Homicide in United States
United States
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United States Value:
7.7
Number of deaths due to injuries inflicted by another person with intent to injure or kill per 100,000 population
Homicide in depth:
Explore Population Data:
Appears In:
Homicide by State: Female
Number of deaths due to injuries inflicted by another person with intent to injure or kill per 100,000 females
Homicide in
Data from CDC WONDER, Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2020-2021
<= 1.8
1.9 - 2.7
2.8 - 3.3
3.4 - 4.3
>= 4.4
No Data
Homicide: Female
- CDC WONDER, Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2020-2021
About Homicide
US Value: 7.7
Top State(s): New Hampshire: 1.1
Bottom State(s): Mississippi: 20.8
Definition: Number of deaths due to injuries inflicted by another person with intent to injure or kill per 100,000 population
Data Source and Years(s): CDC WONDER, Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2020-2021
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC WONDER, Multiple Cause of Death Files, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
In 2021, more than 26,000 homicides were committed in the United States, of which more than 20,000 involved a firearm. Losing a loved one or community member through violent means can have significant psychological implications; survivors are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and substance abuse issues.
A sense of security is important to individual and community well-being. Homicide events create feelings of fear and vulnerability that can negatively impact health and quality of life. Compromised personal security may limit engagement in healthy outdoor activities such as walking and biking, or even prevent people from being able to access healthy food outlets. It can also negatively impact participation in neighborhood activities, which in turn can limit economic growth, harm local businesses and stunt community progress.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the U.S. has a homicide rate of 6 per 100,000 people, more than double the average for OECD member countries.
According to America’s Health Rankings data, the rate of homicide is higher among:
- The Black population, which has a rate 22 times higher than the Asian population. The American Indian/Alaska Native population also has a high rate.
- Males, who have a rate 4 times higher than females.
- Those ages 25-34 compared with all other age groups. Those ages 15-24 and 35-44 have the second and third highest rates of all age groups.
About 81% of all homicides involve a firearm. Community organizations can collaborate with public health and safety organizations, like the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission (MHRC), to analyze local patterns of gun violence and develop targeted solutions. Studies conducted by the MHRC revealed a 50% reduction in homicide rates within intervention districts.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides Resources for Action, a compilation of the best available evidence on child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, suicide and youth violence. Additionally, the Violence Prevention in Practice resource serves as a tool to support state and local health agencies in planning, implementing and evaluating violence prevention efforts in their communities.
Healthy People 2030 has several violence prevention objectives, including:
Azrael, Deborah, Anthony A. Braga, and Mallory O’Brien. “Developing the Capacity to Understand and Prevent Homicide: An Evaluation of the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission.” Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, January 2013. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/240814.pdf.
Zinzow, Heidi M., Alyssa A. Rheingold, Alesia O. Hawkins, Benjamin E. Saunders, and Dean G. Kilpatrick. “Losing a Loved One to Homicide: Prevalence and Mental Health Correlates in a National Sample of Young Adults.” Journal of Traumatic Stress 22, no. 1 (February 2009): 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20377.
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