In early 2026, the United States has seen a significant drop in its murder rate, reaching levels not seen in over a century. Killings decreased by 18.7 percent in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. This continues a downward trend that began recently, with homicides falling by about 18.1 percent in 2025, the largest yearly decrease since 1937.
Experts believe the 2025 murder rate was around 4.0 to 4.1 per 100,000 people, possibly the lowest since 1900. Crime data analyst Jeff Asher noted that 2025 likely had the lowest murder rate ever recorded by the FBI since 1960. He also suggested that the rate might fall even lower in 2026.
This positive trend is becoming visible earlier due to faster reporting from over 17,000 police agencies. The reduction in violence is widespread, affecting cities, suburbs, and rural areas. For example, Washington D.C. experienced a nearly 65 percent drop in homicides in the first quarter of 2026. Property crimes and theft also decreased significantly between 2024 and 2025.
Experts suggest several reasons for this improvement, including the return to normal routines after the COVID-19 pandemic and increased community violence intervention programs. Federal funding has supported these local efforts. While the situation has improved greatly since the pandemic's peak, challenges remain, and the U.S. murder rate is still higher than in neighboring countries like Canada.