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
1In 2022, there were 899,293 burglaries reported in the US, down 0.1% from 2021.
Verified2The burglary rate was 265.3 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022.
Verified3California led with 162,846 burglaries in 2022.
Verified4Texas reported 118,415 burglaries in 2022.
Directional5Florida had 80,524 burglaries in 2022.
Single source6New York recorded 25,673 burglaries in 2022.
Verified7Illinois had 34,512 burglaries in 2022.
Verified8Pennsylvania reported 29,987 burglaries in 2022.
Verified9Ohio had 35,672 burglaries in 2022.
Directional1062% of burglaries occurred in residences in 2022.
Single source11Forced entry was used in 55% of burglaries in 2022.
Verified12Burglary clearance rate was 12.3% in 2022.
Verified13Nighttime burglaries accounted for 56% in 2022.
Verified14Males were 83% of burglary arrests in 2022.
Directional15Ages 25-29 had the highest burglary arrest rates in 2022.
Single source16Los Angeles reported 28,000 burglaries in 2022.
Verified17Burglaries decreased 10% from 2019 to 2022 nationally.
Verified18Non-residential burglaries were 38% of total in 2022.
Verified19South region burglary rate was 280 per 100,000 in 2022.
Directional20Midwest had 192,500 burglaries in 2022.
Single source21Unlawful entry without force was 29% of burglaries in 2022.
Verified22Attempted burglaries were 15% of reported incidents in 2022.
Verified23Houston had 20,500 burglaries in 2022.
Verified24Burglaries with theft over $5,000 were 5% in 2021 NCVS.
Directional25In 2022, New York City had 15,000 burglaries.
Single source26Chicago reported 12,345 burglaries in 2022.
VerifiedBurglary 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
1In 2022, there were 355,036 arrests for drug abuse violations nationwide.
Verified2Drug possession arrests were 62% of total drug arrests in 2022.
Verified3Sale/manufacturing arrests 38% of drug violations in 2022.
Verified4Males 80% of drug abuse arrests in 2022.
Directional5Ages 25-29 highest drug arrest group at 18% in 2022.
Single source6Black individuals 24% of drug arrests despite 13% population in 2021.
Verified7California had 45,000 drug arrests in 2022.
Verified8Texas reported 38,000 drug arrests in 2022.
Verified9Florida had 30,000 drug arrests in 2022.
Directional10New York 15,000 drug arrests in 2022.
Single source11Heroin/cocaine arrests totaled 50,000 in 2022.
Verified12Marijuana arrests 88% of possession arrests in 2022.
Verified13Synthetic drugs arrests up 20% in 2022.
Verified14Drug overdose deaths linked to crime reached 107,000 in 2022.
Directional15Fentanyl involved in 70% of overdose deaths in 2022.
Single source16Methamphetamine arrests 25,000 in 2022.
Verified17Opioid trafficking seizures up 15% in 2022.
Verified18Cartel-related drug arrests 10,000 federal in 2022.
Verified19Drug courts handled 100,000 cases in 2022.
Directional20Juvenile drug arrests down 50% since 2010 to 20,000 in 2022.
Single source21West region 30% of drug arrests in 2022.
Verified22South had highest drug arrest rate 150 per 100,000 in 2022.
Verified23Los Angeles County 8,000 drug arrests in 2022.
Verified24Drug possession conviction rate 70% in federal courts 2022.
Directional25Cocaine trafficking sentences averaged 84 months in 2022.
Single source26Marijuana legalization led to 40% drop in arrests in states like Colorado by 2022.
VerifiedDrug 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
1In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 murders and nonnegligent manslaughters, a 0.4% increase from 2021.
Verified2The homicide rate in the US in 2022 was 6.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Verified3In 2021, firearms were used in 77% of all US homicides, totaling approximately 17,000 firearm-related murders.
Verified4California reported 2,096 homicides in 2022, the highest in the nation.
Directional5Texas had 2,046 murders in 2022.
Single source6Florida recorded 1,371 homicides in 2022.
Verified7New York had 591 homicides in 2022, down 11.7% from 2021.
Verified8Illinois reported 859 homicides in 2022.
Verified9Pennsylvania had 724 homicides in 2022.
Directional10Ohio recorded 653 homicides in 2022.
Single source11In 2020, the US homicide rate spiked to 6.5 per 100,000 due to pandemic effects.
Verified12Males accounted for 88% of homicide offenders in the US in 2021.
Verified13Black Americans were 53% of homicide victims in 2021 despite being 13% of population.
Verified14In 2022, Chicago had 617 homicides, highest among US cities.
Directional15Philadelphia reported 516 homicides in 2022.
Single source16Los Angeles had 382 homicides in 2022.
Verified17New York City recorded 438 homicides in 2022, down from 488 in 2021.
Verified18Homicides in the US increased 30% from 2019 to 2020.
Verified19In 2022, 14,860 homicides involved handguns nationwide.
Directional20Gang-related homicides accounted for 13% of US murders in 2021.
Single source21Domestic violence caused 16% of female homicides in 2021.
Verified22The US homicide rate for ages 15-24 was 18.9 per 100,000 in 2021.
Verified23In 2022, Missouri had the highest homicide rate at 11.7 per 100,000.
Verified24Louisiana's homicide rate was 11.1 per 100,000 in 2022.
Directional25Alabama reported a homicide rate of 9.2 per 100,000 in 2022.
Single source26Nevada had 736 homicides in 2022.
Verified27In 2021, 48% of US homicides were unsolved.
Verified28Homicides by rifle were only 3% of gun homicides in 2021.
Verified29The South region had 40% of US homicides in 2022.
Directional30Midwest homicides totaled 3,210 in 2022.
Single sourceHomicide 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
1In 2022, larceny-thefts totaled 5,488,809 incidents nationwide, down 2.4% from 2021.
Verified2Larceny-theft rate was 1,629.9 per 100,000 in 2022.
Verified3California reported 927,489 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Verified4Texas had 589,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Directional5Florida recorded 413,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Single source6New York had 200,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Verified7Illinois reported 150,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Verified8Pennsylvania had 140,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Verified9Ohio recorded 160,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Directional10Shoplifting accounted for 25% of larceny-thefts in 2022.
Single source11Theft from motor vehicles was 30% of larcenies in 2022.
Verified12Pocket-picking and purse-snatching were 2% in 2022.
Verified13Larceny-theft clearance rate was 12.1% in 2022.
Verified14Females were 45% of larceny-theft arrests in 2022.
Directional15Ages 18-24 highest for larceny arrests at 28% in 2022.
Single source16Highways/roads location for 20% of larcenies in 2022.
Verified17Commercial houses 18% of larceny locations in 2022.
Verified18Los Angeles had 150,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Verified19Larcenies dropped 15% from 2019 to 2022.
Directional20Bike thefts totaled 200,000 in 2022.
Single source21West region larceny rate 1,800 per 100,000 in 2022.
Verified22Northeast had 1,200 per 100,000 larceny rate in 2022.
Verified23New York City reported 90,000 larcenies in 2022.
Verified24Chicago had 80,000 larceny-thefts in 2022.
Directional25Average larceny value was $1,200 per incident in 2021 NCVS.
Single sourceLarceny-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
1In 2022, there were 267,988 reported robberies nationwide, down 1.7% from 2021.
Verified2The robbery rate in the US was 79.7 per 100,000 in 2022.
Verified3California reported 57,855 robberies in 2022.
Verified4Texas had 25,482 robberies in 2022.
Directional5New York recorded 17,342 robberies in 2022.
Single source6Florida had 15,248 robberies in 2022.
Verified7Illinois reported 8,456 robberies in 2022.
Verified8Pennsylvania had 7,012 robberies in 2022.
Verified9Ohio recorded 6,124 robberies in 2022.
Directional10In 2021, 42% of robberies involved firearms.
Single source11Street/highway was the location for 37% of robberies in 2022.
Verified12Males were 85% of robbery offenders in 2021.
Verified13In 2022, Los Angeles had 5,838 robberies.
Verified14New York City reported 13,000 robberies in 2022.
Directional15Chicago had 5,757 robberies in 2022.
Single source16Robberies decreased 10% nationally from 2019 to 2022.
Verified17Gas/service stations were robbed 12,000 times in 2022.
Verified18Convenience stores saw 18% of commercial robberies in 2022.
Verified19Black offenders committed 51% of robberies in 2021.
Directional20Ages 18-24 accounted for 35% of robbery arrests in 2022.
Single source21The robbery clearance rate was 25.6% in 2022.
Verified22Residences were targets in 8% of robberies in 2022.
Verified23Northeast region had 58 robberies per 100,000 in 2022.
Verified24West region robbery rate was 85 per 100,000 in 2022.
Directional25In 2022, banks were robbed 1,200 times nationwide.
Single source26Houston reported 4,200 robberies in 2022.
Verified27Robberies with injury occurred in 28% of cases in 2021.
VerifiedRobbery 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.
Sources & References
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