Violent crime rates saw a significant drop across the United States from 2024 to 2025, with murder rates plummeting by over 18%. This decline in major crime categories marks one of the most substantial reductions in nearly a century, according to data released by the FBI.
The statistics are part of the FBI’s preliminary annual crime trends report, titled “First Look: 2025 Crime Data.” This report offers an expedited overview of crime trends, providing insights ahead of the comprehensive “Crime in the Nation” report expected later in the year.
Beyond the reduction in homicides, the report highlighted a notable decrease in robberies, which dropped by an estimated 18.5%. Additionally, both rapes and aggravated assaults experienced a 7% decline.
“The 2025 crime data reveals the most significant reduction in violent crime and murder since 1937, along with substantial decreases in aggravated assault, rape, and robbery,” stated FBI Director Kash Patel.
FBI Director Kash Patel expressed his approval of the downward trend in violent crime, describing it as part of an “early look” at emerging crime trends.
“In the past 14 months, we’ve implemented major changes at the FBI, and these results confirm that our efforts are effective,” Patel noted in a statement. “Under President Trump, we remain committed to supporting law enforcement and delivering positive outcomes for the American public.”
Property crime, which includes offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson, dropped by an estimated 12.4%, the FBI said. This year’s report used data shared by roughly 17,075 law enforcement agencies — 2.4% more agencies than last year — across the U.S., accounting for nearly 96% of U.S. residents, the FBI said.
The report found that 53 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2025, down from 64 in 2024. More than 90,000 were assaulted and 28 were accidentally killed, the FBI said.
Meanwhile, nearly 414,000 arrests were made for violent crimes and another 868,000 for property crimes. The FBI noted that a murder in the U.S. occurred every 37.3 minutes and a violent crime happened every 28.2 seconds.
Meanwhile, a quarterly report released by the Major Cities Chiefs Association said violent crime fell across large U.S. cities in the first months of 2026.
The FBI director said 2025 crime data in a report released Thursday shows the single largest decrease in violent crime and murder since 1937. (Getty Images)
Data collected from 67 responding U.S. police agencies found that homicides fell 17.7%, alongside a 20.4% drop for robberies from Jan. 1 through March 31. Some of the agencies include police departments in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and Philadelphia.
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