What is the crime rate in California?
Updates published annually
In 2023, for every 100,000 people, 508 violent crimes and 2,326 property crimes occurred in California. Simply speaking, violent crimes are committed against people, property crimes are not. These crime rates do not include every violent and property crime, but rather four violent offenses and three property offenses that have been tracked since 1929.
508
violent crimes per 100K people (2023)
2,326
property crimes per 100K people (2023)
Compared to the 50-state average, the violent crime rate in 2023 in California was 35.8% higher, and its rate of property crime was 21.3% higher.
In 2023, both the violent and property crime rates in California were higher than the 50-state average.
Property and violent crimes per 100,000 people
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Violent crimes involve force or the threat of force, and include:
- Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
- Rape
- Robbery (the FBI defines this as “... taking or attempting to take something of value from a victim ... by the use of force or threat of force ...”; the victim must be present).
- Aggravated assault
In 2023 in California, 66.6% of all violent crimes were aggravated assaults; 25.2%, robberies; 7.2%, rapes; and 0.97%, murders.
California ranked sixth among states for high violent crime rates (508 offenses per 100,000 people). The rate was highest in New Mexico (749 offenses per 100,000 people) and lowest in Maine (102).
The violent crime rate in California was 32.2% lower than in New Mexico, which had the highest rate.
Violent crimes per 100,000 people, 2023
Property crimes involve the taking of money or property without force or the threat of it, and include:
- Burglary (the FBI defines this as “the unlawful entry into a building or some other structure to commit a felony or a theft”).
- Larceny-theft, often called stealing (the FBI defines this as “the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another person”).
- Motor vehicle theft (not included in larceny-theft)
In 2023 in California, 63% of all property crimes were larceny-thefts; 22%, motor vehicle thefts; and 14.9%, burglaries.
California ranked eighth among states for high property crime rates (2,300 offenses per 100,000 people). The rate was highest in New Mexico (2,900 offenses per 100,000 people) and lowest in Idaho (809).
The property crime rate in California was 19.5% lower than in New Mexico, which had the highest rate.
Property crimes per 100,000 people, 2023
Adding the property and violent crime rates together creates an overall crime rate that enables us to examine general crime trends. Between 2022 and 2023, the overall crime rate in California decreased by 1.1%. State-level changes ranged from a 32.7% decrease in the overall crime rate in Hawaii to a 16.8% increase in Maryland. Across all states, the average overall crime rate decreased by 3.0% from the previous year. Also factored into the state average rate is Washington, DC, where the rate increased 24.3%.
Between 2022 and 2023, the overall crime rate increased in 16 states and Washington, DC.
Change in total offenses per 100,000 people, 2022 vs. 2023
Examining the crimes that drive changes to the overall crime rate, the violent crime rate in 2023 in California went up 0.93% (versus a 3.7% decrease in the 50-state average) and the property crime rate fell 1.5% (versus a 2.9% decrease in the 50-state average). Of the seven offenses that comprise violent and property crime, burglary, larceny-theft, murder, and rape rates in California went up, while the incidence of the other offenses went down.
Change in 2023 crime rate from prior year
| 1. | Murder | -14% |
| 2. | Rape | -5.2% |
| 3. | Robbery | +3.2% |
| 4. | Assault | +1% |
| 5. | Burglary | -7.3% |
| 6. | Larceny-theft | -2.9% |
| 7. | Motor vehicle theft | +7.4% |
| 8. | All violent crime | +0.93% |
| 9. | All property crime | -1.5% |
| 10. | Overall crime rate | -1.1% |
The number of offenses per 100,000 people in 2023 also varies across the country.
Detailed 2023 crime rate comparison, offenses per 100,000
| 1. | Murder | 5 |
| 2. | Rape | 36 |
| 3. | Robbery | 128 |
| 4. | Assault | 339 |
| 5. | Burglary | 347 |
| 6. | Larceny-theft | 1,466 |
| 7. | Motor vehicle theft | 512 |
| 8. | All violent crime | 508 |
| 9. | All property crime | 2,326 |
| 10. | Overall crime rate | 2,834 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Uniform Crime Reporting Program