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Murder Rate by State, 1990 to 2024

Louisiana has had the highest murder rate of any state every year from 1990 to 2024, at 10.8 per 100,000 in 2024 against 5.0 nationally.

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What the data shows

  • In 2024, Louisiana ranks #1 with 10.8, ahead of New Mexico (10.5) and Alabama (8.7).
  • Louisiana holds #1 for the whole period, 1990 to 2024.
  • Biggest climber: New Mexico, from #11 in 1990 to #2 in 2024.

About this chart

Louisiana has ranked first for murder rate in every year of this series. Its rate peaked at 20.3 per 100,000 in 1993, climbed back to 19.6 in 2021 and fell to 10.8 in 2024. New Mexico, at 12.9 in 2021, moved into second place that year and has stayed in the top two since, reaching 10.5 in 2024. The 2024 top five also includes Alabama (8.7), Tennessee (7.9) and Missouri (7.8). In 1991 Texas (15.3) and New York (14.2) were right behind Louisiana (16.9); by 2024 they were at 5.2 and 2.7.

The rate is murder and nonnegligent manslaughter per 100,000 residents as defined by the FBI, which differs from CDC homicide deaths. The FBI's move to NIBRS reporting in 2021 makes 2021 and 2022 less comparable with earlier years. The national rate was 6.8 in 2021 and 5.0 in 2024. Small states such as New Mexico jump around because counts are small. The District of Columbia is excluded (25.5 in 2024), and 2025 is not shown.

The data

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting estimated state murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rates per 100,000 residents. 1990-2017: FBI-published state tables as reproduced on DisasterCenter.com (published rate where consistent with count / population, cross-checked against the FBI Crime Data Explorer API); 2018-2024: FBI Summary Reporting System estimated-crimes file as tabulated on Wikipedia (List of U.S. states by intentional homicide rate). 12 states selected: highest in any year plus the 2024 top states.. Retrieved November 4, 2026. 50 states only; District of Columbia is excluded (its murder rate is far above every state: 41.0 in 2021, 25.5 in 2024). Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter as defined by the FBI, not CDC homicide deaths. The FBI's move to NIBRS in 2021 makes 2021-2022 estimates less comparable with earlier years. 2025 not shown (official FBI state estimates not confirmed). Small states (e.g. New Mexico) jump around year to year because counts are small.

Murder Rate by State, Murders per 100,000 residents, 1990-2024, 1990–2024
DateLouisianaMississippiMarylandNew MexicoMissouriAlabamaSouth CarolinaTennesseeArkansasNevadaTexasNew York
199017.212.211.59.28.811.611.210.510.39.714.114.5
199116.912.811.710.510.511.511.311.011.111.815.314.2
199217.412.212.18.910.511.010.410.410.810.912.713.2
199320.313.512.78.011.311.610.310.210.210.411.913.3
199419.815.311.610.710.511.99.69.312.011.711.011.1
199517.012.911.88.88.811.27.910.610.410.79.08.5
199617.511.111.611.58.110.49.09.58.713.77.77.4
199715.713.19.97.77.99.98.49.59.911.26.86.0
199812.811.410.010.97.38.18.08.57.99.76.85.1
199910.77.79.09.86.67.96.67.15.69.16.15.0
200012.59.08.17.46.27.45.87.26.36.55.95.0
200111.29.98.35.46.68.58.17.45.58.66.25.0
200213.29.29.48.25.86.87.37.35.28.46.04.8
200313.09.39.56.25.16.67.36.86.68.86.44.9
200412.77.89.48.96.15.66.86.16.47.46.14.6
200510.07.49.97.56.98.27.47.26.88.56.14.5
200612.37.79.76.86.38.38.36.87.39.05.94.8
200714.27.19.88.26.58.98.06.46.77.55.94.2
200812.28.08.77.57.77.66.86.65.76.35.64.3
200911.86.67.79.96.56.86.77.46.25.95.44.0
201011.06.97.46.87.05.75.75.64.65.84.94.5
201111.17.86.87.66.16.26.86.05.55.14.43.9
201210.67.16.35.66.57.17.06.25.94.54.43.5
201310.77.36.55.96.17.26.45.25.35.84.33.3
201410.28.76.14.86.75.76.75.65.96.04.43.1
201510.58.59.05.68.37.28.36.36.36.24.83.1
201611.88.08.06.78.88.47.47.37.37.65.33.2
201712.36.49.36.99.88.67.68.08.38.95.02.8
201811.47.28.17.39.87.88.17.57.46.74.62.9
201911.710.09.08.89.47.98.87.57.84.74.92.9
202015.810.69.17.811.89.610.59.610.65.76.64.2
202119.69.311.012.910.29.411.410.211.07.67.14.4
202216.17.88.512.010.110.911.28.610.26.86.74.0
202314.67.28.711.89.410.58.910.09.67.36.13.3
202410.87.47.210.57.88.77.57.97.36.15.22.7

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Frequently asked questions

Which state has the highest murder rate?

Louisiana, at 10.8 murders per 100,000 residents in 2024, followed by New Mexico (10.5), Alabama (8.7), Tennessee (7.9) and Missouri (7.8). Louisiana has been first in every year since 1990.

What is the U.S. murder rate?

The FBI's national rate was 5.0 per 100,000 in 2024, down from 6.8 in 2021.

When did Louisiana's murder rate peak?

In 1993, at 20.3 per 100,000. It reached 19.6 in 2021, then dropped to 10.8 by 2024.

Where does this data come from?

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting estimated state murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rates per 100,000 residents. 1990-2017: FBI-published state tables as reproduced on DisasterCenter.com (published rate where consistent with count / population, cross-checked against the FBI Crime Data Explorer API); 2018-2024: FBI Summary Reporting System estimated-crimes file as tabulated on Wikipedia (List of U.S. states by intentional homicide rate). 12 states selected: highest in any year plus the 2024 top states.. Retrieved November 4, 2026. 50 states only; District of Columbia is excluded (its murder rate is far above every state: 41.0 in 2021, 25.5 in 2024). Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter as defined by the FBI, not CDC homicide deaths. The FBI's move to NIBRS in 2021 makes 2021-2022 estimates less comparable with earlier years. 2025 not shown (official FBI state estimates not confirmed). Small states (e.g. New Mexico) jump around year to year because counts are small. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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