Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that New York City continues to be the safest large city in the United States. Data from 2025 released by the NYPD shows a decrease in murders, retail theft, robberies, and subway crime. Shooting incidents and the number of people harmed by gunfire reached record lows last year.
“When I became Governor, I made keeping New Yorkers safe my top priority and tackled crime head-on in New York City and across the state. Since then, I have made unprecedented investments in police and public safety – more than $3 billion – to make New York’s neighborhoods and subways safer,” Governor Hochul said. “Our aggressive approach is paying off: crime has fallen to record lows, making New York a safer place to live, work and visit. I look forward to continuing this work with Mayor Mamdani, Police Commissioner Tisch and the brave men and women of law enforcement who sacrifice so much to ensure New York remains the safest big city in the country.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani commented on progress against gun violence: “Last year, New York City had its safest year for gun violence ever. This achievement—among many others—is a testament to the leadership of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the dedication of the NYPD, and the tireless work of community-based organizations that help keep our neighborhoods safe. This work, however, is not done. Together with Police Commissioner Tisch and Governor Kathy Hochul, we will continue to drive down crime—addressing the needs of New Yorkers and working with our officers to deliver public safety.”
Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch added: “These historic reductions in crime did not happen by chance or accident — they are the direct product of a deliberate, data-driven strategy achieving unprecedented public safety milestones for New York City. The NYPD drove shooting incidents and shooting victims to the lowest levels in recorded history and delivered the safest year on our subway system, outside of the pandemic era, since 2009. These numbers describe an agency that’s firing on all cylinders: taking down violent gangs, removing thousands of guns off the street, and shattering record-low violent crime numbers. New York City is still the safest big city in the country, thanks to the extraordinary work of the women and men of the NYPD who answer the call every day to protect and serve.”
In 2025 there were 688 shooting incidents—a 10 percent drop from 2018’s previous low—and a 24 percent decline compared to 2024 (688 vs. 904). December saw only 35 shootings citywide—the fewest ever recorded for any month in city history.
Comparatively higher rates were reported elsewhere; Chicago had over twice as many shootings as New York despite having about one-third its population size while Philadelphia also surpassed New York’s total with less than one-fifth its population.
The number of people shot dropped five percent from prior records set in 2018 (856 vs. 897) and fell by 22 percent compared with last year (856 vs. 1,103). All five boroughs experienced declines; Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island each recorded their lowest-ever annual shooting incident totals.
NYPD efforts included seizing more than 5,293 illegal firearms last year as well as conducting seventy gang-related takedowns.
Major crimes declined three percent overall (121,542 vs. 125,026), aided by increased deployment of officers at high-crime locations including precincts, public housing sites and subways.
Murders decreased by just over twenty percent (305 vs. 382) compared with last year; Staten Island saw murders fall more than sixty percent with none reported in December.
Robberies dropped nearly ten percent (15,065 vs.16,696), burglaries almost four percent (12,777 vs.13,301), auto thefts five percent (13,520 vs.14,233), grand larceny two percent (48,034 vs.48,963), hate crimes twelve percent (576 vs.657), while antisemitic incidents accounted for most hate crimes but were down three percent from last year.
Rape reports rose sixteen percent due partly to legislative changes broadening legal definitions beginning September 2024; domestic-violence-related rapes rose twenty-five percent accounting for about half such cases citywide. In response NYPD launched a Domestic Violence Unit—the largest nationwide—with four hundred fifty dedicated investigators starting October.
Felony assaults rose slightly overall but decreased during December compared with previous years; increases were driven mainly by attacks on public sector employees—including police—which grew twenty-five percent alongside domestic violence cases which comprised forty-one percent of felony assaults.
Subway systems experienced their safest non-pandemic year since 2009; major subway crimes fell four percent (2,160 vs.2 ,251) including reductions in shootings—from eight down to three—and murders which declined sixty percent from last year’s total reaching their lowest level since before pandemic disruptions began.
Transit robberies reached all-time lows falling twelve-and-a-half-percent while pickpocketing was reduced forty-four-percent outside pandemic years.
Governor Hochul allocated $77 million toward enhanced transit patrols this fiscal cycle—with plans for another $77 million proposed—resulting in improved perceptions among riders according to an MTA poll indicating seventy-percent now feel safe using subways versus earlier months’ figures.
NYPD drone deployments helped monitor risky behaviors like subway surfing enabling rescues while related incidents dropped thirty-seven-percent over last year’s numbers.
Retail theft declined fourteen-percent following new targeted strategies focused on identifying repeat offenders patterns deploying resources at key locations during peak hours shifting enforcement tactics toward sustained investigations rather than brief interventions.