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Homicide Trends in the U.S.
Trends by race
Racial differences exist, with blacks disproportionately represented among homicide victims and offenders
In 2005, homicide victimization rates for blacks were 6 times higher than the rates for whites.
To view data, click on the chart.
For more information about racial patterns in violent victimization
see Key Facts at a Glance.
In 2005, offending rates for blacks were more than 7 times higher than the rates for whites
To view data, click on the chart.
The race distribution of homicide victims and offenders differs by type of homicide
For the years 1976-2005 combined -
- Black victims are over represented in homicides involving
drugs. Compared with the overall involvement of blacks as victims, blacks
are less often the victims of sex-related homicides, workplace killings,
and homicide by poison.
- Race patterns among offenders are similar to those among victims.
| Victims | Offenders | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | Black | Other | White | Black | Other | |||
| All homicides | 50.9% | 46.9% | 2.1% | 45.8% | 52.2% | 2.0% | ||
| Victim/offender relationship | ||||||||
| Intimate | 56.6% | 41.2% | 2.2% | 54.4% | 43.4% | 2.2% | ||
| Family | 60.7% | 36.9% | 2.4% | 59.2% | 38.5% | 2.3% | ||
| Infanticide | 55.9% | 41.6% | 2.5% | 55.4% | 42.1% | 2.5% | ||
| Eldercide | 69.2% | 29.1% | 1.6% | 54.5% | 43.8% | 1.6% | ||
| Circumstances | ||||||||
| Felony murder | 54.7% | 42.7% | 2.6% | 39.1% | 59.3% | 1.6% | ||
| Sex related | 66.9% | 30.5% | 2.5% | 54.7% | 43.4% | 1.9% | ||
| Drug related | 37.4% | 61.6% | .9% | 33.9% | 65.0% | 1.1% | ||
| Gang related | 57.5% | 39.0% | 3.5% | 54.3% | 41.2% | 4.4% | ||
| Argument | 48.6% | 49.3% | 2.1% | 46.8% | 51.1% | 2.2% | ||
| Workplace | 84.6% | 12.2% | 3.2% | 70.5% | 26.7% | 2.8% | ||
| Weapon | ||||||||
| Gun homicide | 47.2% | 50.9% | 1.9% | 41.9% | 56.4% | 1.7% | ||
| Arson | 58.9% | 38.1% | 2.9% | 55.7% | 42.0% | 2.3% | ||
| Poison | 80.6% | 16.9% | 2.5% | 79.8% | 18.4% | 1.8% | ||
| Multiple victims or offenders | ||||||||
| Multiple victims | 63.4% | 33.2% | 3.3% | 55.7% | 40.8% | 3.5% | ||
| Multiple offenders | 54.8% | 42.5% | 2.7% | 44.6% | 53.0% | 2.4% | ||
Although slightly less true now than before, most murders are intraracial
From 1976 to 2005 --
- 86% of white victims were killed by whites
- 94% of black victims were killed by blacks
To view data, click on the chart.
Stranger homicides are more likely to cross racial lines than those that involve friends or acquaintances
For homicides committed by --
- a friend or acquaintance of the victim, less than one-tenth (8%) were interracial
- a stranger to the victim, one-quarter were interracial
To view data, click on the chart.
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.
Related charts on this site
- The number of homicides of children under age 5 by race, 1976-2005
- Homicide victimization rates for children under age 5 by race, 1976-2005
- Homicides of intimates by gender and race of victim, 1976-2005
- Intimate homicide rates by race, gender and relationship, 1976-2005
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