The U.S. murder rate is at its highest level in nearly two and half decades. A total of 21,570 murders were committed nationwide in 2020, up nearly 30% from the previous year — the largest annual increase on record.
The rash of deadly violence came during a tumultuous year in American history. The COVID-19 pandemic led to school closures and left millions of Americans out of work. The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer rattled confidence in American law enforcement and sparked nationwide protests. Firearms sales soared, resulting in the proliferation of tens of millions of new guns. Here is a look at the states where gun sales are surging.
| Rank | Geo | Murders per 100,000 people, 2020 | Total murders, 2020 | Violent crimes per 100,000 people, 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 15.8 | 734 | 639 |
| 2 | Missouri | 11.8 | 723 | 543 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 10.6 | 321 | 672 |
| 3 | Mississippi | 10.6 | 315 | 291 |
| 5 | South Carolina | 10.5 | 549 | 531 |
| 6 | Alabama | 9.6 | 471 | 454 |
| 6 | Tennessee | 9.6 | 663 | 673 |
| 8 | Illinois | 9.1 | 1,151 | 426 |
| 8 | Maryland | 9.1 | 553 | 400 |
| 10 | Georgia | 8.8 | 943 | 400 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 8.0 | 852 | 419 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 7.9 | 1,009 | 390 |
| 13 | New Mexico | 7.8 | 164 | 778 |
| 14 | Michigan | 7.6 | 754 | 478 |
| 15 | Indiana | 7.5 | 505 | 358 |
| 16 | Delaware | 7.4 | 73 | 432 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 7.4 | 296 | 459 |
| 18 | Kentucky | 7.2 | 323 | 259 |
| 19 | Ohio | 7.0 | 820 | 309 |
| 20 | Arizona | 6.9 | 513 | 485 |
| 21 | Alaska | 6.7 | 49 | 838 |
| 22 | Texas | 6.6 | 1,931 | 447 |
| 22 | West Virginia | 6.6 | 117 | 356 |
| 24 | Virginia | 6.1 | 524 | 209 |
| 25 | Florida | 5.9 | 1,290 | 384 |
| 26 | Nevada | 5.7 | 180 | 460 |
| 27 | California | 5.6 | 2,203 | 442 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | 5.3 | 308 | 323 |
| 29 | Colorado | 5.1 | 294 | 423 |
| 30 | Montana | 5.0 | 54 | 470 |
| 31 | South Dakota | 4.5 | 40 | 501 |
| 32 | New York | 4.2 | 808 | 364 |
| 32 | North Dakota | 4.2 | 32 | 329 |
| 34 | Connecticut | 3.9 | 140 | 182 |
| 34 | Washington | 3.9 | 301 | 294 |
| 36 | New Jersey | 3.7 | 329 | 195 |
| 37 | Nebraska | 3.6 | 69 | 334 |
| 38 | Iowa | 3.5 | 111 | 304 |
| 39 | Kansas | 3.4 | 100 | 425 |
| 39 | Minnesota | 3.4 | 190 | 278 |
| 41 | Utah | 3.1 | 102 | 261 |
| 41 | Wyoming | 3.1 | 18 | 234 |
| 43 | Rhode Island | 3.0 | 32 | 231 |
| 44 | Hawaii | 2.9 | 41 | 254 |
| 44 | Oregon | 2.9 | 125 | 292 |
| 46 | Massachusetts | 2.3 | 160 | 309 |
| 47 | Idaho | 2.2 | 41 | 243 |
| 47 | Vermont | 2.2 | 14 | 173 |
| 49 | Maine | 1.6 | 22 | 109 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | 0.9 | 12 | 146 |
by: Samuel Stebbins, 24/7 Wall St. via The Center Square
