Firearm deaths remain unevenly distributed across the United States, with provisional totals showing 45,222 gun deaths in 2020 and 48,204 in 2022. In 2021, the total reached 48,830, a 23 percent increase from 2019. This article breaks down where accidental, homicide, and suicide deaths cluster, including the adult and child age groups most affected.
Key Takeaways
- Accidental firearm deaths totaled 548 in 2021 US
- Gun death rate for Black males ages 15-24: 52.0 per 100,000 in 2021
- In 2020, 19,384 people were murdered with guns in the US
- In 2021, the United States recorded 48,830 total firearm deaths, marking a 23% increase from 2019
- Firearm suicides totaled 26,328 in 2021
Firearm deaths remain a major public health concern, and reducing them requires urgent, sustained action.
Related reading
01 · Category
Accidents22 stats
01
Accidental firearm deaths totaled 548 in 2021 US
02
Unintentional firearm deaths 2020: 535
03
Children under 18 accidental gun deaths: 202 in 2022
04
Firearm accidents rate: 0.14 per 100k 2021
05
359 accidental gun deaths among adults 2021
06
Black children accidental shootings: 40% of total child gun accidents 2022
07
From 2015-2019, 2,594 accidental firearm deaths US
08
Males 89% of unintentional firearm deaths 2021
09
Ages 0-14 accidental gun deaths: 121 in 2021
10
Gun accidents declined 6% from 2020-2021
11
2022 accidental firearm fatalities: 611 provisional
12
Firearm misfires and NDs cause 500+ deaths yearly average
13
Children shot accidentally by family: 75% of child gun accidents
14
Rural accidental gun death rate higher: 0.2 per 100k
15
Secure storage could prevent 80% accidental deaths
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2019 accidental firearm deaths: 397
17
Teens 15-19: 50 accidental gun deaths 2021
18
Handguns in 70% accidental shootings
19
Accidental gun deaths up 13% among kids 2018-2022
20
Provisional 2023 accidents: 300+
21
Firearm accidents total 1999-2021: 13,000+
22
Black males highest accidental rate: 0.4 per 100k
Interpretation
Accidents Interpretation
Behind these sobering statistics lies a tragic script, repeated yearly, where unsecured handguns in homes turn curiosity into catastrophe for children and where safe storage promises a far quieter story.
02 · Category
Demographics25 stats
01
Gun death rate for Black males ages 15-24: 52.0 per 100,000 in 2021
02
White males ages 75+ gun suicide rate: 41.5 per 100k 2021
03
Females firearm death rate: 2.9 per 100k vs males 27.4 in 2021
04
Black children ages 1-19 gun death rate: 12.2 per 100k 2021
05
Rural gun death rate: 17.0 per 100k vs urban 10.8 in 2020
06
Hispanic males gun homicide rate: 11.5 per 100k 2021
07
Ages 25-44 highest gun death group: 18.3 per 100k 2021
08
Native American gun death rate: 25.5 per 100k 2021
09
Women gun suicide rate up 35% Black women 2000-2020
10
Teens 15-19 male gun death rate: 15.2 per 100k 2021
11
Southern states average gun death rate: 18.7 per 100k 2021
12
LGBTQ+ youth gun suicide risk 4x higher with gun access
13
Veterans gun death rate: 28.5 per 100k 2020
14
Poverty counties gun homicide rate 2x higher 2021
15
Asian/Pacific Islander lowest gun death rate: 2.1 per 100k
16
Elderly 65+ gun death mostly suicide: 90% 2021
17
Black females gun homicide rate: 4.3 per 100k 2021
18
Urban Black youth gun death rate: 35.0 per 100k ages 15-24
19
White rural gun suicide rate: 20.5 per 100k males
20
Immigrants lower gun death rate: 5.2 per 100k vs natives 15.0 2021
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Gun death disparities: Black rate 4x white non-Hispanic 2021
22
Children in gun-owning homes 3x accidental death risk
23
Mississippi highest gun death rate state: 28.6 per 100k 2021
24
California lowest: 8.5 per 100k 2021
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DC gun homicide rate: 28.5 per 100k 2021
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
These statistics expose an American tragedy where your health, safety, and risk of a violent end are shockingly predetermined not by your choices but by your race, your age, your gender, your poverty, and your zip code.
03 · Category
Homicides23 stats
01
In 2020, 19,384 people were murdered with guns in the US
02
Firearm homicides rose 45% from 2019 to 2021, totaling 20,958 in 2021
03
In 2022, 21,156 firearm homicides occurred in the US
04
Black Americans faced a gun homicide rate of 28.2 per 100,000 in 2021
05
Firearms used in 77% of US murders in 2020
06
Gun homicides among youth aged 1-17: 2,280 in 2021
07
2021 saw 48% increase in gun homicides from 2019 baseline
08
Males accounted for 88% of gun homicide victims in 2020
09
Firearm homicide rate for ages 15-34: 17.9 per 100k in 2021
10
In 2019, 14,414 gun murders in US
11
Gun homicides increased 35% in large cities 2019-2022
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79% of all homicides in 2021 involved firearms
13
Black males aged 15-34 had gun homicide rate of 101.1 per 100k in 2021
14
Firearm homicides totaled 16,669 in 2019
15
Pandemic-era gun homicides up 30% nationally 2020
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In 2022, gun homicides: 21,156 total
17
Firearm-related homicides among children under 18: 1,732 in 2021
18
Gun homicide victims in US 2020: 19,141
19
Hispanic gun homicide rate 2021: 7.9 per 100k
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Firearms in 54% of mass killings homicides 2022
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Urban gun homicide rate 2021: 12.4 per 100k
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From 2015-2020, gun homicides up 25% for Black youth
23
2023 gun homicides provisional: over 18,000
Interpretation
Homicides Interpretation
While the numbers paint a grim and escalating national tragedy, they scream a particularly devastating and targeted truth: this is not a random crisis, but a systemic failure carving its deepest wounds into young Black communities, with our children caught in the crossfire.
More related reading
04 · Category
National Totals30 stats
01
In 2021, the United States recorded 48,830 total firearm deaths, marking a 23% increase from 2019
02
Firearm deaths in the US reached 48,204 in 2022, the highest on record
03
From 2019 to 2020, US firearm deaths surged by 43% among children and teens aged 1-17, totaling 2,590 deaths
04
In 2020, firearms accounted for 54.4% of all US suicides, contributing to 24,292 firearm suicide deaths
05
US firearm homicide rate in 2021 was 6.8 per 100,000, up from 4.5 in 2019
06
Total US gun deaths averaged 43,000 annually from 2017-2021
07
Firearms were used in 79% of all US homicides in 2021, totaling 20,958 deaths
08
In 2019, 39,707 people died from guns in the US
09
Provisional data shows 45,222 firearm deaths in the US for 2023
10
Firearm mortality rate in US was 14.8 per 100,000 in 2021
11
In 2020, US had 45,222 gun deaths, highest ever at that point
12
From 1999-2020, 703,243 people died by firearms in the US
13
Firearm deaths rose 14% from 2019 to 2020 nationally
14
In 2021, gun deaths were 4.3% of all US deaths
15
US firearm death total for ages 1-19 in 2021 was 4,739
16
Provisional 2022 US firearm deaths: 48,204
17
Firearms caused 19,384 homicides in 2022
18
Total gun suicides 2021: 26,328
19
US gun death rate 2020: 13.7 per 100,000
20
From 2015-2019, annual average US firearm deaths: 40,000
21
2023 provisional firearm deaths US: over 43,000
22
Firearm deaths 1999-2021 cumulative: over 1 million
23
US gun deaths 2019: 39,707
24
National firearm mortality 2021 rate: 14.2 per 100k for males
25
Total US firearm injuries and deaths 2020: over 100,000
26
Gun deaths peaked at 48,830 in 2021
27
From 2010-2020, firearm deaths increased 30%
28
2021 US firearm deaths by month averaged 4,000+
29
Firearm deaths represent 5% of injury deaths nationally
30
US total gun deaths 2022 provisional: 48,204 including suicides
Interpretation
National Totals Interpretation
America treats its uniquely lethal gun violence epidemic with the resigned shrug of a patient ignoring a fever that climbs higher every year, now casually breaking its own tragic records as if they were sports scores.
05 · Category
Suicides21 stats
01
Firearm suicides totaled 26,328 in 2021
02
Firearms account for 55% of US suicides, with 24,292 in 2020
03
Gun suicide rate 2021: 7.4 per 100k nationally
04
Males: 85% of firearm suicides, 23,000+ in 2021
05
Rural areas gun suicide rate: 12.1 per 100k vs urban 4.2 in 2021
06
From 2000-2020, gun suicides increased 17%
07
Elderly white males gun suicide rate: 41.7 per 100k ages 75+
08
Veterans: 22 gun suicides daily average 2019-2020
09
2022 provisional gun suicides: 27,300
10
Firearms in 50% of youth suicides aged 10-24
11
Gun suicide deaths 2019: 23,941
12
White non-Hispanics: 70% of gun suicides 2021
13
Access to guns increases suicide risk 3-fold, 58% attempt lethality
14
States with highest gun suicide rates: Wyoming 29.7 per 100k 2021
15
Gun suicides among women up 15% 2015-2020
16
14,000 gun suicides prevented if guns stored safely 2020 estimate
17
Ages 25-44 gun suicide rate: 8.9 per 100k 2021
18
Firearm suicides 1999-2020: 450,000+
19
Gun suicides comprise 73% of rural suicides
20
Provisional 2023 gun suicides: 14,000+ half-year
21
Firearm suicides fell 3% in states with laws 2019-2021
Interpretation
Suicides Interpretation
Behind every staggering statistic lies a preventable human tragedy, with the data overwhelmingly showing that easy access to a firearm turns a moment of crisis into a permanent and lethal outcome.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Firearm Death Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/firearm-death-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Firearm Death Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/firearm-death-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Firearm Death Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/firearm-death-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level