Murder rate drops to lowest level since 1900 across major US cities nationwide - Murders across the U.S. dropped last year to a historic low, according to researchers, marking a dramatic turnaround after violent crime surged in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and as left-wing leaders espoused ideas like defunding their police departments and releasing repeat offenders without bail.
The Council on Criminal Justice reports a 21% drop in homicides across 35-40 major U.S. cities in 2025, marking the largest one-year decline and the lowest murder rate since 1900, with federal law-enforcement interventions credited by Trump administration officials.
Overview
The Council on Criminal Justice found a 21% decline in homicides across 35-40 major cities in 2025, with 11 of 13 crime categories falling and nine dropping by 10% or more.
Officials and Trump administration figures credited federal crackdowns, increased arrests and targeted operations for driving historic declines, citing programs like Operation Summer Heat.
Cities such as Denver (41% drop), Washington, D.C. and Omaha (40% each) reported the largest homicide declines; a few cities, including Little Rock, Fort Worth and Milwaukee, saw increases.
Other offenses fell sharply in 2025: robberies down 23%, gun assaults down 22%, carjackings down 43%, while drug crimes rose 7% as the sole increasing category.
Researchers noted declines began earlier in the decade; CCJ and Major Cities Chiefs Association data show consecutive annual homicide decreases since 2022, and FBI national figures for 2025 are pending.
Analysis
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FAQ
Homicides dropped by 21% across 35 major US cities in 2025 compared to 2024, representing about 922 fewer homicides.
Denver saw a 41% drop, while Washington, D.C. and Omaha each saw 40% drops in homicides.
Robberies fell 23%, gun assaults 22%, carjackings 43%, aggravated assaults 9%, with 11 of 13 crime categories declining overall.
The 2025 homicide rate is the lowest since 1900, marking the largest single-year percentage drop on record.
Researchers note multiple factors including criminal justice policies, crime-fighting technologies, economy, and societal norms; Trump officials credit federal interventions like deportations and law enforcement support.
