QUANTICO, Va. — The Virgin Islands had the highest murder rate in the country — higher per capita than any other state, commonwealth or territory in the country, according to the latest statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The FBI figures show that the murder rate in the territory increased by 10 percent between 2014 and 2015 for murders and non-negligent homicides, according to the FBI’s annual report “Crime In the United States.”

The report, released on September 27, said that the Virgin Islands had 32.9 murders per 100,000 people in 2015. The next closest state, territory or commonwealth was the District of Columbia with 24.1 murders per 100,000 people followed immediately by Puerto Rico with 19.3 murders per 100,000 people.

On the U.S. mainland, the homicide rate also increased, going up 3.1 percent from 2014 to 2015, the FBI said.

To read more, please go to:

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/latest-crime-statistics-released

https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3950/overview.htm