Historical-data notice: This article was published in 2017 and examines Chicago homicide data through 2016. It is preserved as a historical resource and does not describe current crime conditions. Readers seeking current information should consult the City of Chicago’s regularly updated public data.
Chicago Homicide Data From 2001 Through 2016
This page presents a historical visualization of Chicago homicides from 2001 through 2016, along with a closer examination of the incidents reported in 2016. That year received substantial national attention because Chicago recorded a sharp increase in homicides compared with the preceding year.
According to the Chicago data reviewed for the original analysis, the city recorded 781 homicides in 2016—the highest annual total Chicago had experienced in nearly 20 years. The total increased by 283 from the 498 homicides reported in 2015, representing an increase of approximately 56.8%.
Chicago Community Areas With the Most Homicides in 2016
The original analysis identified the following Chicago community areas as having the highest reported homicide totals in 2016:
- Austin: 88
- Englewood: 50
- New City: 42
- West Englewood: 36
- Greater Grand Crossing: 33
- North Lawndale: 33
- Roseland: 32
- Humboldt Park: 29
- West Garfield Park: 29
- East Garfield Park: 29
- Auburn Gresham: 27
- South Shore: 22
Of Chicago’s 77 official community areas, 12 recorded no homicides in the 2016 data. The original analysis also found that 435 homicides were reported on public streets rather than inside residences or in alleys.
Austin recorded the highest homicide total among Chicago community areas in 2016. It also ranked highly in the separate gun-crime categories examined for the original report.
Historical Comparison of Homicide and Gun-Crime Reports
Most of the community areas appearing near the top of the 2016 homicide ranking also appeared in the gun-crime ranking used in the original analysis. That overlap shows an association within the historical data, but it does not establish that one category caused the other. The figures also do not determine whether a particular firearm was lawfully or unlawfully possessed.
How to Interpret These Historical Figures
Crime statistics require context. A raw incident total does not account for population, geographic size, pedestrian traffic, reporting practices, demographic conditions, or other differences among community areas. It also does not measure the individual risk faced by a resident or visitor.
The terms homicide, murder, shooting, and gun crime are not interchangeable. Homicide is a category describing one person causing the death of another; it does not, by itself, establish the criminal offense ultimately charged or the legal outcome of a case.
These figures should therefore be understood as a historical record of reported incidents and classifications—not as a current neighborhood safety ranking or a conclusion about the people who live in any community area.
Where to Find Current Chicago Crime Data
For current information, consult the City of Chicago Crimes—2001 to Present dataset. The dataset is updated regularly, and recently reported incidents may be revised as records are reviewed.
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You may reference or share these historical graphics with attribution and a link to this original page.
About Michael J. Petro
Attorney Michael J. Petro is a federal criminal defense attorney with more than 35 years of experience representing individuals in criminal investigations, trials, sentencing proceedings, and appeals. Learn more about his criminal-defense practice areas.