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Home | Homicide Trends in the U.S.

Homicide Trends in the U.S.

	Male offender/Male victim	65.3%
	Male offender/Female victim	22.7%
	Female offender/Male victim	9.6%
	Female offender/Female victim	2.4%

Both male and female offenders are more likely to target male victims than female victims.

Males were almost 4 times more likely than females to be murdered in 2005.
In 2005 rates for females reached their lowest point recorded; rates for males increased slightly from the low point recorded in 2000.

To view data, click on the chart.

[D]

For more information about gender patterns in violent victimization see Key Facts at a Glance.

Males were almost 10 times more likely than females to commit murder in 2005.
The offending rates for females declined since the early 1980's but stablized after 1999. Offending rates for males peaked in the early 1990's, fell to record lows,and stablized in recent years.

To view data, click on the chart.

[D]

For the years 1976-2005 combined, among all homicide victims, females are particularly at risk for intimate killings and sex-related homicides.

Homicide Type by Gender, 1976-2005
		Victims		Offenders
		Male	Female	Male	Female
	All homicides	76.5%	23.5%	88.8%	11.2%
Victim/offender relationship
	Intimate	35.2%	64.8%	65.5%	34.5%
	Family	51.5%	48.5%	70.8%	29.2%
	Infanticide	54.6%	45.4%	61.8%	38.2%
	Eldercide	58.1%	41.9%	85.2%	14.8%
Circumstances
	Felony murder	78.4%	21.6%	93.2%	6.8%
	Sex related	18.8%	81.2%	93.6%	6.4%
	Drug related	90.2%	9.8%	95.5%	4.5%
	Gang related	94.7%	5.3%	98.3%	1.7%
	Argument	77.8%	22.2%	85.6%	14.4%
	Workplace	79.1%	20.9%	91.3%	8.7%
Weapon
	Gun homicide	82.7%	17.3%	91.3%	8.7%
	Arson	56.4%	43.6%	79.1%	20.9%
	Poison	55.3%	44.7%	63.5%	36.5%
Multiple victims or offenders
	Multiple victims	63.3%	36.7%	93.5%	6.5%
	Multiple offenders	85.6%	14.4%	91.6%	8.4%

Female victims are more likely than male victims to be killed by an intimate or family member.
Male victims are more likely than female victims to be killed by acquaintances or strangers.

Victim Offender Relationship by Victim Gender, 1976-2005
		Percent of homicide victims by gender
Victim/Offender relationship		Male		Female
	Total	100.0	%	100.0	%

Intimate		5.0	%	30.0	%
	Spouse	3.0		18.3
	Ex-spouse	0.2		1.4
	Boyfriend/Girlfriend	1.8		10.4

Other family		6.8	%	11.8	%
	Parent	1.3		2.8
	Child	2.1		5.4
	Sibling	1.2		0.9
	Other family	2.2		2.8

Acquaintance/Known		35.3	%	21.8	%
	Neighbor	1.1		1.3
	Employee/er	0.1		0.1
	Friend/Acquaintance	29.4		17.0
	Other Known	4.6		3.4

Stranger		15.5	%	8.7	%

Undetermined		37.4	%	27.6	%

Source: FBI, Supplementary Homicide Reports, 1976-2005.
See also Additional Information about the Data.

Note: The victims of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks are not included in this analysis.

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