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Thursday, Jun. 26, 2025

Is Oklahoma’s homicide rate among the top 20 states?

Matthew Yim, Oklahoma Watch
yes

2022 homicide data from both the CDC and FBI consistently place Oklahoma’s homicide rate among the top 20 states.

According to the CDC, which tracks all mortality data through mandated reporting of standardized death certificates, Oklahoma has the 20th highest homicide mortality rate at 8.3 per 100,000 people. That is above the national average of 7.5 , but significantly below Mississippi, which ranks No.1 with a rate of 20.7. At 23.7, the District of Columbia has a higher homicide rate than any state. 

FBI homicide data, which regularly shows lower figures than CDC data due to voluntary reporting, shows a similar trend, ranking Oklahoma at No.19 with a rate of 7.0 and reporting a national rate of 6.5. 

From 2017 to 2021, homicide was the second leading cause of violent death in Oklahoma after suicide. Firearms were used in 71% of homicides during that time.

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