What cities have the most gun violence?
Asked by: Verda Ondricka | Last update: July 5, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (39 votes)
Based on 2025-2026 data, U.S. cities with the highest rates of gun violence per capita include Memphis, TN, St. Louis, MO, Baltimore, MD, and Philadelphia, PA. While large cities like Chicago and Los Angeles have high total numbers of shootings, mid-sized cities often experience higher rates of gun homicide relative to their population size.
What are the top 5 cities for gun violence?
Based on data regarding gun homicides per capita as of late 2025 and early 2026, the U.S. cities with the highest rates of gun violence frequently include St. Louis, MO, Baltimore, MD, New Orleans, LA, Memphis, TN, and Detroit, MI. These cities consistently see high concentrations of firearm-related deaths relative to their populations.
What is the #1 most violent city in the US?
Based on 2025–2026 data, Memphis, Tennessee, is frequently ranked as the most violent city in the United States, with the highest violent crime rate per capita. It has recently surpassed other high-crime cities, with data indicating roughly 2,500 violent incidents per 100,000 residents.
Where is gun violence most common in the US?
Gun violence in the U.S. is most concentrated in Southern states and specific, often underfunded, metropolitan areas. As of 2026 data, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama consistently rank highest for firearm mortality rates, with rural counties often having high gun suicide rates while major cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Memphis account for the majority of gun homicides.
What are the top 25 cities for violent crime?
Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S. Today
- Memphis. State: Tennessee. Population: 621,056. ...
- St. Louis. State: Missouri. ...
- Little Rock. State: Arkansas. Population: 202,864. ...
- Oakland. State: California. Population: 440,646. ...
- Minneapolis. State: Minnesota. ...
- Detroit. State: Michigan. ...
- Kansas City. State: Missouri. ...
- New Orleans. State: Louisiana.
Most Dangerous Cities With Highest Gun Violence 2014~2021
What are the 10 most violent states in the US?
Based on 2024–2026 data, Alaska and New Mexico frequently top the list for highest violent crime rates, often driven by high incidents per 100,000 residents. Other states consistently appearing among the most dangerous due to high violent or property crime include Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Colorado.
Which city is no. 1 in crime?
Based on 2025–2026 data, Memphis, Tennessee, is frequently ranked as the most dangerous city in the U.S., with a violent crime rate nearly six times the national average. Other cities consistently ranking at the top for high violent crime rates include Detroit, Michigan, and Oakland, California.
Which country is #1 in gun violence?
Brazil records the highest total number of gun deaths in the world, while Jamaica holds the highest per capita rate for firearm-related homicides.
Which US state is the most heavily armed?
Which State Has the Most Guns? Texas is estimated to have more guns than any other state: 1,005,555, with just over 29 million residents.
What is the biggest predictor of gun violence?
Gun violence is a complex, multifactorial issue with no single cause. The primary drivers are high rates of firearm availability combined with socioeconomic factors, including poverty, structural racism, and a lack of social mobility. Other key contributing factors include a history of violent behavior, substance abuse, and community distress.
What cities are ranked by murders per capita?
Based on 2025–2026 data, U.S. cities with the highest homicide rates per capita include Memphis, TN, New Orleans, LA, St. Louis, MO, and Baltimore, MD. Other cities with elevated rates include Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH, and Birmingham, AL, with many seeing high rates despite a national decrease in some violent crime categories.
What is the safest state in the US?
Vermont and Maine are consistently ranked as the safest states in the U.S. While safety can be measured in different ways—such as violent crime rates, natural disasters, or financial security—these two states routinely occupy the top spots across multiple national studies.
What is the top 10 deadliest city in the US?
Based on recent FBI crime data and official reports, the ten most dangerous cities in America (for populations over 100,000), primarily ranked by violent crime rates per capita, include:
What state has the loosest gun laws?
10 States with the Least Strict Gun Laws
The states with the most lenient gun laws are Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee.
What are the top 5 most murderous states?
Based on 2024–2026 data, the top 5 states with the highest murder rates (homicides per 100,000 people) are generally Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, and Tennessee, as reported by Ammo.com and Statista. While some data indicates Mississippi has the highest rate, Statista also notes that by total volume, California and Texas have the highest number of murders.
Which state owns the least guns?
Based on 2026 data, Massachusetts and New Jersey have the lowest gun ownership rates in the U.S., with only approximately 14.7% of residents reporting firearm ownership. Other states with very low ownership include Rhode Island (14.8%) and Hawaii (14.9%), generally driven by strict state laws and high population density.
Which state is known for guns?
The state historically and culturally most synonymous with guns is Texas. It has the highest total number of registered firearms in the country, exceeding 1 million registered guns.
What is the most armed country?
The United States is the most armed country in the world by a wide margin, both in total civilian-owned firearms and per capita. As of 2024/2025, estimates suggest there are over 500 million civilian-owned firearms in the U.S., meaning there are more guns than people, averaging over 120.5 guns per 100 residents.
Where is America ranked in gun violence?
Globally, the United States ranks around the 93rd percentile for overall firearm mortality, placing 16th worldwide for overall firearm death rates. Among similarly wealthy, high-income nations, the U.S. is a severe outlier, with a gun homicide rate 26 times higher than the average of other developed countries.
What country is safest from gun violence?
Singapore and Japan consistently report the absolute lowest rates of gun violence in the world, with firearm homicide rates near zero (approximately 0.0030.0030.003 to 0.0050.0050.005 deaths per 100,000 people).
Is there gun violence in Canada?
Yes, Canada has gun violence, though at significantly lower rates than the United States. Police reported 14,488 firearm-related violent crimes in 2024, representing about 2.6% of all police-reported violent crime. While rates are generally low, they have increased over the past decade, with handguns frequently used in urban, gang-related crime, while long guns are common in rural incidents.
What is the #1 safest city in America?
Based on 2026 data, Shawangunk, New York, is ranked as the safest city in the U.S.. Other top contenders for 2026 include Warwick, Rhode Island, South Burlington, Vermont, and Hopkinton, Massachusetts, with top spots varying based on whether reports focus on small towns or larger cities.
What city is known for the most murders?
Depending on how the data is measured, Chicago records the highest total number of murders in the United States, while Colima, Mexico, has the highest murder rate globally.
What is the #1 safest city in the world?
Reykjavik, Iceland is frequently ranked as the number one safest city in the world for 2026, lauded for its extremely low crime rates, high social trust, and overall security, according to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP). It is considered exceptionally safe, even by night.