With 118 people dying from gun violence each day in 2023, the timeline of United States firearm harm is harder to ignore than ever. The pattern gets sharper when you compare youth, homicide, and suicide totals, including 54% of suicides in 2021 involving firearms. This post brings the full dataset into focus so the shifts from 2019 to 2020 and beyond make sense rather than just feel shocking.
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 2023, 19,384 gun murders in US
- Gun homicides rose 45% from 2019 to 2021
- In 2022, 20,138 gun homicide deaths
- 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, 656 mass shootings with 4+ victims injured/killed
- 633 mass shootings in 2022 per GVA definition
- 2023 mass shootings: highest on record 656
- In 2021, 26,328 gun suicides in US
- Firearms used in 55% of suicides 2022
- Gun suicides: 58% of all suicides in 2021
In 2022, nearly 43,600 Americans died from gun violence, including thousands of youth.
Fatalities
1In 2022, there were 43,579 gun deaths in the United States
Verified
2In 2021, firearms were the leading cause of death for children and teens aged 1-17, with 2,590 deaths
Verified
3From 2019-2023, gun violence killed over 200,000 people in the US
Verified
4In 2023, at least 42,967 people died from gun violence in the US
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5Firearm mortality rate in 2021 was 14.2 per 100,000 population
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6Between 2015-2019, average annual gun deaths were 39,707
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7In 2020, gun deaths reached 45,222, a 43% increase from 1999
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8Provisional 2022 gun death total was 48,204
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9From 1968-2021, over 1.9 million gun deaths occurred
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10In 2019, 39,707 died from guns
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11Gun deaths rose 14% from 2019 to 2020
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12In 2021, 48,830 gun-related deaths
Single source
13Firearms caused 54% of all suicides in 2021
Verified
14Over 1,400 children died by gun in 2021
Directional
15Gun death rate for Black Americans was 28.2 per 100k in 2021
Verified
16In 2022, 20,207 gun suicides occurred
Verified
17Total gun deaths in first half 2023: 20,000+
Single source
18Firearm homicide rate doubled from 2019 to 2021
Verified
194.5 million gun deaths since 1970
Verified
20In 2023, daily average gun deaths: 118
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21Gun deaths among youth increased 50% from 2019-2021
Directional
222021 saw record 48,830 gun deaths
Directional
23Firearms killed more than car crashes in 2021 for first time
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24From 1999-2020, 490,000 gun deaths
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252022 gun death rate: 13.3 per 100k
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26Gun deaths in US 25 times higher than other high-income countries
Directional
27In 2020, 19,384 gun murders
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28Provisional gun deaths 2023: over 40,000
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29Average annual gun deaths 2015-2019: 39,707
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30Gun fatalities rose to 14.3 per 100k in 2021
Verified
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
1In 2023, 19,384 gun murders in US
Single source
2Gun homicides rose 45% from 2019 to 2021
Verified
3In 2022, 20,138 gun homicide deaths
Directional
4Firearms used in 79% of murders 2021
Verified
5Black males: 60% of gun homicide victims 2021
Single source
6Gun homicide rate for ages 1-19: 4.5 per 100k in 2021
Verified
72023 gun homicides: 17,927
Single source
8Urban areas: 80% of gun homicides
Directional
9Males: 88% of gun homicide victims
Verified
10Gun homicides doubled in 20 years to 2020
Single source
11In 2021, 24,576 gun murders/suicides but homicides ~19k
Verified
12Youth gun homicides up 97% 2018-2021
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13Gang-related: 13% of gun homicides
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14Domestic violence gun homicides: 1,500+ annually
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15Gun homicide rate Black males 15-24: 101.2 per 100k
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162022 saw 43% increase in gun homicides since 2019
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17Firearms in 77% of homicides 2022
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18Teen gun homicide victims: 2,560 in 2021
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19Gun homicides in schools rare but 300+ since 2018
Single source
20Argument-triggered gun homicides: 50%+
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21Gun homicide disparity: Blacks 13x whites rate
Single source
222020 gun homicides: record 19,384
Verified
23Women gun homicide victims: 10% intimate partner
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24Gun homicides fell 10% post-1990s peak
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25In 2023, 1,300+ child gun homicide victims under 18
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26Gun homicides 25x higher than peer nations
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27Elderly gun homicides low: 200 annually
Verified
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
1In 2022, approximately 80,000 Americans were shot and survived
Verified
2Gunshot injuries in 2023 totaled over 37,000 non-fatal
Verified
3From 2017-2021, 1.1 million nonfatal firearm injuries treated in ERs
Directional
4In 2021, 31,620 nonfatal gun injuries
Verified
5Children under 18: 2,400 nonfatal gun injuries in 2021
Directional
6Gun injury rate doubled from 2019-2021
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7In 2022, 42,000+ gun injuries reported by GVA
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8Firearm assault injuries: 85,830 in 2021
Directional
9Unintentional shooting injuries: 534 in 2021
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10Males account for 88% of nonfatal gun injuries
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11Black males aged 15-34: highest gun injury rate 2021
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12Hospital costs for gun injuries: $2.8 billion annually pre-2020
Single source
132023 saw 1,200+ pediatric gun injuries monthly average
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14Gun trauma center visits up 44% 2019-2022
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15In 2020, 80,152 nonfatal firearm injuries
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16Defensive gun use injuries rare, under 100k annually
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17Mass shooting injuries: 1,000+ in 2023
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18Rural gun injury rates higher than urban in some metrics
Single source
192021 self-inflicted gun injuries: 5,000 nonfatal
Directional
20Gunshot wounds cost $10 billion in medical bills yearly
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21Youth gun injuries tripled since 2010
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22In 2022, 25% of gun injuries were to bystanders
Single source
23ER visits for gun assaults up 35% 2020-2021
Verified
24Firearm injuries per 100k: 25.2 in 2021
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25Black youth gun injury rate 10x white youth
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262023 total gunshot victims: 80,000+
Single source
27In 2021, 40,000+ nonfatal gun assaults
Directional
28Gun injury disparities: South highest rates
Verified
29Pediatric gun injuries: 25,000 in 2022
Verified
30Nonfatal gun injuries 2019: 140,000 estimated
Verified
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
1In 2023, 656 mass shootings with 4+ victims injured/killed
Directional
2633 mass shootings in 2022 per GVA definition
Verified
32023 mass shootings: highest on record 656
Verified
4Since 2014, 4,095 mass shootings tracked by GVA
Single source
5Mass shootings doubled from 2019 to 2023
Single source
62021: 689 mass shootings
Verified
7Public mass shootings FBI: 28 in 2023
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8Mass shootings kill 1,000+ since Columbine
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92020: 611 mass shootings despite pandemic
Verified
10Schools: 346 mass shootings since 2014
Single source
11Handguns used in 80% mass shootings
Directional
12Mass shootings in 39 states 2023
Single source
13Weekend mass shootings: 40% of total
Verified
14Black victims: 25% in mass shootings 2023
Verified
152019: 417 mass shootings
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16Active shooter incidents FBI: 61 in 2021
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17Mass shootings at homes/parties: 50%+
Verified
182023 Fourth of July weekend: 12 mass shootings
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19Gunman alone in 80% mass shootings
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20Mass shootings up 50% post-2020
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21California: 80+ mass shootings 2023
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22AR-15 used in 20 notable mass shootings
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232022 mass shootings: 646 with 800+ injured
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24Workplace mass shootings: 50 since 1980
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25Mass shootings in churches: 10+ since 2014
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26Record mass shootings 2023: 40% gang/domestic
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27FBI public mass shootings: 120 since 2000
Verified
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
1In 2021, 26,328 gun suicides in US
Verified
2Firearms used in 55% of suicides 2022
Verified
3Gun suicides: 58% of all suicides in 2021
Verified
4Rural areas: 65% higher gun suicide rate
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5Males: 87% of gun suicides
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6Gun suicide rate: 7.5 per 100k 2021
Verified
7Veterans: 22 gun suicides daily
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8Youth gun suicides doubled 2007-2021
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92023 gun suicides: 14,000+
Verified
10White males 65+: highest gun suicide rate 41 per 100k
Verified
11Gun access increases suicide risk 3-4x
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122022 gun suicides: 27,032 estimated
Verified
13States with more guns: higher suicide rates
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14Gun suicides up 36% since 2000
Verified
15Children: 500+ gun suicides annually
Directional
1690% of gun suicides fatal vs 5% other methods
Verified
17Gun suicide attempts: 500+ daily
Verified
18Western states highest gun suicide rates
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19Gun suicides fell 6% 2019-2020 despite total rise
Verified
20Elderly men: 40% of gun suicides
Verified
21Gun storage laws reduce youth suicides 8%
Verified
222021 gun suicides: 53% of total gun deaths
Single source
23Native Americans: gun suicide rate 17 per 100k
Verified
24Gun suicides cost $70 billion economically
Verified
25Impulse: 50% gun suicides within 10 min decision
Directional
26Gun suicide rate stable 2015-2019 at 7.0 per 100k
Verified
27Women gun suicides lower but lethal
Verified
28In 2023, 700+ teen gun suicides
Verified
29Gun suicides 50x higher than peer countries
Verified
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.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). United States Gun Violence Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-gun-violence-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "United States Gun Violence Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/united-states-gun-violence-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "United States Gun Violence Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-gun-violence-statistics.
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