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Homicide trends in the U.S.
Trends by gender

Most victims and perpetrators in homicides are male

     Male offender/Male victim 65.1%
  Male offender/Female victim 22.6%
  Female offender/Male victim 9.9%
  Female offender/Female victim 2.4%

Victimization rates for both males and females have declined in recent years

  • Males were 3.4 times more likely than females to be murdered in 2002

  • In 2000 rates for females reached their lowest point in more than two decades and stablized through 2002; rates for males increased slightly from the low point recorded in 2000.

To view data, click on the chart.

Homicide trends in the U.S. Victimization by gender[D]

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

Offending rates for both males and females followed the same pattern as victimization rates

  • Males were almost 10 times more likely than females to commit murder in 2002.

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

  • The offending rates for females declined since the early 1980's while those for males peaked in the early 1990's and have fallen considerably since then.

To view data, click on the chart.

Homicide trends in the U.S. Offending by gender[D]

The gender distribution of homicide victims and offenders differs by type of homicide

For the years 1976-2002 combined -

  • Among all homicide victims, women are particularly at risk for intimate killings, sex-related homicides, and murder by arson or poison.

  • Among homicide offenders generally, women are more likely to commit murder as a result of an argument or murder by poison.
Homicide Type by Gender, 1976-2002

Victims   Offenders
Male Female   Male Female
All homicides 76.4% 23.6%   88.6% 11.4%
Victim/offender relationship          
Intimate 37.2% 62.8%   64.8% 35.2%
Family 52.0% 48.0%   70.3% 29.7%
Infanticide 54.5% 45.5%   61.6% 38.4%
Eldercide 58.2% 41.8%   85.4% 14.6%
Circumstances          
Felony murder 78.0% 22.0%   93.3% 6.7%
Sex related 18.9% 81.1%   93.6% 6.4%
Drug related 90.1% 9.9%   95.7% 4.3%
Gang related 94.5% 5.5%   98.4% 1.6%
Argument 78.1% 21.9%   85.3% 14.7%
Workplace 78.6% 21.4%   91.4% 8.6%
Weapon          
Gun homicide 82.5% 17.5%   91.0% 9.0%
Arson 56.5% 43.5%   79.5% 20.5%
Poison 54.4% 45.6%   62.9% 37.1%
Multiple victims or offenders          
Multiple victims 62.8% 37.2%   93.5% 6.5%

Multiple offenders 85.5% 14.5%   91.8% 8.2%

The relationship between the victim and the offender differs for female and male victims

  • 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, 1976-2002

    Percent of homicide victims by gender
Victim/Offender relationship Male Female
  Total 100.0 % 100.0 %
         
Intimate 5.5 % 30.1 %
  Spouse 3.3   18.6  
  Ex-spouse 0.2   1.4  
  Boyfriend/Girlfriend 2.0   10.1  
         
Other family 6.7 % 11.4 %
  Parent 1.3   2.7  
  Child 2.1   5.4  
  Sibling 1.2   0.9  
  Other family 2.1   2.5  
         
Acquaintance/Known 35.9 % 21.9 %
  Neighbor 1.2   1.3  
  Employee/er 0.2   0.1  
  Friend/Acquaintance 30.1   17.2  
  Other Known 4.5   3.2  
           
Stranger 15.5 % 8.9 %
           
Undetermined 36.3 % 27.7 %

Source: FBI, Supplementary Homicide Reports, 1976-2002.
     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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