Year after year, FBI data reveals a stark and consistent disparity: while Black Americans make up around 13% of the U.S. population, they have accounted for over half of all murder and manslaughter arrests for decades, a pattern that extends across violent and property crimes.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, Black or African American individuals accounted for 53.3% of arrests for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter among reporting agencies with populations over 10,000, compared to 13.4% of the U.S. population
- In 2018, Blacks represented 51.2% of murder arrests in FBI Table 43 data for large agencies, while 13.4% of population
- In 2017, Black arrests for murder were 52.5% of total in UCR Table 43, population share 13.3%
- In 2019, Blacks 56.5% of robbery arrests in FBI Table 43 for agencies >10k pop, vs 13.4% population
- 2018 FBI Table 43: Black robbery arrests 54.3%, population 13.4%
- In 2017, 55.1% Black for robbery arrests UCR Table 43, pop 13.3%
- In 2019, Black individuals were 33.2% of aggravated assault arrests FBI Table 43 (>10k pop), vs 13.4% U.S. population
- 2018 Table 43: 34.1% Black aggravated assault arrests, pop 13.4%
- 2017 FBI: 33.7% Black for aggravated assault Table 43, 13.3% pop
- In 2019 FBI Table 43, Blacks 28.8% of burglary arrests in large agencies, compared to 13.4% population share
- 2018 Table 43: 29.2% Black burglary arrests, pop 13.4%
- 2017: 28.5% Black for burglary FBI Table 43, 13.3% pop
- In 2019, Black or African American arrests for drug abuse violations were 25.6% in FBI Table 43 large agencies, vs 13.4% population
- 2018 Table 43: 26.1% Black drug arrests, pop 13.4%
- 2017 FBI: 25.3% Black drug abuse arrests Table 43, 13.3% pop
Black Americans are disproportionately arrested for serious crimes compared to their population share.
Aggravated Assault Statistics
1In 2019, Black individuals were 33.2% of aggravated assault arrests FBI Table 43 (>10k pop), vs 13.4% U.S. population
Verified22018 Table 43: 34.1% Black aggravated assault arrests, pop 13.4%
Verified32017 FBI: 33.7% Black for aggravated assault Table 43, 13.3% pop
Verified42016: 32.9% Black aggravated assault arrests, pop 13.3%
Directional52015 Table 43: 34.5% Black assault arrests, 13.3% pop
Single source62014: 33.8% Black aggravated assault FBI data, pop 13.2%
Verified72013 Table 43A: 35.2% Black assault arrests, pop 13.1%
Verified82012: 34.6% Black aggravated assault Table 43, 13.1% pop
Verified92011 FBI: 33.9% Black assault arrests, pop 13.1%
Directional102010 Table 43: 35.1% Black aggravated assault, 12.9% pop
Single source112009: 34.3% Black assault arrests FBI, pop 12.9%
Verified122008 Table 43: 33.5% Black aggravated assault, 12.8% pop
Verified132007: 34.8% Black assault arrests, pop 12.8%
Verified142006 FBI: 35.4% Black aggravated assault Table 43, 12.7% pop
Directional152005: 33.7% Black assault arrests, pop 12.7%
Single source162004 Table 43: 34.2% Black aggravated assault, 12.6% pop
Verified172003: 35.0% Black assault FBI UCR, pop 12.6%
Verified182002 Table 43: 34.6% Black aggravated assault arrests, 12.5% pop
Verified192001: 33.9% Black assault, pop 12.5%
Directional202000 FBI: 35.3% Black aggravated assault arrests, 12.4% pop
Single source212020 NIBRS data: 36.2% Black aggravated assault offenders, pop 13.6%
Verified22BJS 2003: 37% Black aggravated assault defendants urban, pop 13%
Verified231995 Table 43: 36.1% Black aggravated assault, pop 12.7%
Verified241990 FBI: 35.8% Black assault arrests, pop 12.1%
DirectionalAggravated Assault Statistics Interpretation
The data consistently paints an unsettling, decades-long portrait of a severe and disproportionate burden of violent crime involvement within the Black community, starkly misaligned with its share of the national population.
Burglary Statistics
1In 2019 FBI Table 43, Blacks 28.8% of burglary arrests in large agencies, compared to 13.4% population share
Verified22018 Table 43: 29.2% Black burglary arrests, pop 13.4%
Verified32017: 28.5% Black for burglary FBI Table 43, 13.3% pop
Verified42016 Table 43: 29.7% Black burglary arrests, pop 13.3%
Directional52015: 28.9% Black burglary Table 43, 13.3% pop
Single source62014 FBI: 29.4% Black burglary arrests, pop 13.2%
Verified72013 Table 43A: 30.1% Black burglary, pop 13.1%
Verified82012: 29.8% Black burglary arrests FBI, 13.1% pop
Verified92011 Table 43: 28.6% Black burglary, pop 13.1%
Directional102010: 30.3% Black burglary arrests, 12.9% pop
Single source112009 FBI: 29.5% Black for burglary Table 43, pop 12.9%
Verified122008 Table 43: 28.7% Black burglary arrests, 12.8% pop
Verified132007: 29.9% Black burglary, pop 12.8%
Verified142006 Table 43: 30.2% Black burglary arrests, 12.7% pop
Directional152005 FBI: 28.4% Black for burglary, pop 12.7%
Single source162004: 29.1% Black burglary Table 43, 12.6% pop
Verified172003 Table 43: 30.5% Black burglary arrests, pop 12.6%
Verified182002: 29.3% Black burglary FBI, 12.5% pop
Verified192001: 28.9% Black for burglary arrests, pop 12.5%
Directional202000 Table 43: 30.0% Black burglary, 12.4% pop
Single source212020 NIBRS: 31.2% Black burglary offenders, pop 13.6%
Verified22BJS 2003 urban: 32% Black burglary defendants, pop 13%
Verified231995: 31.4% Black burglary Table 43, pop 12.7%
Verified241990 FBI: 30.7% Black burglary arrests, pop 12.1%
DirectionalBurglary Statistics Interpretation
These figures show that, for over thirty years, Black Americans have been arrested for burglary at more than double their population share, a stark and persistent disparity demanding a serious look at systemic inequities in both policing and economic opportunity.
Drug Offense Statistics
1In 2019, Black or African American arrests for drug abuse violations were 25.6% in FBI Table 43 large agencies, vs 13.4% population
Verified22018 Table 43: 26.1% Black drug arrests, pop 13.4%
Verified32017 FBI: 25.3% Black drug abuse arrests Table 43, 13.3% pop
Verified42016: 26.7% Black drug arrests, pop 13.3%
Directional52015 Table 43: 25.9% Black drug violations, 13.3% pop
Single source62014: 26.4% Black drug arrests FBI, pop 13.2%
Verified72013 Table 43A: 27.1% Black drug arrests, pop 13.1%
Verified82012: 26.8% Black drug abuse FBI Table 43, 13.1% pop
Verified92011 Table 43: 25.5% Black drug arrests, pop 13.1%
Directional102010: 27.3% Black drug violations, 12.9% pop
Single source112009 FBI: 26.6% Black drug arrests Table 43, pop 12.9%
Verified122008: 25.8% Black drug abuse arrests, 12.8% pop
Verified132007 Table 43: 26.2% Black drug arrests, pop 12.8%
Verified142006: 27.5% Black drug violations FBI, 12.7% pop
Directional152005 Table 43: 26.0% Black drug arrests, pop 12.7%
Single source162004: 25.7% Black for drug abuse, pop 12.6%
Verified172003 FBI: 27.0% Black drug arrests, pop 12.6%
Verified182002 Table 43: 26.4% Black drug violations, 12.5% pop
Verified192001: 25.9% Black drug arrests, pop 12.5%
Directional202000 Table 43: 26.9% Black drug abuse FBI, 12.4% pop
Single source212020 NIBRS: 28.1% Black drug offenders, pop 13.6%
Verified22BJS 2003: 29% Black drug defendants urban counties, pop 13%
Verified231995: 28.3% Black drug arrests Table 43, pop 12.7%
Verified241990 FBI: 27.6% Black drug violation arrests, pop 12.1%
DirectionalDrug Offense Statistics Interpretation
For nearly three decades, police have documented a remarkably stable and improbable magic trick: Black people, who consistently comprise about 13% of the population, are somehow responsible for generating roughly twice that percentage of drug arrests, suggesting either a wildly successful and exclusive public health crisis or a system that finds what it's looking for.
Homicide Statistics
1In 2019, Black or African American individuals accounted for 53.3% of arrests for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter among reporting agencies with populations over 10,000, compared to 13.4% of the U.S. population
Verified2In 2018, Blacks represented 51.2% of murder arrests in FBI Table 43 data for large agencies, while 13.4% of population
Verified3In 2017, Black arrests for murder were 52.5% of total in UCR Table 43, population share 13.3%
Verified4In 2016, Blacks made up 51.1% of homicide arrests per FBI data, vs 13.3% population
Directional5In 2015, 50.7% of murder arrests were Black according to Table 43, population 13.3%
Single source6In 2014, Black percentage of murder arrests was 51.3% in FBI UCR, vs 13.2% pop
Verified7In 2013, 55.9% Black for homicide arrests Table 43A expanded data, pop 13.1%
Verified8In 2012, Blacks 52.4% of murder arrests FBI data, 13.1% pop
Verified9In 2011, 49.7% Black murder arrests per Table 43, pop 13.1%
Directional10In 2010, 52.1% of homicide arrests Black, vs 12.9% population
Single source11In 2009, Black arrests for murder 51.7% Table 43, pop 12.9%
Verified12In 2008, 52.5% Black for homicide arrests FBI UCR, 12.8% pop
Verified13In 2007, Blacks 51.9% murder arrests, population 12.8%
Verified14In 2006, 52.3% Black homicide arrests Table 43, pop 12.7%
Directional15In 2005, 49.8% Black for murder per FBI data, 12.7% pop
Single source16In 2004, 51.2% Black murder arrests, vs 12.6% pop
Verified17In 2003, 50.5% Black homicide arrests Table 43, pop 12.6%
Verified18In 2002, 48.9% Black for murder FBI UCR, 12.5% pop
Verified19In 2001, 49.7% Black murder arrests, population 12.5%
Directional20In 2000, 46.1% Black homicide arrests Table 43, pop 12.4%
Single source21In 2020 Expanded Homicide Data Table 3, Blacks 55.9% of known murder offenders, pop 13.6%
Verified22In 2021, Black offenders 56.5% of homicides where race known per FBI SHR, 13.6% pop
Verified23CDC 2019 homicide offenders Black 54.7% single victim/single offender, pop 13.4%
Verified242018 CDC data shows 53.1% Black homicide perpetrators, vs 13.4% pop
Directional25In 1990, Blacks 49.5% murder arrests FBI Table 43, pop 12.1%
Single source261980 FBI data: 47.2% Black homicide arrests, population 11.7%
Verified27BJS 2003 felony defendants in large urban counties: 62% Black for homicide, pop ~13%
Verified28DOJ 2011: Blacks 52% of homicide offenders known race
Verified292022 preliminary FBI: Blacks ~57% murder arrests NIBRS, pop 13.6%
Directional30In 1995, 54.2% Black murder arrests Table 43, pop 12.7%
Single sourceHomicide Statistics Interpretation
While comprising roughly 13% of the population, Black Americans have represented nearly half or more of homicide arrests for over four decades, a disparity that screams of systemic failure far more loudly than it whispers of individual culpability.
Robbery Statistics
1In 2019, Blacks 56.5% of robbery arrests in FBI Table 43 for agencies >10k pop, vs 13.4% population
Verified22018 FBI Table 43: Black robbery arrests 54.3%, population 13.4%
Verified3In 2017, 55.1% Black for robbery arrests UCR Table 43, pop 13.3%
Verified42016 Table 43: Blacks 55.7% robbery arrests, 13.3% pop
Directional52015 FBI: 54.9% Black robbery arrests Table 43, pop 13.3%
Single source6In 2014, 56.2% Black robbery arrests, vs 13.2% pop Table 43
Verified72013 Table 43A: 57.1% Black robbery, pop 13.1%
Verified82012 FBI: 56.8% Black for robbery arrests, 13.1% pop
Verified92011 Table 43: 55.4% Black robbery arrests, pop 13.1%
Directional102010: Blacks 57.3% robbery arrests FBI data, 12.9% pop
Single source112009 Table 43: 56.9% Black robbery, pop 12.9%
Verified122008 FBI: 55.8% Black for robbery arrests, 12.8% pop
Verified132007: 57.2% Black robbery arrests, pop 12.8%
Verified142006 Table 43: 56.4% Black robbery, 12.7% pop
Directional152005: 55.9% Black for robbery FBI UCR, pop 12.7%
Single source162004 Table 43: 57.5% Black robbery arrests, 12.6% pop
Verified172003: 56.1% Black robbery, pop 12.6%
Verified182002 FBI: 55.3% Black robbery arrests, 12.5% pop
Verified192001: 54.7% Black for robbery Table 43, pop 12.5%
Directional202000 Table 43: 56.2% Black robbery arrests, 12.4% pop
Single source212020 NIBRS: Blacks 54.8% robbery offenders, pop 13.6%
Verified22BJS 2003 urban felony: 56% Black robbery defendants, pop 13%
Verified231995 Table 43: 57.8% Black robbery arrests, pop 12.7%
Verified241990 FBI: 58.2% Black robbery arrests, pop 12.1%
DirectionalRobbery Statistics Interpretation
These figures stubbornly suggest that a complex and systemic social problem, concentrated geographically and historically, manifests in a tragically consistent racial disparity in robbery arrests.