US crime rate to drop in 2023, FBI data shows : NPR

New data from the FBI shows both violent crime and property crime are down in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Samuel Corum/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

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Samuel Corum/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

Overall crime in the U.S. is down in 2023 from a year earlier, according to new FBI data released Monday. Murders and rapes are down significantly.

The statistics, published in the FBI’s 2023 Summary of Crime in the Nation report, show a continued downward trend in crime across the country after it spiked during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the FBI report, overall violent crime fell by an estimated 3% in 2023 compared to the previous year. The largest declines were seen in murder and non-negligent manslaughter, which fell by an estimated 11.6%. Rape also saw a sharp decline, by an estimated 9.4%.

Property crime also fell nationwide, down 2.4% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Burglary and theft saw a decrease of 7.6% and 4.4% respectively. Motor vehicle theft, however, saw a significant jump. It rose 12.6% in 2023 compared to 2022.

The FBI’s annual report is based on data submitted by law enforcement agencies across the country. For the 2023 report, the FBI says it has received data from agencies covering more than 315 million people. It also includes every city with a population of more than 1 million.