Crime

What is the crime rate in ?

Updates published annually
In 2023, for every 100,000 people, 357 violent crimes and 2,887 property crimes. 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.

357

violent crimes per 100K people (2023)

2,887

property crimes per 100K people (2023)
Compared to the 50-state average, the violent crime rate in 2023 in Washington was 4.6% lower, and its rate of property crime was 50.6% higher.

In 2023, the violent crime rate in Washington was lower than the 50-state average but the property crime rate was higher.

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 Washington, 65.2% of all violent crimes were aggravated assaults; 23%, robberies; 10.5%, rapes; and 1.3%, murders.
Washington ranked 22nd among states for high violent crime rates (357 offenses per 100,000 people). The rate was highest in New Mexico (749 offenses per 100,000 people) and lowest in Maine (102). Washington, DC (1,200 offenses per 100,000 people) would rank first among all states in terms of highest violent crime rates.

The violent crime rate in Washington was 52.3% 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 Washington, 59.7% of all property crimes were larceny-thefts; 23.6%, motor vehicle thefts; and 16.7%, burglaries.
Washington ranked second among states for high property crime rates (2,900 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 Washington was 0.1% 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 Washington state decreased by 13.5%. 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% 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 Washington went down 5.7% (versus a 3.7% decrease in the 50-state average) and the property crime rate fell 14.4% (versus a 2.9% decrease in the 50-state average). Of the seven offenses that comprise violent and property crime, motor vehicle theft rates in Washington went up, while the incidence of the other offenses went down.

Change in 2023 crime rate from prior year

Change in 2023 crime rate from prior year
The number of offenses per 100,000 people in 2023 also varies across the country.

Detailed 2023 crime rate comparison, offenses per 100,000

Detailed 2023 crime rate comparison, offenses per 100,000

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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