Violent crime inched up by about 5% in the United States in 2020. The increase was led by a 29% surge in homicides — the largest such increase on record. Not all forms of criminal violence increased in frequency last year, however. Continuing a multi-decade downward trend, the robbery rate declined in the U.S. in 2020 and is now at its lowest level since at least the mid-1980s.
According to the FBI, robbery is a crime in which force or the threat of force or violence is used to take, or attempt to take, anything of value from another person. The largest share of robberies in the United States are committed on streets or sidewalks. Handguns are the most commonly used weapon in robberies, and more often than not, among the cases where a suspect can be identified, the offender and victim are strangers to one another.
Despite the long-term decline in robberies nationwide, there were still nearly a quarter of a million robbery cases reported in the U.S. in 2020, accounting for about 19% of all reported violent crimes — and in some parts of the country, robbery is far more common than average.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most robberies. States are ranked by their robbery rate — specifically, the number of reported robberies for every 100,000 residents.
Depending on the state, robbery rates range from as low as 9.5 reported incidents per 100,000 people, to as high as 118.5 per 100,000. Nationwide, the robbery rate stands at 73.9 per 100,000.
Robbery is only one of four broad categories of violent crime — along with rаpe, aggravated assault, and homicide — and states with higher than average robbery rates also often have higher than average overall violent crime rates.
Click here to see the states with the most robberies
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Idaho
> Robberies per 100k people:: 9.5
> Number of robberies: 174 (5th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 242.6 (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (21st lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,826,913 (13th lowest)
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49. Vermont
> Robberies per 100k people:: 10.3
> Number of robberies: 64 (the lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 173.4 (3rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.2% (15th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 623,347 (2nd lowest)
48. Wyoming
> Robberies per 100k people:: 11.3
> Number of robberies: 66 (2nd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 234.2 (8th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.1% (14th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 582,328 (the lowest)
47. Maine
> Robberies per 100k people:: 12.6
> Number of robberies: 170 (4th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 108.6 (the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.9% (19th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,350,141 (9th lowest)
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46. North Dakota
> Robberies per 100k people:: 19.7
> Number of robberies: 151 (3rd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 329.0 (21st lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.6% (17th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 765,309 (4th lowest)
45. New Hampshire
> Robberies per 100k people:: 20.5
> Number of robberies: 280 (8th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 146.4 (2nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 7.3% (the lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,366,275 (10th lowest)
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44. West Virginia
> Robberies per 100k people:: 20.7
> Number of robberies: 369 (10th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 355.9 (23rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.0% (6th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,784,787 (12th lowest)
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43. Montana
> Robberies per 100k people:: 25.8
> Number of robberies: 279 (7th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 469.8 (11th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (20th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,080,577 (8th lowest)
42. Iowa
> Robberies per 100k people:: 29.8
> Number of robberies: 943 (16th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 303.5 (17th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (20th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,163,561 (20th lowest)
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41. South Dakota
> Robberies per 100k people:: 30.7
> Number of robberies: 274 (6th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 501.4 (8th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.9% (23rd highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 892,717 (5th lowest)
40. Rhode Island
> Robberies per 100k people:: 31.8
> Number of robberies: 336 (9th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 230.8 (7th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.8% (18th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,057,125 (7th lowest)
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39. Kansas
> Robberies per 100k people:: 31.8
> Number of robberies: 928 (15th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 425.0 (19th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.4% (24th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,913,805 (16th lowest)
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38. Virginia
> Robberies per 100k people:: 34.3
> Number of robberies: 2,947 (24th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 208.7 (6th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.9% (11th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 8,590,563 (12th highest)
37. Nebraska
> Robberies per 100k people:: 41.2
> Number of robberies: 799 (13th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 334.1 (22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.9% (10th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,937,552 (14th lowest)
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36. Utah
> Robberies per 100k people:: 41.9
> Number of robberies: 1,362 (17th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 260.7 (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 8.9% (2nd lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,249,879 (21st lowest)
35. Massachusetts
> Robberies per 100k people:: 43.7
> Number of robberies: 3,015 (23rd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 308.8 (19th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.4% (8th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,893,574 (15th highest)
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34. Michigan
> Robberies per 100k people:: 44.5
> Number of robberies: 4,438 (15th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 478.0 (10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (17th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 9,966,555 (10th highest)
33. Mississippi
> Robberies per 100k people:: 47.8
> Number of robberies: 1,419 (18th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 291.2 (14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 19.6% (the highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,966,786 (17th lowest)
32. New Jersey
> Robberies per 100k people:: 49.4
> Number of robberies: 4,384 (16th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 195.4 (5th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.2% (5th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 8,882,371 (11th highest)
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31. Oregon
> Robberies per 100k people:: 51.4
> Number of robberies: 2,180 (22nd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 291.9 (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.4% (23rd lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,241,507 (24th lowest)
30. Arkansas
> Robberies per 100k people:: 52.0
> Number of robberies: 1,577 (19th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 671.9 (4th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (5th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,030,522 (18th lowest)
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29. Wisconsin
> Robberies per 100k people:: 52.8
> Number of robberies: 3,081 (22nd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 323.4 (20th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.4% (16th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,832,655 (20th highest)
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28. Kentucky
> Robberies per 100k people:: 52.9
> Number of robberies: 2,369 (24th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 259.1 (11th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.3% (4th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,477,251 (25th lowest)
27. Alabama
> Robberies per 100k people:: 54.2
> Number of robberies: 2,666 (25th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 453.6 (14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.5% (7th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,921,532 (24th highest)
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26. Connecticut
> Robberies per 100k people:: 57.2
> Number of robberies: 2,033 (20th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 181.6 (4th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.0% (12th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,557,006 (22nd lowest)
25. Oklahoma
> Robberies per 100k people:: 59.1
> Number of robberies: 2,351 (23rd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 458.6 (13th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.2% (8th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,980,783 (23rd lowest)
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24. South Carolina
> Robberies per 100k people:: 59.8
> Number of robberies: 3,122 (21st highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 530.7 (7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.8% (10th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,218,040 (23rd highest)
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23. Hawaii
> Robberies per 100k people:: 61.6
> Number of robberies: 867 (14th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 254.2 (10th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.3% (6th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,407,006 (11th lowest)
22. Florida
> Robberies per 100k people:: 62.2
> Number of robberies: 13,521 (4th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 383.6 (25th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.7% (19th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 21,733,312 (3rd highest)
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21. Indiana
> Robberies per 100k people:: 62.4
> Number of robberies: 4,215 (17th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 357.7 (24th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.9% (24th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,754,953 (17th highest)
20. Georgia
> Robberies per 100k people:: 65.5
> Number of robberies: 7,016 (10th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 400.1 (22nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.3% (14th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 10,710,017 (8th highest)
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19. Ohio
> Robberies per 100k people:: 66.9
> Number of robberies: 7,826 (7th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 308.8 (18th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.1% (15th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 11,693,217 (7th highest)
18. Washington
> Robberies per 100k people:: 67.4
> Number of robberies: 5,183 (13th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 293.7 (16th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.8% (9th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 7,693,612 (13th highest)
17. Colorado
> Robberies per 100k people:: 68.3
> Number of robberies: 3,964 (18th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 423.1 (20th highest)
> Poverty rate: 9.3% (7th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,807,719 (21st highest)
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16. Minnesota
> Robberies per 100k people:: 68.5
> Number of robberies: 3,877 (19th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 277.5 (13th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.0% (3rd lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,657,342 (22nd highest)
15. North Carolina
> Robberies per 100k people:: 69.2
> Number of robberies: 7,340 (8th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 419.3 (21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (12th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 10,600,823 (9th highest)
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14. Delaware
> Robberies per 100k people:: 70.9
> Number of robberies: 700 (11th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 431.9 (17th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (22nd lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 986,809 (6th lowest)
13. Missouri
> Robberies per 100k people:: 74.4
> Number of robberies: 4,575 (14th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 542.7 (6th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.9% (18th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,151,548 (18th highest)
12. Louisiana
> Robberies per 100k people:: 80.7
> Number of robberies: 3,747 (20th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 639.4 (5th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.0% (2nd highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,645,318 (25th highest)
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11. Tennessee
> Robberies per 100k people:: 81.0
> Number of robberies: 5,575 (12th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 672.7 (3rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.9% (9th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,886,834 (16th highest)
10. Arizona
> Robberies per 100k people:: 83.7
> Number of robberies: 6,211 (11th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 484.8 (9th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.5% (13th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 7,421,401 (14th highest)
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9. Pennsylvania
> Robberies per 100k people:: 83.9
> Number of robberies: 10,728 (6th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 389.5 (24th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.0% (22nd highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 12,783,254 (5th highest)
8. Nevada
> Robberies per 100k people:: 88.7
> Number of robberies: 2,785 (25th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 460.3 (12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.5% (21st highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,138,259 (19th lowest)
7. New York
> Robberies per 100k people:: 90.6
> Number of robberies: 17,525 (3rd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 363.8 (25th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (16th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 19,336,776 (4th highest)
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6. Texas
> Robberies per 100k people:: 91.4
> Number of robberies: 26,834 (2nd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 446.5 (15th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (11th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 29,360,759 (2nd highest)
5. Alaska
> Robberies per 100k people:: 97.4
> Number of robberies: 712 (12th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 837.8 (the highest)
> Poverty rate: 10.1% (13th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 731,158 (3rd lowest)
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4. Illinois
> Robberies per 100k people:: 97.4
> Number of robberies: 12,261 (5th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 425.9 (18th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (25th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 12,587,530 (6th highest)
3. New Mexico
> Robberies per 100k people:: 99.0
> Number of robberies: 2,086 (21st lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 778.3 (2nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.2% (3rd highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,106,319 (15th lowest)
2. California
> Robberies per 100k people:: 113.6
> Number of robberies: 44,728 (the highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 442.0 (16th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.8% (25th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 39,368,078 (the highest)
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1. Maryland
> Robberies per 100k people:: 118.5
> Number of robberies: 7,174 (9th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 399.9 (23rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 9.0% (4th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,055,802 (19th highest)
Methodology
To determine the states with the most robberies, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed robbery figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. The rate of robberies per 100,000 people was calculated using population data from the FBI.
Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these states were not excluded from analysis.
Additional information on the violent crime rate is also from the 2020 FBI UCR. Poverty rates are one-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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