More than 1,600 women in the U.S. were murdered by men in 2013, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Violence Policy Center. Black women were killed at a rate two and a half times that of white women.
The annual report, titled "When Men Murder Women," analyzes incidents in which one man kills one woman -- generally a sign of domestic homicide. It's a detailed and sobering look at lethal violence against women in the U.S.
Firearms, specifically handguns, were the most commonly used weapons. Domestic violence and guns are a deadly combination: Research has found that if an abuser has access to a gun, the victim is eight times more likely to be killed.
"Ninety-four percent of the women killed by men were killed by someone they knew," said Julia Wyman, executive director of the nonprofit group States United to Prevent Gun Violence. "Guns in the hands of domestic abusers are particularly deadly for women."
The new report ranked states by the rate at which women are murdered by men.
In 2013, South Carolina topped the list with 2.32 homicide victims per 100,000 women -- more than double the national average. The state's domestic violence problem drew national attention earlier this year when the Charleston Post and Courier won a Pulitzer for its reporting on the subject.
Alaska followed closely behind South Carolina, with 2.29 homicides per 100,000 women. New Mexico came in third, at 2.00 homicides per 100,000 women.
See the top 10 worst states in 2013 below, as well as a map of the U.S. showing where women are most likely to be killed by men over the past decade.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
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