FBI crime report ranks Detroit second most dangerous city in US

Poverty level in Detroit nears 40 percent

DETROIT – Detroit has been named America's second most dangerous city in a new report.

Detroit misses out on the top spot by just 57 reported crimes, weighing in at 1,760 crimes per 100,000 residents last year, according to the FBI's 2015 Uniform Crime Report, which was released Monday. 

St. Louis, Mo., ranks first with 1,817 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. 

According to the financial news and opinion website 24/7 Wall St., crime in Detroit dropped from 22.3 percent since 2011, but poverty remains close to 40 percent.

Related: Violent crime in Detroit down 13 percent in 2015, FBI says - watch report here:

The report suggests the "few opportunities and the dismal economic climate" are likely the causes of high violent crime rates. With an unemployment rate of 12.4 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Detroit has the the highest share of each for any major U.S. city.

What constitutes a violent crime?

According to FBI reports, violent crimes include offenses involving force or threat of force. These crimes are organized into four categories: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

Burglaries, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson also are classified as violent crimes.

Although Detroit comes in second in the number of violent crimes, it leads in the number of murders: 295 vs. 188 in St. Louis. 

The FBI reports nearly 2 million violent crimes were committed in the U.S. in 2015, up 3.9 percent from 2014. Â