Statistics on honor killings in the United States are limited and challenging to compile due to inconsistent reporting, reluctance to label incidents as honor killings, and the absence of a centralized agency collecting comprehensive data across jurisdictions. Below are the key statistics and findings from available sources:

• Estimated Annual Honor Killings: A 2014 study by Westat, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Justice, estimated 23–27 honor killings occur annually in the U.S. This figure is based on a proxy estimate derived from data in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, as no national effort in the U.S. systematically tracks these incidents.

COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
ON HONOR KILLINGS

• Victim Demographics:
  • Approximately 93% of honor killing victims in the U.S. are women, with an average age of 23. For younger victims (18 or younger), fathers are involved in 100% of cases, while overall, fathers are involved in 52% of U.S. honor killings compared to 33% internationally.
  • Only 7% of victims are men, often targeted in cases involving perceived violations like homosexuality.
  • In North America, 91% of honor killings are motivated by the victim being perceived as “too Westernized,” with 43% of victims in Muslim countries killed for the same reason.
    
• Case Data (1990–2021): A 2022 study using the U.S. Extremist Crime Database identified 26 honor killings in the U.S. from 1990 to 2021, involving 66 victims (primary and corollary). One-third of these cases included corollary victims (e.g., family members or partners present during the attack), with half of all victims being corollary victims. These were often children or relatives of the primary victim, typically the offender’s partner or daughter.
• Underreporting: Experts, such as Farhana Qazi in 2015, suggest the actual number of honor killings is likely higher than reported due to families’ reluctance to disclose details to avoid shame, and some organizations avoid labeling incidents as honor killings to prevent stigmatizing Muslim or Arab communities.
• Comparison to Other Crimes: Honor killings represent a small fraction of homicides in the U.S., with an estimated rate of 0.008 offenses per 100,000 persons, compared to 4.7 for general homicides, 27 for rape/sexual assault, and 113 for robbery.
  
• Notable Cases:
  • 1989: Palestina Isa, 16, was killed by her father in St. Louis, Missouri, for dating an African-American boy.
  • 2008: Sandeela Kanwal was strangled by her father near Atlanta for wanting to leave an arranged marriage.
  • 2008: Sisters Amina and Sarah Said were killed by their father, Yaser Said, in Irving, Texas, for dating non-Muslim boys.
  • 2009: Aasiya Hassan was beheaded by her husband in Buffalo, New York, for seeking a divorce.
  • 2009: Noor Almaleki, 20, was killed by her father in Phoenix for refusing an arranged marriage.
  • 2018: Ali Mahmood Awad Irsan was sentenced to death in Texas for killing his daughter’s friend and husband due to her renouncing Islam.
    
• Data Gaps: As of 2012, no central U.S. agency collects comprehensive data on honor violence, and many cases are classified as domestic violence or general homicides, obscuring their specific cultural motivations. This lack of tracking complicates accurate statistical reporting.
  
• Public Sentiment on X: Posts on X have cited the 23–27 annual estimate, often emphasizing the issue’s severity and linking it to cultural practices among some immigrant communities. However, these posts are not conclusive evidence and reflect public concern rather than verified data.

Note on Context: While honor killings are sometimes associated with specific cultural or religious practices, they are not exclusive to any single group and occur across various communities globally, driven by patriarchal traditions rather than religion alone. Muslim leaders in the U.S., such as those from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, have condemned the practice, emphasizing it stems from pre-Islamic tribal behaviors.