Which states have the most gun violence?

Asked by: Drake Gorczany  |  Last update: January 31, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (8 votes)

The states with the highest rates of gun violence, measured by firearm death rates per capita, consistently include Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, Alaska, and Wyoming, often concentrated in the South and Mountain West, linked to weaker gun laws and higher ownership. Mississippi frequently ranks first, while states in the Northeast like Massachusetts generally have the lowest rates.

Which state in the US has the most gun violence?

These are the 20 states with the highest firearm homicide rates in the country along with their gun-friendliness scores:

  • Louisiana: 11.0 (3)
  • Mississippi: 10.2 (5)
  • Alabama: 9.5 (4)
  • Missouri: 8.5 (5)
  • Maryland: 7.4 (1)
  • South Carolina: 7.4 (3)
  • Tennessee: 6.7 (4)
  • Illinois: 6.5 (2)

Which US state is the most heavily armed?

Texas consistently has the most guns by total number, often exceeding a million registered firearms, followed by Florida, Virginia, and California, largely due to their large populations; however, states like Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska lead in gun ownership rates (percentage of households owning guns). Data varies slightly by year and source (e.g., registered firearms vs. sales vs. household ownership), but Texas remains the top state for total gun numbers.
 

What are the top 10 deadliest states?

The top 10 most dangerous U.S. states often include Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alaska, Mississippi, South Carolina, Missouri, and California, based on factors like high violent crime rates, property crimes, poverty, and gun availability, though rankings vary slightly by source and year, with some showing Colorado, Alabama, Washington, and Nevada also in the mix. Louisiana and New Mexico frequently appear at the very top due to elevated violent crime rates, according to recent data. 

What city has the highest gun violence per capita?

Our data placed St. Louis at the top of the list for the highest number of gun-related injuries per 10,000 residents (18.6) as well as the highest incidence of gun-related deaths (9.1 per 10,000 people). However, Ocala, Florida is another city that has to be in the spotlight when it comes to firearm-related incidents.

The state of gun violence in the US, explained in 18 charts

15 related questions found

What state is #1 in crime in the USA?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while Louisiana frequently tops lists for overall danger or homicide rates, though figures vary slightly by source and specific metrics (violent vs. property crime) for 2024/2025 data. 

What is the top 10 deadliest city in the US?

Determining the "most dangerous" cities depends on the metric (homicides, violent crime, citizen perception), but consistently high-ranking cities for violent crime and homicides in late 2024/2025 data include Memphis, St. Louis, Detroit, Baltimore, and New Orleans, often topping lists by sources like U.S. News, Visual Capitalist, Security.org, and USAFacts, though specific rankings shift yearly. These cities frequently appear due to high rates of violent offenses per capita, with Memphis and St. Louis often leading in homicide rates.
 

Which state is no. 1 in crime?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while Louisiana frequently tops lists for overall danger or homicide rates, though figures vary slightly by source and specific metrics (violent vs. property crime) for 2024/2025 data. 

Which USA state is the safest?

The following states rank as the top 10 safest states in America:

  1. New Hampshire. New Hampshire is the safest state in the entire United States. ...
  2. Maine. ...
  3. Idaho. ...
  4. Rhode Island. ...
  5. Connecticut. ...
  6. New Jersey. ...
  7. Kentucky. ...
  8. Massachusetts.

What are the top 5 most murderous states?

Based on recent data (around 2023-2024), the U.S. states with the highest murder rates (per capita) consistently include Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, New Mexico, and Tennessee, with other states like Alaska, South Carolina, and Missouri also frequently appearing at the top, while the District of Columbia often has the highest rate overall. 

Which state is most gun-friendly?

There isn't one single "most" gun-friendly state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Montana, Arkansas, and South Dakota consistently appear at the top for lenient laws, permitless carry (constitutional carry), and lack of sales tax on firearms, with strong protections like "stand-your-ground" laws. These states offer broad rights for lawful gun owners, with New Hampshire often cited as #1 due to its combination of permitless carry for ages 18+, no sales tax, and self-defense protections.
 

What US state has the least guns?

Rates of Gun Ownership by State

Wyoming has the highest rate of gun ownership, with an estimated 66 firearms per 100 residents. Massachusetts and New Jersey share the lowest rate at 14.7 firearms for every 100 residents.

What is the hardest state to own a gun in?

Hawaii is the #1 worst state for gun owners due to strict purchasing and carry laws, as well as defying the Supreme Court on the individual's right to carry. Massachusetts is the #2 worst state for gun owners due to its permit-to-purchase and reciprocity laws.

What state is the most heavily armed?

The "most armed" state depends on the metric: Montana has the highest percentage of gun-owning adults (around 66%), while Texas has the highest total number of guns and gun-owning households, often exceeding one gun per person. Other states with very high rates include Wyoming, Alaska, and Idaho, particularly in terms of household ownership. 

Where do the USA rank in gun violence?

Originally published March 25, 2021. Last updated October 31, 2023. Among 65 high-income countries and territories, the United States stands out for its high levels of gun violence. The US ranks seventh out of 65 for homicides by firearm (age-adjusted).

What state has the harshest gun laws?

California consistently ranks as the state with the strictest gun laws, leading in comprehensive safety regulations like assault weapon bans, universal background checks, and red flag laws, followed closely by states like Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. These states generally implement strong universal background checks, waiting periods, permits to purchase, and restrictions on certain types of firearms, leading to lower gun death rates compared to less regulated states.
 

What is the #1 crime state in America?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while Louisiana frequently tops lists for overall danger or homicide rates, though figures vary slightly by source and specific metrics (violent vs. property crime) for 2024/2025 data. 

What is the #1 best state to live in the US?

There's no single #1 state, as it depends on priorities, but Massachusetts often ranks first for overall livability due to excellent healthcare and education (WalletHub 2025), while Utah frequently tops lists for overall quality, economy, and infrastructure (U.S. News 2024). Other top contenders include Idaho (low costs, growth) and New Hampshire (safety).
 

What is the most peaceful state in the USA?

While rankings vary by source and year, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont consistently rank as the most peaceful states, often topping lists due to low crime rates (violent and property), strong community safety, and overall lower levels of conflict, with the Northeast generally being the most peaceful region in the U.S. New Hampshire is often cited as the safest overall by some metrics like low violent/property crime, while Maine excels in multiple peace indicators.
 

What is the #1 crime city in the US?

Based on recent 2024 data from the FBI and other sources, Memphis, Tennessee, consistently ranks as having the highest violent crime rate per capita among large U.S. cities, followed by cities like Detroit, St. Louis, and Baltimore, though rankings can vary slightly by source and specific crime metrics (violent vs. property). These rankings are typically calculated per 100,000 residents, with Memphis reporting around 2,500 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
 

Which state is lowest in crime?

While rankings vary slightly by source and metrics (violent vs. property crime), New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont consistently appear as states with the lowest overall crime rates in recent analyses (2025-2026), often leading due to very low violent crime and property offenses, including burglary and assault. 

Where has the highest crime rate?

Places with the highest crime rates globally often include cities in South Africa, Venezuela, Mexico, and Brazil, while in the U.S., cities like Memphis, TN, St. Louis, MO, Baltimore, MD, Detroit, MI, and New Orleans, LA consistently rank high for violent crime, with states like Alaska and New Mexico leading in violent crime rates nationally. Rankings vary depending on whether violent crime, property crime, or overall crime is measured, but these locations frequently appear at the top.
 

What is the unsafest city in America?

The top 10 safest cities in the United States, according to WalletHub, are:

  • Warwick, Rhode Island.
  • Overland Park, Kansas.
  • Burlington, Vermont.
  • Juneau, Alaska.
  • Yonkers, New York.
  • Casper, Wyoming.
  • South Burlington, Vermont.
  • Columbia, Maryland.

What are the top 10 worst states to live in crime?

The top 10 worst crime states, based on recent violent crime rates per capita (late 2024/early 2025 data), consistently include Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado, Missouri, and South Carolina, with California, Arizona, and Kansas also frequently appearing, though rankings shift slightly depending on the exact dataset and year, highlighting high violent crime rates in the South, Southwest, and West.