Murder Rates

Murder Rates by State

Average Murder Rate among States with Death Penalty and States Without Death Penalty

  • For 2020, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty states was 7.3, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 4.7
  • For 2019, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty states was 5.3, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 3.8
  • For 2018, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty states was 5.2, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 3.6
  • For 2017, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty states was 5.4, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 4.2
  • For 2016, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty states was 5.4, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 4.1
  • For 2015, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty states was 5.0, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 4.0
  • For 2014, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty states was 4.7, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 3.8
  • For 2013, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty states was 4.4, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 3.4
  • For 2012, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty States was 4.7, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 3.7
  • For 2011, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty States was 4.7, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 3.1
  • For 2010, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty States was 4.6, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 2.9
  • For 2009, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty States was 4.9, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 2.8
  • For 2008, the aver­age Murder Rate of Death Penalty States was 5.2, while the aver­age Murder Rate of States with­out the Death Penalty was 3.3

(Average mur­der rate is cal­cu­lat­ed by tak­ing the aver­age of the mur­der rates for each state, exclud­ing the District of Columbia.)

*In 2020, gov­er­nor imposed mora­to­ri­um was declared in California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.