States Where the Murder Rate Rose, 2015-2025

What this chart shows. The 11 US states where the murder rate was higher in 2025 than in 2015, and by how much, in per cent, from the FBI's estimates. New Mexico had the largest rise, 52.2 per cent, from 5.6 to 8.6 murders per 100,000 residents, followed by Utah at 37.9 per cent and North Carolina at 25.3 per cent. In the other 40 places the rate was lower in 2025, and nationally it fell 16.7 per cent, from 4.9 to 4.1.

How the data is collected. The chart compares each state's estimated murders per 100,000 residents in 2025 with the same rate in 2015, using the FBI's estimated crime file, which counts murder and nonnegligent manslaughter. Nationally the number of murders was 15,883 in 2015 and 14,085 in 2025.

Background. The FBI defines murder and nonnegligent manslaughter as the willful killing of one human being by another; justifiable homicides are not included. The 11 states whose rate rose are New Mexico, Utah, North Carolina, Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee and Arizona.

Limits. Where murders are few, a few dozen cases change the percentage a great deal: Utah's rise of 37.9 per cent took its rate from 1.9 to 2.6. The comparison is between two single years and does not show the rise and fall in between.