Crimes in developed countries are generally fewer than those of developed and underdeveloped countries. However, development does not automatically translate to universal peace. In the US for instance, crimes are widespread (though not as widespread as less developed countries), but this is primarily because of two facts: first, the country has a huge population; secondly, this population is racially mixed.

Although American observers note that the number of violent crimes is still high, there have been significant drops in reported criminal commissions. Crimes in the country rose significantly after the Second World War, but the number dropped in the 1990s. Researches indicate that this number is continually dropping. According to the FBI report, a murder is committed every half an hour; this is actually a 0.6% drop from the previous years.

In the UK, a declining trend is also noted by social environment researchers and authorities. By February 2014, all reported crimes have declined in numbers from that of the previous month.

However, trends that apply on one region may not necessarily apply to the other. While the country has seen a declining rate for anti-social behaviors, the case is not true in Northern Ireland. Official statistics indicate an increase of 0.002% from January to February for the said crime. Generally, nonetheless, official criminal estimates suggest an improvement since the past decade.