | 9.5 | 9 | 8.2 |
| 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| 7.4 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.4 |