In 2025, the United States saw the sharpest one‑year drop in murder rates in modern history, according to new data from the Real‑Time Crime Index.
Between January and October, 5,912 people were killed in homicides, down 20 percent from the 7,369 murders recorded in the same period of 2024.
“[It’s a] remarkable drop in crime,” said Jeff Asher, a crime‑data analyst.
“The data almost certainly fell at a historic clip in 2025, led by the largest one‑year drop in murder ever recorded,” added a co‑founder of AH Datalytics.
The nationwide trend mirrors the improvements in major cities. New York City’s homicide rate fell more than 20 percent, Chicago’s dropped 28 percent, and Washington, D.C. experienced a 28 percent decline, in part due to a broad crime‑control push overseen by President Trump. Los Angeles County saw a 19 percent reduction, while New Orleans logged a 7.5 percent fall.
Mass murders—defined in the index as incidents involving four or more victims—also reached their lowest level since 2006. The Real‑Time Crime Index aggregates information from 570 law‑enforcement agencies across the country, but it does not count manslaughter, self‑defense, or accidental killings as murder.
The trend isn’t limited to homicides. Motor‑vehicle thefts fell 23 percent, and aggravated assaults dropped roughly 8 percent, marking a broader decline in violent and property crime. According to FBI crime‑trend data, overall crime rates have been trending downward since 2021.
In the years before 2025, the murder rate had already seen a 15 percent drop between 2023 and 2024. These latest figures suggest that the momentum toward lower violence and crime rates is continuing.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
