Washington, D.C., has 41 homicides per 100,000 people, “No. 1 that we can find anywhere in the world.”
The claim that Washington, D.C. has the highest homicide rate in the world—“No. 1 that we can find anywhere in the world”—is
false, according to a detailed fact-check by PolitiFact.
Here’s the breakdown:
Homicide Rate Data
- 2023 rate: 39.4 per 100,000 people
- 2024 rate: Dropped to 27.3 per 100,000
- 2025 (year-to-date): 99 homicides as of August, down from 112 at the same time in 2024
Global Comparison
- At least 49 cities worldwide had higher homicide rates than D.C. in 2023.
- Capital cities with higher rates include:
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica
- Caracas, Venezuela
U.S. Comparison
- D.C. ranked 4th highest among U.S. cities in 2024, behind:
- St. Louis
- New Orleans
- Detroit
Expert Insight
- Comparing D.C. to megacities like Bogotá or Mexico City is misleading due to population size and urban boundaries.
- D.C.’s compact, urban-only limits skew its crime rate higher than cities that include suburban areas.
So while Washington, D.C. has faced serious challenges with violent crime, it’s not the global or national leader in homicide rates. The statement was based on outdated data and exaggerated for effect.
Would you like a comparison chart of homicide rates across major U.S. cities or capitals worldwide?