While a shocking 118 Americans are killed by guns every single day, these startling statistics unveil the devastating and escalating crisis of firearm violence that has claimed over 200,000 lives in just the last five years.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 43,579 gun deaths in the United States
- In 2021, firearms were the leading cause of death for children and teens aged 1-17, with 2,590 deaths
- From 2019-2023, gun violence killed over 200,000 people in the US
- In 2022, approximately 80,000 Americans were shot and survived
- Gunshot injuries in 2023 totaled over 37,000 non-fatal
- From 2017-2021, 1.1 million nonfatal firearm injuries treated in ERs
- In 2023, 19,384 gun murders in US
- Gun homicides rose 45% from 2019 to 2021
- In 2022, 20,138 gun homicide deaths
- In 2021, 26,328 gun suicides in US
- Firearms used in 55% of suicides 2022
- Gun suicides: 58% of all suicides in 2021
- In 2023, 656 mass shootings with 4+ victims injured/killed
- 633 mass shootings in 2022 per GVA definition
- 2023 mass shootings: highest on record 656
Gun violence remains a devastating and persistent crisis across America.
Fatalities
- In 2022, there were 43,579 gun deaths in the United States
- In 2021, firearms were the leading cause of death for children and teens aged 1-17, with 2,590 deaths
- From 2019-2023, gun violence killed over 200,000 people in the US
- In 2023, at least 42,967 people died from gun violence in the US
- Firearm mortality rate in 2021 was 14.2 per 100,000 population
- Between 2015-2019, average annual gun deaths were 39,707
- In 2020, gun deaths reached 45,222, a 43% increase from 1999
- Provisional 2022 gun death total was 48,204
- From 1968-2021, over 1.9 million gun deaths occurred
- In 2019, 39,707 died from guns
- Gun deaths rose 14% from 2019 to 2020
- In 2021, 48,830 gun-related deaths
- Firearms caused 54% of all suicides in 2021
- Over 1,400 children died by gun in 2021
- Gun death rate for Black Americans was 28.2 per 100k in 2021
- In 2022, 20,207 gun suicides occurred
- Total gun deaths in first half 2023: 20,000+
- Firearm homicide rate doubled from 2019 to 2021
- 4.5 million gun deaths since 1970
- In 2023, daily average gun deaths: 118
- Gun deaths among youth increased 50% from 2019-2021
- 2021 saw record 48,830 gun deaths
- Firearms killed more than car crashes in 2021 for first time
- From 1999-2020, 490,000 gun deaths
- 2022 gun death rate: 13.3 per 100k
- Gun deaths in US 25 times higher than other high-income countries
- In 2020, 19,384 gun murders
- Provisional gun deaths 2023: over 40,000
- Average annual gun deaths 2015-2019: 39,707
- Gun fatalities rose to 14.3 per 100k in 2021
Fatalities Interpretation
America has normalized a uniquely homegrown horror where firearms now kill more of our children than car crashes, yet we still treat this preventable epidemic as a matter of political debate rather than urgent public health crisis.
Homicides
- In 2023, 19,384 gun murders in US
- Gun homicides rose 45% from 2019 to 2021
- In 2022, 20,138 gun homicide deaths
- Firearms used in 79% of murders 2021
- Black males: 60% of gun homicide victims 2021
- Gun homicide rate for ages 1-19: 4.5 per 100k in 2021
- 2023 gun homicides: 17,927
- Urban areas: 80% of gun homicides
- Males: 88% of gun homicide victims
- Gun homicides doubled in 20 years to 2020
- In 2021, 24,576 gun murders/suicides but homicides ~19k
- Youth gun homicides up 97% 2018-2021
- Gang-related: 13% of gun homicides
- Domestic violence gun homicides: 1,500+ annually
- Gun homicide rate Black males 15-24: 101.2 per 100k
- 2022 saw 43% increase in gun homicides since 2019
- Firearms in 77% of homicides 2022
- Teen gun homicide victims: 2,560 in 2021
- Gun homicides in schools rare but 300+ since 2018
- Argument-triggered gun homicides: 50%+
- Gun homicide disparity: Blacks 13x whites rate
- 2020 gun homicides: record 19,384
- Women gun homicide victims: 10% intimate partner
- Gun homicides fell 10% post-1990s peak
- In 2023, 1,300+ child gun homicide victims under 18
- Gun homicides 25x higher than peer nations
- Elderly gun homicides low: 200 annually
Homicides Interpretation
The United States has engineered a uniquely American paradox where we treat a public health crisis that claims tens of thousands, disproportionately young Black men, as an inescapable fixture of freedom, all while our peer nations look on in bewildered horror.
Injuries
- In 2022, approximately 80,000 Americans were shot and survived
- Gunshot injuries in 2023 totaled over 37,000 non-fatal
- From 2017-2021, 1.1 million nonfatal firearm injuries treated in ERs
- In 2021, 31,620 nonfatal gun injuries
- Children under 18: 2,400 nonfatal gun injuries in 2021
- Gun injury rate doubled from 2019-2021
- In 2022, 42,000+ gun injuries reported by GVA
- Firearm assault injuries: 85,830 in 2021
- Unintentional shooting injuries: 534 in 2021
- Males account for 88% of nonfatal gun injuries
- Black males aged 15-34: highest gun injury rate 2021
- Hospital costs for gun injuries: $2.8 billion annually pre-2020
- 2023 saw 1,200+ pediatric gun injuries monthly average
- Gun trauma center visits up 44% 2019-2022
- In 2020, 80,152 nonfatal firearm injuries
- Defensive gun use injuries rare, under 100k annually
- Mass shooting injuries: 1,000+ in 2023
- Rural gun injury rates higher than urban in some metrics
- 2021 self-inflicted gun injuries: 5,000 nonfatal
- Gunshot wounds cost $10 billion in medical bills yearly
- Youth gun injuries tripled since 2010
- In 2022, 25% of gun injuries were to bystanders
- ER visits for gun assaults up 35% 2020-2021
- Firearm injuries per 100k: 25.2 in 2021
- Black youth gun injury rate 10x white youth
- 2023 total gunshot victims: 80,000+
- In 2021, 40,000+ nonfatal gun assaults
- Gun injury disparities: South highest rates
- Pediatric gun injuries: 25,000 in 2022
- Nonfatal gun injuries 2019: 140,000 estimated
Injuries Interpretation
America treats gun violence like a math problem we're content to keep solving over and over, except the "answers" are millions of ruined lives and a country hemorrhaging both blood and billions of dollars.
Mass Shootings
- In 2023, 656 mass shootings with 4+ victims injured/killed
- 633 mass shootings in 2022 per GVA definition
- 2023 mass shootings: highest on record 656
- Since 2014, 4,095 mass shootings tracked by GVA
- Mass shootings doubled from 2019 to 2023
- 2021: 689 mass shootings
- Public mass shootings FBI: 28 in 2023
- Mass shootings kill 1,000+ since Columbine
- 2020: 611 mass shootings despite pandemic
- Schools: 346 mass shootings since 2014
- Handguns used in 80% mass shootings
- Mass shootings in 39 states 2023
- Weekend mass shootings: 40% of total
- Black victims: 25% in mass shootings 2023
- 2019: 417 mass shootings
- Active shooter incidents FBI: 61 in 2021
- Mass shootings at homes/parties: 50%+
- 2023 Fourth of July weekend: 12 mass shootings
- Gunman alone in 80% mass shootings
- Mass shootings up 50% post-2020
- California: 80+ mass shootings 2023
- AR-15 used in 20 notable mass shootings
- 2022 mass shootings: 646 with 800+ injured
- Workplace mass shootings: 50 since 1980
- Mass shootings in churches: 10+ since 2014
- Record mass shootings 2023: 40% gang/domestic
- FBI public mass shootings: 120 since 2000
Mass Shootings Interpretation
Interpreting these numbers, it becomes tragically clear that we have not merely recorded mass shootings over the last decade but have instead institutionalized them into a grim and predictable national routine.
Suicides
- In 2021, 26,328 gun suicides in US
- Firearms used in 55% of suicides 2022
- Gun suicides: 58% of all suicides in 2021
- Rural areas: 65% higher gun suicide rate
- Males: 87% of gun suicides
- Gun suicide rate: 7.5 per 100k 2021
- Veterans: 22 gun suicides daily
- Youth gun suicides doubled 2007-2021
- 2023 gun suicides: 14,000+
- White males 65+: highest gun suicide rate 41 per 100k
- Gun access increases suicide risk 3-4x
- 2022 gun suicides: 27,032 estimated
- States with more guns: higher suicide rates
- Gun suicides up 36% since 2000
- Children: 500+ gun suicides annually
- 90% of gun suicides fatal vs 5% other methods
- Gun suicide attempts: 500+ daily
- Western states highest gun suicide rates
- Gun suicides fell 6% 2019-2020 despite total rise
- Elderly men: 40% of gun suicides
- Gun storage laws reduce youth suicides 8%
- 2021 gun suicides: 53% of total gun deaths
- Native Americans: gun suicide rate 17 per 100k
- Gun suicides cost $70 billion economically
- Impulse: 50% gun suicides within 10 min decision
- Gun suicide rate stable 2015-2019 at 7.0 per 100k
- Women gun suicides lower but lethal
- In 2023, 700+ teen gun suicides
- Gun suicides 50x higher than peer countries
Suicides Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim, uniquely American tragedy where the sheer prevalence of guns transforms moments of profound despair into near-certain death, creating a relentless, domestic epidemic of fatal impulse.
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