Homicide victimization rates per 100,000 population, by age and year, 1980-2004
An animation showing age trends in homicide victimization rates.
The line starts with victimization rates for the very young being higher than for older children. After declining through the preteen years, the rates begin to increase during adolescence, reaching a peak for older teens and young adults. After age 25 rates taper off.
The animation shows that the rates for victims in their late teens and early twenties are always the highest. In the 1980's the rates for victims is highest for those ages 22 to 25, but by the early 1990's victims ages 18 to 22 had the highest rates. This period had higher rates than earlier or later periods. In 2004, victims ages 20 to 25 once again had the highest rate but compared to earlier years they were much lower.