Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Violent crime rate
1985–2023FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
Crime Rate
Montana's total crime rate (violent plus property) is about 3,190 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, above the national average.
Violent + property crime rate
1985–2025FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property offenses per 100,000 residents, sum of monthly rates from reporting agencies.
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Total crime rate (per 100k) | 3190 | 2380 |
- •Montana's overall crime rate has climbed over the past decade even as its violent crime remains near the national average.
Violent Crime
Montana recorded a violent crime rate of about 413 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, close to the U.S. average of roughly 364.
Violent crime rate, Montana
1985–2025FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent offenses per 100,000 residents, sum of monthly rates from reporting agencies.
Violent crime rate, U.S.
1985–2025FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent offenses per 100,000 residents, sum of monthly rates from reporting agencies.
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime rate (per 100k) | 413 | 364 |
- •Aggravated assault makes up nearly three-quarters of Montana's reported violent crime.
Property Crime
Montana's property crime rate reached about 2,777 per 100,000 residents in 2023, well above the national average of around 1,930.
Property crime rate, Montana
1985–2025FBI Crime Data Explorer, property offenses per 100,000 residents, sum of monthly rates from reporting agencies.
Property crime rate, U.S.
1985–2025FBI Crime Data Explorer, property offenses per 100,000 residents, sum of monthly rates from reporting agencies.
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Property crime rate (per 100k) | 2777 | 1930 |
- •Montana's property crime rate is nearly 44% higher than the national average, largely driven by larceny-theft.
Homicides
Montana reported a homicide rate of about 4.2 per 100,000 residents in 2023, higher than the national rate of roughly 5.7 but variable given the state's small population.
Homicide rate, Montana
1985–2025FBI Crime Data Explorer, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter per 100,000 residents, sum of monthly rates from reporting agencies.
Homicide rate, U.S.
1985–2025FBI Crime Data Explorer, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter per 100,000 residents, sum of monthly rates from reporting agencies.
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate (per 100k) | 4.2 | 5.7 |
- •Firearms are involved in roughly two-thirds of Montana's homicides, consistent with the state's high rate of gun ownership.
Police Officers
Montana employs about 1,650 sworn law enforcement officers statewide, roughly 145 officers per 100,000 residents, below the national median.
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Officers per 100k | 145 | 238 |
- •Some of Montana's frontier counties rely on just one or two deputies to patrol areas larger than small U.S. states.
Public Safety Indicators
Montana's clearance rate for violent crime is about 52%, and the state reported roughly 24,600 total offenses to the FBI's NIBRS system in 2023.
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| DUI arrest rate (per 100k) | 398 | 290 |
- •Nearly half of Montana's violent crime incidents are classified as domestic violence-related.