|
BJS home page
Contents of Homicide
trends in the U.S.
Previous
Next
|
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.
 [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.
 [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.
Related charts on this site
|
