New Orleans has held the distinction of having the highest murder rate of any major American city in 2000 (42.1 per 100,000 people) 2001 (44.0 per 100,000) 2002 (53.1 per 100,000) 2003 (57.7 per 100,000) 2004 (56.0 per 100,000) 2006 (70 per 100,000) 2007 (81 per 100,000) 2008 (63.6 per 100,000) 2009 (52 per 100,000) 2010 (51 per 100,000) and 2011 {57.6 per 100,000} as well. The city has had an annual murder rate at least seven times the national average for the past 30 years.The city's 58 per 100,000 average annual murder rate from 1990-2012 is nearly 20% higher than any other major U.S. city.