The ten most dangerous states in America ranked - as crime stats reveal new number one

Violent crime rates have dipped in recent years after a pandemic surge, but several states have been slower than most returning to safety. 

In a new ranking from US News based on both violent and property crimes across the nation, New Mexico emerged as the most dangerous of all 50 states. 

The South and Midwest hosted the majority of the unenviable ranking, with Louisiana and Colorado rounding out the top three. 

It comes after the US saw a terrifying spike in robberies, assaults and homicides in 2022, which have since declined according to new data by the FBI. 

New Mexico has emerged as the most dangerous state in America, owning a violent crime rate of 780 cases per 100,000 people, and a property crime rate of 2,984 per 100,000 people 

Louisiana routinely ranks as one of the least safe places in the nation, and came in second in the new rankings thanks to a violent crime rate of 629 cases per 100,000 people 

Colorado - also home to one of the nation's worst suicide rates - came in third with a worse property crime rate than the top two states at 3,148 cases per 100,000 people 

According to the FBI, 2023 saw a 13 percent decline in murders compared to the previous year, a six percent drop in violent crime reports, and a four percent decline in property crime. 

These metrics on violent and property crime were used to calculate the most dangerous state to currently live in, as New Mexico's lawbreaking saw it come out on top. 

The state owns a violent crime rate of 780 cases per 100,000 people, and a property crime rate of 2,984 per 100,000 people. 

This was closely followed by Louisiana - which routinely ranks among the most dangerous places in America - which has a violent crime rate of 629 per 100,000 people. 

Louisiana also owns the second most dangerous city in America, Monroe, where residents have a shocking 1 in 38 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. 

Monroe also has one of the highest murder rates in the United States, according to analysis of reports to the FBI, and had been the most dangerous city for the last two years until it was toppled by Bessemer, Alabama this year. 

Colorado came in third in the latest rankings, although the state owns a worse property crime rate than the top two states at 3,148 cases per 100,000 people. 

In a separate ranking, the top 100 most crime-ridden cities were recently revealed - with Bessemer, Alabama coming in first 

Missouri also found its way onto the top 10 most dangerous states list thanks to having some of the loosest gun laws in the nation 

Oregon came eighth in the list, with one of the worst property crime rates at 2,935 cases per 100,000 people 

Although not counted in the ranking metrics, the mountainous state is also home of one of the nation's worst suicide rates, and finds itself right in the heart of America's 'Suicide Belt.' 

Although Arkansas' 2,452 property crime cases are low for number four on the list, residents struggle with higher violent crime at 645 cases per 100,000 people. 

Washington and Tennessee came fourth and fifth, with the latter most recently making headlines after college student Riley Strain vanished on a night out in Nashville while his family search for answers. 

Alaska - the third least populated state in the nation - has a low property crime rate at just 1,789 cases per 100,000, but it owns the second highest violent crime rate in the nation at 759 cases per 100,000. 

Rounding out the top 10 was Oregon, California and Missouri, with the Show-me State's crime exacerbated by having some of the loosest gun laws in America.