The nationwide murder rate fell dramatically in 2025 — in what’s likely the largest single-year drop ever recorded, according to new crime data.
Killings in the US plunged nearly 20% compared to last year, following a COVID-era spike in violence, according to the Real-Time Crime Index.
In total, there were 5,912 murders recorded in the US between January and October 2025, compared to 7,369 during the same time period in 2024.
“[It’s a] remarkable drop in crime,” crime data analyst Jeff Asher noted.
“[It] almost certainly fell at a historic clip in 2025, led by the largest one-year drop in murder ever recorded,” the co-founder of data analytics firm, AH Datalytics, added.
The positive trend includes a more than 20% decline in New York City, a 28% drop in Chicago and a nearly 28% plunge in Washington, DC, where President Trump oversaw a massive crime crackdown.
Murder in Los Angeles County also fell by nearly 19% along with a 7.5% decrease in New Orleans.
Meanwhile, mass murders in the US also fell in 2025, reaching their lowest level since 2006, according to the index, which compiles data from 570 law enforcement agencies.
The data tracking site doesn’t log manslaughter, self-defense, or “accidental killings” cases as murder.
By contrast, the murder rate declined roughly 15% from 2023 to 2024, according to the data.
Other crimes dropped as well this year, with motor vehicle thefts plunging 23% and aggravated assault dropping roughly 8 %Crime rates have ultimately been declining since 2021, according to data from the FBI.
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