Crime victims report 669,000 fewer violent incidents in 2025

The number of Americans victimized by violent crimes fell by an estimated 669,000 in 2025, according to preliminary data released by the Justice Department on Monday. The new figures mark a 25% decline from the previous year. Officials at the Bureau of Justice Statistics described this as the largest drop in victimization rates since 1973.

The National Crime Victimization Survey provides these numbers through household interviews rather than police reports. The Census Bureau conducted the study for the Justice Department. The 2025 survey included 101,980 interviews with residents aged 12 and older. The response rate was 53%, meaning 53% of eligible households completed the process. Respondents discussed the frequency, nature, and consequences of their experiences with crime.

Specific categories showed sharp decreases. Aggravated assault victimization dropped by 31%, resulting in roughly 390,000 fewer incidents. Robbery rates fell by 27%. Motor vehicle theft decreased by 29%. Property crime victimization was down 19%, while burglary and trespassing both fell by 25%. These results align with earlier findings from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report released earlier this year. That report showed the nation’s murder rate hit a 20-year low. It also recorded declines in aggravated assaults, rapes, and robbery.

President Trump and Republican allies have used the falling crime rates to shape their messaging ahead of the midterms. They aim to help Republicans keep control of both the House and the Senate. The White House released the FBI data ahead of a campaign stop on Long Island, New York. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel attended the event. This timing breaks with past traditions for releasing such reports.

The survey covers the United States through a sample of households. It excludes simple assaults from the violent crime total. The data serves as a preliminary snapshot of 2025 conditions. Final results will follow as the Bureau of Justice Statistics completes its analysis. The current figures rely on self-reported experiences from the interviewed population.