Insights Into North Dakota's Declining Homicide Rates In 2024

North Dakota’s 2024 homicide report shows fewer killings than in recent years, though the broader patterns seen over time remained largely unchanged.

Statewide, 19 homicide deaths were recorded in 2024. With an estimated population of 796,568, the state’s homicide rate worked out to 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people, placing it below several recent annual totals.

All of the victims identified last year were adults. Most were men, who accounted for 15 of the 19 deaths. Firearms were used in seven cases, while the remaining homicides involved knives, personal weapons or other means. Three of the deaths were tied to domestic violence incidents, continuing a trend that has appeared consistently in previous reports.

Looking at longer-term data, North Dakota has averaged just under 18 homicide deaths per year since 2005. Over that span, men made up roughly two-thirds of victims, and most victims were adults. Nearly half were between the ages of 21 and 40, a range that has continued to account for a large share of homicide victims statewide.

Weapons data showed firearms were used in about 43% of homicides over the past two decades, with handguns cited more often than other firearms. Personal weapons, including hands and fists, were also a recurring factor, accounting for 65 deaths during that period.

Domestic violence accounted for more than a third of all homicides in the state in 2024, with women far more likely than men to be killed in domestic situations.