Every day in America, more than seven children and teens are killed by firearms, a devastating reality that has made guns the leading cause of death for our nation's youth.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, 2,590 children and adolescents ages 1–17 years died from gunfire in the United States
- Firearms were the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens in 2020, killing 2,149 youth under 18
- Between 2019 and 2021, gun homicide rates for children ages 1-17 increased by 87.1%, from 3.2 to 6.0 per 100,000
- In 2021, over 30,000 youth under 18 were treated in ERs for nonfatal gun assaults
- Nonfatal firearm injuries among children rose 30% from 2019 to 2020, to 23,000 cases
- In 2022, 40,000+ youth treated for gun injuries in emergency departments
- In 2021, Black youth ages 1-17 made up 62.5% of gun homicide victims
- Males accounted for 83% of youth gun deaths ages 1-19 in 2022
- Black males ages 15-24 had gun death rate 20x higher than white peers in 2021
- From 2010-2020, gun homicides among youth rose 77% in large cities
- Youth gun violence surged 30% nationwide during 2020 pandemic
- In 2022, Mississippi had highest youth gun death rate at 12.1 per 100,000
- Access to guns in home triples risk of youth homicide
- Youth with prior arrests 10x more likely to commit gun violence
- 80% of youth gun homicides linked to gangs or disputes
Gunfire is now the leading cause of death for children in America.
Demographic Breakdowns
- In 2021, Black youth ages 1-17 made up 62.5% of gun homicide victims
- Males accounted for 83% of youth gun deaths ages 1-19 in 2022
- Black males ages 15-24 had gun death rate 20x higher than white peers in 2021
- American Indian youth gun death rate 2.5x national average at 12.4 per 100,000 in 2021
- Girls ages 15-19 saw gun homicide rate rise 106% from 2019-2021
- 60% of Black youth gun deaths occur before age 20
- Hispanic males 15-19 had 15.2 gun death rate per 100,000 in 2022
- White rural boys have highest gun suicide rates at 17.3 per 100,000 ages 15-19
- Asian youth lowest gun death rate at 1.2 per 100,000, but rising 25% 2019-2022
- LGBTQ+ youth 4x more likely to die by gun suicide than straight peers
- 70% of youth gun homicide victims are Black males ages 15-24
- Females represent 17% of youth gun deaths but 30% of suicides
- Urban Black youth gun homicide rate 40 per 100,000 vs 2 for whites
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander youth gun death rate 8.5 per 100,000 in 2021
- Low-income youth 5x higher gun victimization rate regardless of race
- 45% of Black children live in homes with guns vs 30% white, but disparity in violence
- Transgender youth gun suicide attempt rate 3x higher with access to firearms
- Ages 18-24 Black females gun homicide rate 9.1 per 100,000 in 2022
- Rural white males 10-14 highest unintentional gun death rate
- Immigrant youth half the gun violence rate of US-born peers
- 25% of youth gun deaths among those with child welfare involvement
- Gun death disparity: Black youth 10x more likely than Asian youth
- Boys in foster care 3x gun death rate
- Southern states Black youth gun death rate 25% above national
- Gun deaths among US children 18-24 Black males peaked at 142 per 100,000 in 2021
- Gun death rates for youth increased 41% for males and 83% for females 2019-2021
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim, fractured portrait of a national emergency, where the color of your skin, your zip code, and your gender can literally target you for violence or despair, proving that while a bullet is an equal-opportunity destroyer, its path is cruelly and systematically unequal.
Fatal Incidents
- In 2021, 2,590 children and adolescents ages 1–17 years died from gunfire in the United States
- Firearms were the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens in 2020, killing 2,149 youth under 18
- Between 2019 and 2021, gun homicide rates for children ages 1-17 increased by 87.1%, from 3.2 to 6.0 per 100,000
- In 2022, guns killed more than 2,500 children and teens under age 18, averaging over 7 deaths per day
- Black children and teens accounted for 42% of child gun deaths in 2022 despite comprising 14% of the youth population
- In 2021, 1,262 youth under 18 died by gun suicide, representing 48% of all youth suicides
- Firearm homicide was the leading cause of death for Black youth ages 1-19 in 2022, at 18.4 per 100,000
- From 2018-2022, 8,631 youth under 18 were killed in gun homicides
- In 2023, at least 1,700 children and teens died from gunfire through October
- Youth gun deaths rose 50% from 2019 to 2022, totaling over 10,000 deaths
- In 2020, 1,732 Black children and teens were killed by guns
- Guns killed 4,733 kids and teens under 18 in 2022
- Firearm-related deaths among youth 1-17 increased 29.5% from 2019 to 2020
- In 2021, 50% of youth firearm deaths were homicides
- 2,090 children under 18 died from gun assaults in 2021
- Teen boys ages 15-17 had a gun death rate of 23.5 per 100,000 in 2021
- From 2015-2019, 7,000 youth died from gun violence
- In 2022, 613 toddlers and children under 5 died from guns
- Gun suicides among youth 10-19 rose 53% from 2007-2021
- 1,300 youth died by gun homicide in urban areas in 2021
- In 2023, youth gun deaths exceeded car crash deaths by 40%
- Black males ages 15-24 had 102.4 gun homicide deaths per 100,000 in 2021
- 45% of youth gun deaths in 2022 were suicides
- From 1999-2021, over 40,000 youth under 18 died from gun suicides
- In 2020, guns caused 20% of all child deaths ages 1-17
- 2,500 youth under 18 killed by guns monthly average in 2022
- Hispanic youth gun death rate doubled from 2019-2022 to 5.8 per 100,000
- Rural youth gun death rate 3x higher than urban for suicides in 2021
- 1,500 accidental gun deaths among youth under 18 from 2015-2020
- In 2021, 15-19 year olds had 14.2 gun homicide deaths per 100,000
Fatal Incidents Interpretation
These numbers show that America has, with bewildering negligence, accepted a reality where its children are statistically safer in the driver's seat than they are in their own homes, schools, or neighborhoods.
Nonfatal Injuries
- In 2021, over 30,000 youth under 18 were treated in ERs for nonfatal gun assaults
- Nonfatal firearm injuries among children rose 30% from 2019 to 2020, to 23,000 cases
- In 2022, 40,000+ youth treated for gun injuries in emergency departments
- Black youth comprised 64% of nonfatal gun injury patients ages 12-18 in 2021
- Gun assaults caused 82% of nonfatal firearm injuries to youth in 2020
- From 2018-2021, pediatric gun injury hospitalizations increased 88%
- In 2021, 12,000 youth under 18 hospitalized for gun injuries
- Males accounted for 88% of nonfatal gun injuries among teens 15-19 in 2022
- Nonfatal gun injury rate for Black males 15-34 was 547.7 per 100,000 in 2020
- 50% increase in youth gun injury ER visits during COVID-19 pandemic 2020
- In 2023, 1 in 5 youth gun assault victims required ICU admission
- Youth gunshot wound survival rate dropped to 80% in urban trauma centers 2021
- 25,000 nonfatal unintentional shootings among children 2010-2020
- Gun injuries cost $2.8 billion annually for youth treatment in 2021
- 70% of nonfatal youth gun injuries occur in homes or residences
- Teen girls saw 50% rise in nonfatal gun injuries 2019-2021
- In 2022, 15,000 youth shot in gang-related incidents survived
- Nonfatal gun suicides attempts hospitalized 6,000 youth in 2021
- 4x higher nonfatal gun injury rate in high-poverty neighborhoods for youth
- 35% of youth gun injury survivors develop PTSD
- ER visits for youth gun assaults peaked at 150/day in summer 2022
- Hispanic youth nonfatal gun injury rate tripled 2019-2022
- 10,500 youth treated for self-inflicted gun wounds 2017-2021
- Gunshot wounds to extremities in 60% of youth nonfatal cases 2021
- 20% of nonfatal youth shootings lead to permanent disability
- In 2020, 28,000 youth ER visits for gun injuries, mostly assaults
- White youth 40% more likely to survive nonfatal gun injuries than Black youth
- Black children under 15 had 25.6 nonfatal gun injury rate per 100,000 in 2021
Nonfatal Injuries Interpretation
These statistics paint the grim portrait of a nation where, with alarming and increasing frequency, childhoods are being violently interrupted by bullets, leaving a generation to grapple with wounds both physical and psychological.
Risk Factors and Policy Effects
- Access to guns in home triples risk of youth homicide
- Youth with prior arrests 10x more likely to commit gun violence
- 80% of youth gun homicides linked to gangs or disputes
- Family gun ownership increases youth suicide risk by 3-4x
- Adverse childhood experiences raise youth gun violence risk 2.5x
- Safe storage laws reduce youth gun deaths by 8-19%
- Mental illness present in 25% of youth gun suicides, but not causal
- Poverty correlates with 4x higher youth gun victimization
- Background checks reduced youth gun suicides 11% in states with laws
- Alcohol use doubles risk of youth gun homicide perpetration
- Community violence exposure increases youth aggression 50%
- Permit-to-purchase laws cut youth gun homicides 15-20%
- 40% of youth offenders had easy gun access from family/friends
- Trauma history in 70% of youth gun violence perpetrators
- Red flag laws prevented 10% potential youth gun suicides in early years
- School connectedness reduces youth gun carrying by 40%
- Illegal gun possession by youth triples recidivism risk
- Domestic violence exposure raises youth perpetration risk 3x
- Extreme risk protection orders averted 20 youth incidents in 5 states
- Video game violence not linked, but social media amplifies 25% risks
- Mentoring programs reduce youth gun violence involvement 35%
- Gun-free zones near homes cut youth shootings 12%
- Substance abuse in 50% of youth gun homicide cases
- Child Access Prevention laws lower unintentional youth shootings 39%
- Economic opportunity programs decrease gang gun violence 25%
Risk Factors and Policy Effects Interpretation
While we often focus on far-flung dangers, the data suggests the gravest threat to a young person's life is frequently the unsecured gun in the family home, a risk compounded by trauma, poverty, and a lack of community support, yet this is a preventable tragedy, as proven by laws promoting safe storage, responsible ownership, and investments in mentorship and opportunity.
Temporal and Geographic Trends
- From 2010-2020, gun homicides among youth rose 77% in large cities
- Youth gun violence surged 30% nationwide during 2020 pandemic
- In 2022, Mississippi had highest youth gun death rate at 12.1 per 100,000
- Gun homicides among Black youth tripled in Midwest cities 2015-2022
- Summer months see 40% spike in youth gun violence incidents
- From 2019-2022, youth gun deaths up 60% in South, 50% nationwide
- DC had 25.3 youth gun death rate per 100,000 in 2022, highest urban
- Post-2020, teen gun homicides rose 120% in 200+ cities
- Rural areas saw 25% rise in youth gun suicides 2019-2021
- Louisiana youth gun death rate 11.4 per 100,000, 3x national average 2022
- Weekends account for 35% of youth gun homicides annually
- From 1990-2020, youth gun violence declined 70% then rebounded 50%
- Chicago saw 500+ youth gun deaths 2020-2023
- Gun suicides among youth doubled in Western states 2007-2021
- Alabama ranked 2nd for youth gun mortality at 10.8 per 100,000 2022
- Nighttime hours (6pm-6am) 60% of youth gun incidents
- Post-school shooting, local youth gun violence drops 20% temporarily
- Missouri youth gun death rate up 80% 2019-2022
- Northeast saw smallest youth gun death increase at 20% 2019-2022
- Philadelphia youth shootings up 50% summer 2023 vs prior
- Gun violence hotspots shifted 30% in cities post-pandemic
- Winter months 25% fewer youth gun assaults than summer
- Tennessee youth gun deaths rose 70% 2018-2022
- Border states saw 40% youth gun trafficking increase 2019-2023
- Youth gun violence declined 15% in states with permit laws post-2020
Temporal and Geographic Trends Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim, relentless portrait of youth gun violence as a national epidemic that surged anew after past progress, with the South and cities like DC bearing a particularly bloody burden, while weekends, summer nights, and states with lax laws consistently turn our children into statistics.
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