NEW ORLEANS — Although raw figures show an almost 20 percent jump in violent crime in New Orleans in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, police say the increase is much smaller when figured on a per capita basis.

Figures released on Monday show that all categories of violent crime were up except for simple robbery and murder.

Violent crime jumped only 1.08 percent on a per capita basis, however, police said. Police based that per capita figure on an average population of 273,412 in 2007 and an estimated population of 323,302 in 2008 but did not indicate the population source.

However, others say the 2008 population figure is lower.

"No one knows what the population is," said Rafael Goyeneche, executive director of the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

Demographer Greg Rigamer put the population at 302,191 as of Feb. 1, based on utility hookups. But Rigamer's report also said the rate of return appeared to begin slowing.

The first quarter of 2008 showed a 10.4 percent drop in murders compared to last year's first quarter, from 48 in 2007 to 43 this year.

Overall, crime decreased 4.33 percent in New Orleans in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period of 2007. Fueling the drop was 237 fewer burglaries and 174 less thefts.

Nonviolent crimes overall decreased by 8.97 percent.

Violent crime overall rose 19.52 percent, with the big jumps in armed robbery, which increased from 190 incidents in 2007 to 278 in 2008 and assault which went from 447 to 500.

There were 14 rapes in the first quarter of 2007 compared to 26 in 2008.

Even figured on a per capita basis, rapes jumped 57 percent and armed robberies went up 23.74 percent.

"Some of the problems may reflect the manpower woes of the department," Goyeneche said. "Crime is still unacceptably high and no one is declaring victory, but it at least shows progress and that's good."