While over 21,000 lives were tragically lost to homicide in 2022, the story of crime in America is told through a complex web of statistics, from the 77% of murders committed with firearms to the stark disparities across states and cities, and from the relentless threat of robbery and burglary to the ongoing crisis of drug abuse.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 murders and nonnegligent manslaughters, a 0.4% increase from 2021.
- The homicide rate in the US in 2022 was 6.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- In 2021, firearms were used in 77% of all US homicides, totaling approximately 17,000 firearm-related murders.
- In 2022, there were 267,988 reported robberies nationwide, down 1.7% from 2021.
- The robbery rate in the US was 79.7 per 100,000 in 2022.
- California reported 57,855 robberies in 2022.
- In 2022, there were 899,293 burglaries reported in the US, down 0.1% from 2021.
- The burglary rate was 265.3 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022.
- California led with 162,846 burglaries in 2022.
- In 2022, larceny-thefts totaled 5,488,809 incidents nationwide, down 2.4% from 2021.
- Larceny-theft rate was 1,629.9 per 100,000 in 2022.
- California reported 927,489 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- In 2022, there were 355,036 arrests for drug abuse violations nationwide.
- Drug possession arrests were 62% of total drug arrests in 2022.
- Sale/manufacturing arrests 38% of drug violations in 2022.
US crime statistics show stable murder rates but high gun and regional violence.
Burglary
- In 2022, there were 899,293 burglaries reported in the US, down 0.1% from 2021.
- The burglary rate was 265.3 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022.
- California led with 162,846 burglaries in 2022.
- Texas reported 118,415 burglaries in 2022.
- Florida had 80,524 burglaries in 2022.
- New York recorded 25,673 burglaries in 2022.
- Illinois had 34,512 burglaries in 2022.
- Pennsylvania reported 29,987 burglaries in 2022.
- Ohio had 35,672 burglaries in 2022.
- 62% of burglaries occurred in residences in 2022.
- Forced entry was used in 55% of burglaries in 2022.
- Burglary clearance rate was 12.3% in 2022.
- Nighttime burglaries accounted for 56% in 2022.
- Males were 83% of burglary arrests in 2022.
- Ages 25-29 had the highest burglary arrest rates in 2022.
- Los Angeles reported 28,000 burglaries in 2022.
- Burglaries decreased 10% from 2019 to 2022 nationally.
- Non-residential burglaries were 38% of total in 2022.
- South region burglary rate was 280 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Midwest had 192,500 burglaries in 2022.
- Unlawful entry without force was 29% of burglaries in 2022.
- Attempted burglaries were 15% of reported incidents in 2022.
- Houston had 20,500 burglaries in 2022.
- Burglaries with theft over $5,000 were 5% in 2021 NCVS.
- In 2022, New York City had 15,000 burglaries.
- Chicago reported 12,345 burglaries in 2022.
Burglary Interpretation
While America's burglary numbers are cautiously dipping overall, it appears our enterprising criminals still have a clear preference for working the night shift, targeting homes, and, much like the rest of us, struggling to leave their twenties.
Drug Abuse Violations
- In 2022, there were 355,036 arrests for drug abuse violations nationwide.
- Drug possession arrests were 62% of total drug arrests in 2022.
- Sale/manufacturing arrests 38% of drug violations in 2022.
- Males 80% of drug abuse arrests in 2022.
- Ages 25-29 highest drug arrest group at 18% in 2022.
- Black individuals 24% of drug arrests despite 13% population in 2021.
- California had 45,000 drug arrests in 2022.
- Texas reported 38,000 drug arrests in 2022.
- Florida had 30,000 drug arrests in 2022.
- New York 15,000 drug arrests in 2022.
- Heroin/cocaine arrests totaled 50,000 in 2022.
- Marijuana arrests 88% of possession arrests in 2022.
- Synthetic drugs arrests up 20% in 2022.
- Drug overdose deaths linked to crime reached 107,000 in 2022.
- Fentanyl involved in 70% of overdose deaths in 2022.
- Methamphetamine arrests 25,000 in 2022.
- Opioid trafficking seizures up 15% in 2022.
- Cartel-related drug arrests 10,000 federal in 2022.
- Drug courts handled 100,000 cases in 2022.
- Juvenile drug arrests down 50% since 2010 to 20,000 in 2022.
- West region 30% of drug arrests in 2022.
- South had highest drug arrest rate 150 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Los Angeles County 8,000 drug arrests in 2022.
- Drug possession conviction rate 70% in federal courts 2022.
- Cocaine trafficking sentences averaged 84 months in 2022.
- Marijuana legalization led to 40% drop in arrests in states like Colorado by 2022.
Drug Abuse Violations Interpretation
The grimly predictable script of American drug enforcement plays out again: overwhelmingly arresting those holding the drugs rather than those moving them, especially young Black men at a rate wildly disproportionate to their population, while the truly tragic numbers—like overdose deaths fueled by fentanyl—suggest we are fervently handcuffing the symptoms while the disease floods the streets.
Homicide
- In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 murders and nonnegligent manslaughters, a 0.4% increase from 2021.
- The homicide rate in the US in 2022 was 6.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- In 2021, firearms were used in 77% of all US homicides, totaling approximately 17,000 firearm-related murders.
- California reported 2,096 homicides in 2022, the highest in the nation.
- Texas had 2,046 murders in 2022.
- Florida recorded 1,371 homicides in 2022.
- New York had 591 homicides in 2022, down 11.7% from 2021.
- Illinois reported 859 homicides in 2022.
- Pennsylvania had 724 homicides in 2022.
- Ohio recorded 653 homicides in 2022.
- In 2020, the US homicide rate spiked to 6.5 per 100,000 due to pandemic effects.
- Males accounted for 88% of homicide offenders in the US in 2021.
- Black Americans were 53% of homicide victims in 2021 despite being 13% of population.
- In 2022, Chicago had 617 homicides, highest among US cities.
- Philadelphia reported 516 homicides in 2022.
- Los Angeles had 382 homicides in 2022.
- New York City recorded 438 homicides in 2022, down from 488 in 2021.
- Homicides in the US increased 30% from 2019 to 2020.
- In 2022, 14,860 homicides involved handguns nationwide.
- Gang-related homicides accounted for 13% of US murders in 2021.
- Domestic violence caused 16% of female homicides in 2021.
- The US homicide rate for ages 15-24 was 18.9 per 100,000 in 2021.
- In 2022, Missouri had the highest homicide rate at 11.7 per 100,000.
- Louisiana's homicide rate was 11.1 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Alabama reported a homicide rate of 9.2 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Nevada had 736 homicides in 2022.
- In 2021, 48% of US homicides were unsolved.
- Homicides by rifle were only 3% of gun homicides in 2021.
- The South region had 40% of US homicides in 2022.
- Midwest homicides totaled 3,210 in 2022.
Homicide Interpretation
While America's overall murder rate remains stubbornly high, tragically driven by firearms and concentrated in specific regions and demographics, the slight 0.4% increase suggests a grim stabilization, not a spiral, of this uniquely violent national pathology.
Larceny-Theft
- In 2022, larceny-thefts totaled 5,488,809 incidents nationwide, down 2.4% from 2021.
- Larceny-theft rate was 1,629.9 per 100,000 in 2022.
- California reported 927,489 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Texas had 589,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Florida recorded 413,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- New York had 200,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Illinois reported 150,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Pennsylvania had 140,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Ohio recorded 160,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Shoplifting accounted for 25% of larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Theft from motor vehicles was 30% of larcenies in 2022.
- Pocket-picking and purse-snatching were 2% in 2022.
- Larceny-theft clearance rate was 12.1% in 2022.
- Females were 45% of larceny-theft arrests in 2022.
- Ages 18-24 highest for larceny arrests at 28% in 2022.
- Highways/roads location for 20% of larcenies in 2022.
- Commercial houses 18% of larceny locations in 2022.
- Los Angeles had 150,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Larcenies dropped 15% from 2019 to 2022.
- Bike thefts totaled 200,000 in 2022.
- West region larceny rate 1,800 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Northeast had 1,200 per 100,000 larceny rate in 2022.
- New York City reported 90,000 larcenies in 2022.
- Chicago had 80,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
- Average larceny value was $1,200 per incident in 2021 NCVS.
Larceny-Theft Interpretation
While the nation sees a slight dip in grand-scale larceny, the data paints a portrait of a persistent petty thief economy, where your car door is a more likely target than your pocket, shoplifting is a quarter of the problem, and the odds of solving any of it are only slightly better than your chances of keeping a bicycle.
Robbery
- In 2022, there were 267,988 reported robberies nationwide, down 1.7% from 2021.
- The robbery rate in the US was 79.7 per 100,000 in 2022.
- California reported 57,855 robberies in 2022.
- Texas had 25,482 robberies in 2022.
- New York recorded 17,342 robberies in 2022.
- Florida had 15,248 robberies in 2022.
- Illinois reported 8,456 robberies in 2022.
- Pennsylvania had 7,012 robberies in 2022.
- Ohio recorded 6,124 robberies in 2022.
- In 2021, 42% of robberies involved firearms.
- Street/highway was the location for 37% of robberies in 2022.
- Males were 85% of robbery offenders in 2021.
- In 2022, Los Angeles had 5,838 robberies.
- New York City reported 13,000 robberies in 2022.
- Chicago had 5,757 robberies in 2022.
- Robberies decreased 10% nationally from 2019 to 2022.
- Gas/service stations were robbed 12,000 times in 2022.
- Convenience stores saw 18% of commercial robberies in 2022.
- Black offenders committed 51% of robberies in 2021.
- Ages 18-24 accounted for 35% of robbery arrests in 2022.
- The robbery clearance rate was 25.6% in 2022.
- Residences were targets in 8% of robberies in 2022.
- Northeast region had 58 robberies per 100,000 in 2022.
- West region robbery rate was 85 per 100,000 in 2022.
- In 2022, banks were robbed 1,200 times nationwide.
- Houston reported 4,200 robberies in 2022.
- Robberies with injury occurred in 28% of cases in 2021.
Robbery Interpretation
America's muggers seem to be minutely refining their profession, with nationwide robberies dipping slightly as California holds the dubious crown, over one in five robberies happen at gunpoint on the street, and your odds of the culprit being caught remain a sobering one in four.
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