Overview

• Homicides in the U.S. fell by 16% in 2024, following a 13% drop in 2023 and a 6% decline in 2022, marking the fastest consecutive yearly declines in decades.
• Major cities like Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C., saw homicide rates drop by as much as 40%, while smaller cities also reported significant reductions.
• Property crimes, including motor vehicle theft, decreased nationwide by 8.6%, with car thefts dropping over 21% after a spike in 2023 linked to social media trends.
• Experts attribute the decline to a return to pre-pandemic normalcy and the implementation of both law enforcement and community violence prevention programs.
• Despite the overall decrease, public perception of crime remains disconnected from reality, with many Americans believing crime is rising due to media coverage and political narratives.