There has been a decline in homicide of intimates, especially male victims

Intimates are defined to include spouses, ex-spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends.

The number of men murdered by intimates dropped by 75% since 1976.
The number of women killed by intimates was stable for nearly two decades. After 1993, the number declined reaching the lowest level recorded in 2004.

To view data, click on the chart.

[D]

In general, the number of intimate victims in each race and gender group declined

Between 1976 and 2005 --

the number of white females killed by intimates rose in the mid-1980's, then declined after 1993 reaching the lowest recorded in 2002.The number fluctuated slightly after 2002.
the number of intimate homicides for all other race and gender groups declined over the period; the number of black males killed by intimates dropped by 83%, white males by 61%, black females by 52%, and white females by 6%.

To view data, click on the chart.

Intimate Homicides by Gender and Race of Victim

[D]

About 11% of murder victims were determined to have been killed by an intimate

Victim/Offender Relationship, 1976-2005

All homicides,
1976-2005

Percent Number

Total 100.0% 594,276

Intimate 10.9% 64,529

Non-intimate 53.9% 320,554

Undetermined 35.2% 209,194

For additional detail, see Victim/offender relationship.

Female murder victims are substantially more likely than male murder victims to have been killed by an intimate

In recent years -

About one third of female murder victims were killed by an intimate.
About 3% of male murder victims were killed by an intimate.
Of all female murder victims, the proportion killed by an intimate has been increasing.
Of male murder victims, the proportion killed by an intimate has dropped.

To view data, click on the chart.

[D]

For every age group female murder victims are more likely than
male victims to have been killed by an intimate

Percent of all murders by intimates, 1976-2005

Male victims Female victims

12-17 -- 5 %

18-24 2 % 29

25-29 4 37

30-34 6 41

35-39 8 43

40-44 9 42

45-49 10 40

50-59 10 32

60+ 6 21

-- Less than 0.5%

Most intimate homicides involved spouses, although in recent years the number of deaths by boyfriends and girlfriends was about the same

To view data, click on the chart.

[D]

The intimate homicide rate has fallen for blacks in every gender and relationship category while the rate for whites has not declined for all categories

The intimate homicide rate --

for white girlfriends was higher in 2005 than it was in 1976
for white wives and ex-wives has declined but not as much as that for white husbands and ex-husbands
for black husbands and ex-husbands was 20 times greater in 1976 than it was in 2005
is higher for black girlfriends than any other group in 2005, although it has declined 66% since 1976.

To view data, click on the chart.

Intimate homicides by relationship, race and gender of victim

[D]

Note: This chart refers to persons ages 20-44. The number of married or divorced persons is the population base used to calculate spouse and ex-spouse rates and the number of never married or widowed persons is the population base used to calculate boyfriend/girlfriend rates.

The number of male and female intimate victims killed with guns has fallen.

To view data, click on the chart.

[D]

In general, guns are most often used in intimate homicide but weapon type varies by relationship. From 1990 to 2005 --

Over two-thirds of the spouse and ex-spouse victims were killed by guns.
Boyfriends were more likely to be killed by knives than any other group of intimates.
Girlfriends were more likely to be killed by force than any other group of intimates.

Homicides by relationship and weapon type, 1990-2005

Relationship of
victim to offender Total Gun Knife Blunt object Force Other weapon

Husband 100 % 69 % 26 % 2 % 1 % 3 %

Ex-husband 100 86 10 1 0 3

Wife 100 68 14 5 10 4

Ex-wife 100 77 12 3 5 3

Boyfriend 100 45 47 3 3 3

Girlfriend 100 56 20 5 14 5

Source: FBI, Supplementary Homicide Reports, 1976-2005.
See also Additional information about the data.

Note: The victims of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks are not included in this analysis. Due to refinements in the analysis, the data presented may differ from previous editions.

There has been a decline in homicide of intimates, especially male victims

In general, the number of intimate victims in each race and gender group declined

About 11% of murder victims were determined to have been killed by an intimate

Female murder victims are substantially more likely than male murder victims to have been killed by an intimate

For every age group female murder victims are more likely than male victims to have been killed by an intimate

Most intimate homicides involved spouses, although in recent years the number of deaths by boyfriends and girlfriends was about the same

The intimate homicide rate has fallen for blacks in every gender and relationship category while the rate for whites has not declined for all categories

The number of male and female intimate victims killed with guns has fallen.

For every age group female murder victims are more likely than
male victims to have been killed by an intimate