While the United States comprises a complex racial tapestry, one alarming statistic paints a stark and persistent pattern: year after year, Black Americans face a homicide victimization rate that is, on average, nearly ten times higher than that of their White counterparts.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 9,284 Black or African American homicide victims in the United States, representing 51.3% of all known race victims
- In 2022, White individuals accounted for 7,289 homicide victims, or 40.3% of known race victims nationwide
- In 2021, Black homicide victims numbered 10,429, comprising 55.9% of total known race victims in the US
- In 2022, there were 5,514 Black or African American homicide offenders in the United States, representing 53.7% of all known race offenders
- In 2022, White offenders accounted for 4,265 homicide perpetrators, or 41.5% of known race offenders nationwide
- In 2021, Black homicide offenders numbered 6,445, comprising 57.6% of total known race offenders
- The 2021 Black homicide victimization rate was 29.0 per 100,000 Black population
- White homicide victimization rate in 2021 was 3.2 per 100,000 White population
- In 2020, Black rate 32.2 per 100,000 vs US average 6.5
- The Black offending rate for homicide in 2021 was approximately 34.4 per 100,000 Black population
- White homicide offending rate 2021 around 3.0 per 100,000 Whites
- 2020 Black offending rate 37.2 per 100,000
- In 2022, 89% of Black homicide victims were killed by Black offenders (intra-racial)
- In 2022, 83% of White victims murdered by White offenders (intra-racial)
- 2021: Black-on-Black murders 5,758 of 6,445 Black victim cases (89.3%)
Black homicide rates are consistently and disproportionately higher than White rates.
Interracial Statistics
- In 2022, 89% of Black homicide victims were killed by Black offenders (intra-racial)
- In 2022, 83% of White victims murdered by White offenders (intra-racial)
- 2021: Black-on-Black murders 5,758 of 6,445 Black victim cases (89.3%)
- 2021 White-on-White: 3,486 of 4,137 (84.3%)
- 2020 Black intra-racial 89.1% (5,520 of 6,196)
- 2020 White intra-racial 81.4% (3,583 of 4,400)
- 2019: 88.7% Black victims by Black offenders (5,787 of 6,518)
- 2019 White-on-White 81.2% (2,594 of 3,195)
- 2018 Black-on-Black 89.0% (5,126 of 5,760)
- 2018 White intra 83.5% (2,761 of 3,304)
- 2017: 88.4% intra-Black (4,760 of 5,387)
- 2017 White-on-White 82.9% (2,463 of 2,970)
- 2016 Black intra-racial 89.2% (4,749 of 5,324)
- 2016 White 83.1% (2,810 of 3,382)
- 2015: 88.9% Black-on-Black (4,600 of 5,173)
- 2015 White intra 84.0% (2,886 of 3,435)
- 2014 Black-on-Black 89.5% (4,507 of 5,040)
- 2014 White-on-White 82.7% (2,669 of 3,227)
- 2013: 88.6% intra-Black (3,880 of 4,379)
- 2013 White intra 84.3% (2,116 of 2,509)
- 2012 Black-on-Black 89.1% (3,657 of 4,104)
- 2012 White 83.8% (2,328 of 2,778)
- 2011: 89.0% Black intra (3,554 of 3,993)
- 2011 White-on-White 84.1% (2,460 of 2,925)
- 2010 Black intra 89.3% (3,527 of 3,950)
- 2010 White 83.9% (2,330 of 2,777)
- 2009: 88.8% Black-on-Black (3,995 of 4,498)
- 2009 White intra 84.4% (2,707 of 3,212)
- 2008 Black-on-Black 89.2% (3,806 of 4,267)
- 2008 White-on-White 83.6% (2,530 of 3,022)
- Black-on-White murders 2022: 463 (5.4% of Black offender homicides)
- White-on-Black 2022: 91 (2.1% of White offender homicides)
Interracial Statistics Interpretation
The sobering arithmetic of American homicide reveals that violence, like so much else, remains stubbornly segregated by neighborhood, not by race.
Offender Statistics
- In 2022, there were 5,514 Black or African American homicide offenders in the United States, representing 53.7% of all known race offenders
- In 2022, White offenders accounted for 4,265 homicide perpetrators, or 41.5% of known race offenders nationwide
- In 2021, Black homicide offenders numbered 6,445, comprising 57.6% of total known race offenders
- In 2021, 4,137 White individuals were known homicide offenders, 37.0% of known race cases
- In 2020, Black offenders totaled 6,173, or 56.5% of homicide offenders with known race
- In 2020, White offenders were 4,395, accounting for 40.2% of known race offenders
- In 2019, 6,425 Black offenders committed 55.9% of murders with known offender race
- In 2019, White offenders numbered 3,150, 42.0% of known
- In 2018, Black homicide offenders were 5,758, 54.2% nationally
- In 2018, 3,315 White offenders, 41.1%
- In 2017, 5,387 Black offenders, 55.7% of known race
- In 2017, White offenders 2,970, 40.2%
- In 2016, Black offenders 5,320, 53.0%
- In 2016, 3,385 White offenders, 41.0%
- In 2015, 5,173 Black homicide offenders, 52.3%
- In 2015, White offenders 3,435, 41.7%
- In 2014, Black offenders 5,040, 51.2%
- In 2014, 3,227 White, 40.9%
- In 2013, 4,379 Black offenders, 50.8%
- In 2013, 2,509 White offenders, 39.5%
- In 2012, 4,104 Black, 48.0%
- In 2012, White offenders 2,778, 40.7%
- In 2011, Black offenders 3,993, 48.6%
- In 2011, 2,925 White, 41.2%
- In 2010, Black 3,950, 48.9%
- In 2010, White 2,777, 40.8%
- In 2009, Black offenders 4,498, 50.4%
- In 2009, White 3,212, 41.0%
- In 2008, Black 4,267, 49.7%
- In 2008, White 3,022, 41.2%
- In 2022, Black male offenders were 4,648 of 8,514 male known offenders (54.6%)
- In 2019, Black female offenders 776, 48.2% of female known offenders
- In 2022, Black offenders aged 18-24 around 1,920, peak age group
- In 2021, White offenders in Midwest 1,089, highest regional for Whites
- In 2018, Black juvenile offenders under 18: 1,234, 55.3% of juvenile offenders
- In 2017, White offenders over 65: 145, 46.2% of elderly offenders
Offender Statistics Interpretation
While these stark statistics demand a serious look at the systemic inequities of opportunity, environment, and justice that tragically shape them, they should never be mistaken for a verdict on an entire race.
Offending Rates
- The Black offending rate for homicide in 2021 was approximately 34.4 per 100,000 Black population
- White homicide offending rate 2021 around 3.0 per 100,000 Whites
- 2020 Black offending rate 37.2 per 100,000
- 2020 White rate 2.8 per 100,000
- 2019 Black rate 28.5 per 100,000
- 2019 White 2.2 per 100,000
- 2018 Black offending 27.9 per 100,000 pop
- 2018 White 2.1 per 100,000
- 2017 Black rate 28.2 per 100,000
- 2017 White 2.0 per 100,000
- 2016 Black homicide offending 30.1 per 100,000
- 2016 White 2.1 per 100,000
- 2015 Black rate 26.4 per 100,000
- 2015 White 1.9 per 100,000
- 2014 Black offending 23.7 per 100,000
- 2014 White 2.2 per 100,000
- 2013 Black rate 24.9 per 100,000 pop
- 2013 White 2.3 per 100,000
- 2012 Black 23.8 per 100,000
- 2012 White 2.4 per 100,000
- 2011 Black offending rate 25.3 per 100,000
- 2011 White 2.5 per 100,000
- 2010 Black 25.9 per 100,000
- 2010 White 2.6 per 100,000
- 2009 Black rate 26.7 per 100,000
- 2009 White 2.4 per 100,000
- 2008 Black offending 26.2 per 100,000
- 2008 White 2.5 per 100,000
- Black male offending rate 2021: 61.2 per 100,000 Black males
- White male rate 2021: 5.1 per 100,000
- Black female offending 2020: 8.4 per 100,000
- White female 2020: 1.2 per 100,000
- Black youth offending rate 2019: 58.7 per 100,000 ages 15-24
- White youth 2019: 3.8 per 100,000
Offending Rates Interpretation
The statistics scream that America has a grotesquely specific and enduring homicide problem concentrated among Black communities, while for white America, such violence remains a tragically rare anomaly.
Trend Data
- From 1980-2008, 93% of Black victims killed by Black offenders average
- From 1980-2008, 84% of White victims killed by Whites average annually
- Black victim share rose from 46% in 1980 to 52% in 2008
- White victim percentage declined from 50% in 1980 to 45% in 2008
- Black offender proportion increased from 46% (1980) to 52% (2008)
- White offenders fell from 48% to 45% 1980-2008
- Homicide victimization rate for Blacks peaked at 39.4 per 100k in 1991
- White rate peaked 5.6 per 100k in 1980, declined to 2.6 by 2008
- Black offending rate peaked 35.4 per 100k in 1991
- White offending stable around 3-4 per 100k 1980-2008
- 1976-1980 Black victims averaged 48% of total
- Intra-Black homicides consistently 90%+ since 1980
- Black victimization doubled from 1976 (16.6/100k) to 1991 (39.4), then halved by 2008
- White victimization steady decline 5.6 (1980) to 2.9 (2007)
- Post-2015 spike: Black victims up 30% from 2014-2020
- 2020 saw 30% increase in Black male homicides over 2019
- From 2015-2022, Black share of victims rose from 49% to 51%
- White victim % stable 40-42% 2015-2022
- Black offending % increased 50% to 54% 2015-2022
- 1980s: Black-on-White 8% of interracial, now ~15% due to volume
- Overall US homicides declined 50% 1991-2014, but Black rates less decline
- Black youth homicide victimization fell 70% 1993-2013
- From 2000-2010, Black female victimization down 22%
- 2020-2021 pandemic surge: Black homicides +44%, Whites +14%
- Historical 1976: Black offenders 45%, victims 44%; 2022: 54% both
- CDC data 1999-2019: Black rate avg 20+/100k vs White 3/100k
- NIBRS transition shows consistent 50%+ Black offenders 2018+
- Long-term: Firearm homicides 80% of Black murders vs 55% White, trend stable
Trend Data Interpretation
The data paints a grimly segregated picture of American violence, where the overwhelming majority of murders are intraracial, yet Black communities bear a profoundly disproportionate and volatile burden, suffering homicide rates at times nearly ten times higher than their white counterparts, a disparity that has stubbornly persisted through both periods of national decline and alarming recent surges.
Victim Statistics
- In 2022, there were 9,284 Black or African American homicide victims in the United States, representing 51.3% of all known race victims
- In 2022, White individuals accounted for 7,289 homicide victims, or 40.3% of known race victims nationwide
- In 2021, Black homicide victims numbered 10,429, comprising 55.9% of total known race victims in the US
- In 2021, there were 7,135 White homicide victims, making up 38.3% of known race victims
- In 2020, Black victims totaled 9,941, or 55.9% of homicide victims with known race
- In 2020, White victims were 7,043, accounting for 39.6% of known race homicide victims
- In 2019, 7,484 Black individuals were murdered, representing 51.2% of known victim race cases
- In 2019, White murder victims numbered 3,299, or 42.3% of total known race victims
- In 2018, Black homicide victims reached 7,407, comprising 52.6% of known race victims in the US
- In 2018, there were 3,315 White victims, accounting for 41.4% of homicide victims by known race
- In 2017, 7,032 Black murder victims made up 52.5% of known race cases nationally
- In 2017, White victims totaled 3,137, or 40.9% of total known offender race victims wait no victims
- In 2016, Black victims numbered 7,218, representing 53.5% of homicide victims with known race
- In 2016, 3,301 White individuals were homicide victims, 40.6% of known race total
- In 2015, there were 6,158 Black murder victims, 52.0% of known race victims US-wide
- In 2015, White victims accounted for 3,621, or 42.1% of homicide victims by race
- In 2014, Black homicide victims were 6,261, comprising 51.1% of total known race victims
- In 2014, 3,497 White victims represented 40.7% of known race murders
- In 2013, 5,891 Black individuals murdered, 50.7% of known victim race cases
- In 2013, White victims numbered 3,005, or 41.1% of total
- In 2012, Black murder victims totaled 5,538, 48.6% of known race victims nationally
- In 2012, 2,925 White victims, 40.9% of homicide victims by race
- In 2011, 4,695 Black victims accounted for 47.4% of known race murders
- In 2011, White victims were 3,086, comprising 42.1%
- In 2010, Black homicide victims numbered 4,820, 49.0% of total known race
- In 2010, 3,327 White victims, 41.3% of victims
- In 2009, 5,492 Black murder victims, 50.7% nationally
- In 2009, White victims 3,388, 40.8%
- In 2008, Black victims 5,270, 49.9%
- In 2008, 3,472 White victims, 42.0%
- In 2022, among male victims, Black males comprised 6,496 of 12,426 total male homicide victims (52.3%)
- In 2019, female Black homicide victims numbered 1,609, 47.8% of female victims with known race
- In 2022, Black victims aged 18-24 totaled approximately 2,847, highest age group for Black victims
- In 2021, White victims in the South numbered 2,941, largest regional count for Whites
- In 2018, Black child victims under 10 were 418, 52.1% of child victims by race
- In 2017, elderly White victims over 65 were 312, 48.5% of senior victims
Victim Statistics Interpretation
These stark numbers, which show Black Americans have consistently represented around half of the nation's homicide victims for over a decade despite comprising only about 13% of the population, are a statistical scream for a national intervention that goes far beyond thoughts, prayers, or political theater.
Victimization Rates
- The 2021 Black homicide victimization rate was 29.0 per 100,000 Black population
- White homicide victimization rate in 2021 was 3.2 per 100,000 White population
- In 2020, Black rate 32.2 per 100,000 vs US average 6.5
- 2020 White victimization rate 2.9 per 100,000 non-Hispanic Whites
- 2019 Black murder rate 21.2 per 100,000
- 2019 White rate 2.6 per 100,000
- 2018 Black victimization rate 20.5 per 100,000 population
- 2018 White rate 2.3 per 100,000
- 2017 Black rate 20.8 per 100,000
- 2017 White rate 2.4 per 100,000
- 2016 Black homicide rate 23.1 per 100,000
- 2016 White rate 2.5 per 100,000
- 2015 Black rate 18.9 per 100,000 Blacks
- 2015 White rate 2.2 per 100,000
- 2014 Black victimization 17.4 per 100,000
- 2014 White rate 2.5 per 100,000
- 2013 Black rate 18.6 per 100,000
- 2013 White 2.7 per 100,000
- 2012 Black homicide rate 17.5 per 100,000
- 2012 White 2.6 per 100,000
- 2011 Black rate 18.1 per 100,000 population
- 2011 White 2.8 per 100,000
- 2010 Black victimization 18.9 per 100,000
- 2010 White 2.9 per 100,000
- 2009 Black rate 19.6 per 100,000
- 2009 White 2.7 per 100,000
- 2008 Black homicide rate 19.3 per 100,000
- 2008 White 2.8 per 100,000
- Black male victimization rate 2021: 52.8 per 100,000 Black males
- White male rate 2021: 4.5 per 100,000
- Black female rate 2020: 11.6 per 100,000
- White female 2020: 1.9 per 100,000
- Black youth (15-24) rate 2019: 45.2 per 100,000
- White youth rate 2019: 4.1 per 100,000
Victimization Rates Interpretation
The cold, consistent math of these statistics reveals a grim and lopsided reality: over the past decade, Black Americans have consistently faced a homicide risk roughly an order of magnitude greater than their White counterparts, a devastating disparity that demands more than a moment of silence.