We will be adding states as 2021 homicide data becomes available.
When we say highest homicide rate in history, this means the highest on record. The records generally go back to 1960.
Year: # of homicides (population, homicide rate)
Colorado:
1972: 196 (2,357k, 8.3 per 100k) – all time record
2018: 218 (5,697, 3.8 per 100k)
2019: 228 (5,758, 3.9 per 100k)
2020: 308 (5,808, 5.3 per 100k) – highest rate since 1995
2021: 368 (5,812k, 6.3 per 100k) – highest rate since 1986
2022: 368 (5,812k, 6.3 per 100k)
Delaware:
1974: 59 (573K, 10.3 per 100k) – former record for highest rate
2017: 53 (958k, 5.5 per 100k)
2018: 48 (967k, 4.7 per 100k)
2019: 52 (977k, 5.3 per 100k)
2020: 84 (987k, 8.5 per 100k)
2021: 107 (1,003k, 10.6k per 100k) – new record for highest rate
Note: Some homicide counts from the Delaware State police are slightly higher than the numbers used by the FBI. This is most likely because the homicide count continued to rise after an official number was submitted to the FBI. We see this kind of thing a lot.
Kentucky:
2019: 221 (4,472k, 4.9 per 100k)
2020: 323 (4,477k, 7.2 per 100k) – highest rate since 1990
2021: 365+ (4,509k, 8.1 per 100k) – highest rate since 1983
Note: 2021 homicide total is incomplete and will probably rise.
Illinois:
Cook County:
2019: 675 (5,145k, 13.1 per 100k)
2020: 986 (5,108k, 19.3 per 100k)
2021: 1,094 (5,173k, 21.1 per 100k) – Highest since 1994 (1991 is the record)
2022: 927 (5,173k, 17.9 per 100k)
Minnesota:
2019: 117 (5,640k, 2.1 per 100k)
2020: 190 (5,657k, 3.4 per 100k) – 4th highest in history
2021: 201 (5,707k, 3.5 per 100k) – 3rd highest in history
1995 was the record at 3.9 per 100k
Missouri:
2019: 578 (6,140k, 9.4 per 100k)
2020: 732 (6,152k, 11.9 per 100k) – highest rate in history
2021: 602 (6,168k, 9.8 per 100k)
Nevada:
2019: 143 (3,091k, 4.6 per 100k)
2020: 185 (3,138k, 5.9 per 100k)
2021: 238 (3,144k, 7.6 per 100k) – Highest since 2017
In the late 70s and early 80s, Nevada had one of the highest homicide rates in the country. It peaked at 20.0 per 100k in 1980. The current rate is not that high relative to historical rates.
North Carolina:
2019: 632 (10,630k, 5.9 per 100k)
2020: 852 (10,710, 8.0 per 100k)
2021: 960+ (10,550, 9.1+ per 100k) – highest rate since 1995
The state of Georgia lists 960 homicides and a rate of 9.7 per 100k for 2021. However, they only used data that covers about 95% of the state.
Maine:
2019: 20 (1346k, 1.5 per 100k)
2020: 20 (1350k, 1.5 per 100k)
2021: 19 (1372k, 1.4 per 100k)
2022: 29 (1372K, 2.1 per 100k) – highest rate since 2008
North Dakota:
2019: 24 (762k, 3.1 per 100k)
2020: 32 (765k, 4.2 per 100k) – highest rate in history
2021: 17 (774k, 2.2 per 100k)
Oregon:
2019: 116 (4,216k, 2.8 per 100k)
2020: 125 (4,242k, 2.9 per 100k) – highest rate since 1998
2021: 182 (4,246k, 4.3 per 100k) – highest rate since 1994
Ohio:
The state government of Ohio has not posted new details on crime since 2017.
Columbus, and Toledo had their highest homicides rates in history in 2021
Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Akron had their highest homicide rates in history in 2020.
Ohio law enforcement agencies reported more homicides to the FBI in 2021 than in 2020, even though fewer law enforcement agencies participated.
The Ohio homicide rate for 2020 was the highest since 1991. Based on partial data submitted to the FBI by Ohio law enforcement agencies, the Ohio homicide rate went up again in 2021. We expect the 2021 homicide rate to be the highest rate in Ohio since 1981.
Pennsylvania:
2019: 703 (12,800k, 5.4 per 100k)
2020: 922 (12,780k, 7.2 per 100k) – 2nd highest in history
2021: 1,029 (12,960k, 7.9 per 100k) – highest rate in history
Note: FBI reports different figures than PA State Police for 2019 and 2020. They report a lot less in 2019 and a lot more in 2020. The homicide rate for 2020 was still a new state record at the time no matter which numbers you use.
South Carolina:
2018: 409 (5092K, 8.0 per 100k)
2019: 454 (5158k, 8.8 per 100k)
2020: 561 (5218k, 10.8 per 100k)
2021: 566 (5191k, 10.9 per 100k) – Highest since 1991 (1972 is the all time record)
Tennessee:
2018: 518 (6,778k, 7.6 per 100k)
2019: 527 (6,880, 7.7 per 100k)
2020: 693 (6,887k, 10.1 per 100k) – Highest homicide rate since 1995
2021: 702 (6,975k, 10.1 per 100k)
Virginia:
2019: 426 (8,557k, 5.0 per 100k)
2020: 524 (8,591k, 6.1 per 100k) – Highest since 1998
2021: 562 (8,642k, 6.5 per 100k) – Highest since 1997
Washington:
2019: 201 (7,614k, 2.6 per 100k)
2020: 301 (7,694k, 3.9 per 100k)
2021: 325 (7,739k, 4.2 per 100k) – highest rate since 1997
The record is 1988.
Wisconsin:
1991: 239 (4,955k, 4.8 per 100k) former record for highest homicide rate
2019: 185 (5,825k, 3.2 per 100k)
2020: 308 (5,833k, 5.28 per 100k) new record for highest homicide rate
2021: 315 (5,896k, 5.34 per 100k) new record for highest homicide rate