2 minute readApril 13, 20225:21 PM UTCLast Updated ago

Factbox: Despite recent uptick, New York City crime down from past decades

The Empire State Building and New York’s skyline are seen during the preview of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City — The Empire State Building and New York’s skyline are seen during the preview of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck, which is spread across the top four floors of the new One Vanderbilt tower in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City, New York, U.S., October 18, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

April 13 (Reuters) - A shooting at a New York City subway station on Tuesday brought fresh attention to crime in the most populous American city, with 8.8 million people as of 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Official statistics show an increase in murders in the city in each of the past four years, but total numbers of murders were still far lower than three decades ago when crime in the United States crested thanks in part to the crack cocaine epidemic of that era.

Here is a look at three categories of violent crime for selected years, based on New York City police statistics.

MURDER

The city recorded 488 murders in 2021, a 4% increase from 468 in 2020, which in turn was up 47% from 319 in 2019, and 295 homicides in 2018 after falling to a low of 292 in 2017 following a steady decline since the early 1990s. The number of murders in 2010 was 536, in 2000 was 673, and in 1990 was 2,262.

RAPE

New York recorded 1,491 rapes in 2021, a 4% increase over 1,427 in 2020 but a 15% decline from 1,755 in 2019 and a 17% drop from 1,794 in 2018. It went as low as 1,205 in 2009. The number of rapes in 2010 was 1,373, in 2000 was 2,068, and in 1990 was 3,126.

ROBBERY

The city recorded 13,831 robberies in 2021, up 6% from 13,106 in 2020. The figure was 13,371 in 2019 after going as low as 12,913 in 2018. The number of robberies in 2010 was 19,486, in 2000 was 32,562, and in 1990 was 100,280.

Sources: New York Police Department crime statistics for 2021 and 2022; New York City government data on major felony offense from 2000 onward.

Compiled by Will Dunham in Washington and Jonathan Oatis in New York; Editing by Howard Goller