Washington DC’s crime rate is at the center of a political storm after President Donald Trump declared a “crime emergency” in the capital, pledging to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops and take control of the city’s police department. While Trump described crime as “out of control,” city data paints a different picture — showing violent crime at its lowest point in three decades.
According to Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC), violent crime in 2024 fell to its lowest level in 30 years, with preliminary 2025 figures showing a continued decline. MPDC statistics report a 26% drop in violent crime this year compared to the same period in 2024, with robbery rates down by 28%.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, rejecting the president’s claims, said the city is experiencing “a huge decrease in crime,” while Trump and the DC Police Union have questioned the reliability of the official numbers.
Is the Washington DC Crime Rate Really Falling?
Despite the heated rhetoric, both MPDC and FBI statistics indicate a downward trend, although the scale of the drop differs. MPDC’s public data shows a 35% fall in violent crime in 2024, while FBI data records a 9% decline for the same period.
Adam Gelb, CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), said the reduction is “unmistakable and large,” pointing to a steep drop since mid-2023 in homicides, gun assaults, robberies, and carjackings.
Homicide Rates: A Closer Look
Trump claimed that “murders in 2023 reached the highest rate probably ever” in the capital. FBI data confirms a spike in 2023 to around 40 homicides per 100,000 residents, the highest in 20 years — but still far below levels in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Since then, the homicide rate has fallen. MPDC figures for 2025 show a 12% year-on-year decrease. As of August 11, there have been 99 recorded homicides in DC this year. While the city’s murder rate remains higher than the average for other large US cities, the trend matches a nationwide decline in violent crime.
Carjackings: From Spike to Decline
One of the most visible crime issues in recent years has been carjacking. The MPDC reports 189 carjackings so far in 2025, compared to 300 in the same period in 2024. This follows a surge from 2020 through mid-2023, when monthly incidents peaked at 140.
To curb youth-related offenses, the city introduced a night curfew for those under 17 in July 2025. Officials say this measure targets summer spikes in juvenile crime.
How DC Compares to Other US Cities
The CCJ’s review of 30 major US cities shows DC’s homicide rate fell 19% in the first half of 2025, slightly more than the 17% average decline across the study sample. However, compared to pre-pandemic 2019, DC’s rate has dropped only 3%, versus a 14% drop nationally.
While DC’s violence levels remain higher than the national urban average, experts note that the overall trajectory is downward.
Washington DC crime rate data underscores a complex picture: crime remains a challenge, but trends are improving. Political debates may amplify extremes, yet the statistics show the capital is safer today than it was just two years ago.
You Must Know:
1. Is Washington DC safer in 2025?
Yes, official MPDC figures show violent crime is down 26% compared to the same period in 2024, marking a 30-year low.
2. What is the homicide rate in Washington DC now?
In 2025, homicides are down 12% year-on-year, with 99 recorded so far as of mid-August.
3. Are carjackings still a problem in Washington DC?
Yes, but numbers have fallen from 300 incidents in early 2024 to 189 in the same period of 2025.
4. Why did crime spike in 2023?
Experts point to post-pandemic social and economic disruption, combined with an uptick in juvenile crime.
5. How does DC’s crime rate compare to other US cities?
While still higher than average, DC’s decline in violent crime mirrors trends seen in other major US cities.
