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Mapped: Gun-Related Deaths by State
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Key Takeaways
- Washington, D.C. has the highest firearms homicide rate at 28.5 per 100,000 residents.
- Southern and Midwestern states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama also report high rates.
- States like Hawaii and New Hampshire have the lowest rates.
Gun-Related Deaths in America
Gun violence remains one of the most pressing public health issues in the United States. According to data from USAFacts as of December 2023, gun-related deaths vary significantly across states, reflecting long-standing regional and demographic differences.
Preliminary numbers show that between January and August 2024, an estimated 30,100 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., 5% fewer than during the same period in 2023.
The rate of gun-related deaths in the U.S. has shifted over time. In the early 1990s, the rate fluctuated between 14.5 and 15.0 deaths per 100,000 people. From 2000 to 2014, however, that figure declined and remained below 10.5 deaths per 100,000.
By 2023, the rate rose again to 13.7 per 100,000—still 8% lower than its peak in 1993.
States With the Highest Gun Death Rates
Washington, DC recorded the highest rate in the country in 2023, with 28.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, more than 60% above the next highest state.
| Rank | State | Gun Deaths per 100K |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | 28.5 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 17.6 |
| 3 | Louisiana | 17.2 |
| 4 | Alabama | 13.2 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 11.1 |
States With the Lowest Gun Death Rates
At the other end of the spectrum, several states reported significantly lower rates. Those include Hawaii, Utah, and Nebraska.
| Rank | State | Gun Deaths per 100K |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Idaho | 1.8 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 1.8 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 1.8 |
| 50 | Utah | 1.8 |
| 51 | Hawaii | 1.5 |
Although they receive less public attention than gun-related homicides, suicides have consistently made up the majority of gun deaths in the United States. In 2023, suicides accounted for 58% of all gun-related fatalities, totaling 27,300 deaths, according to CDC data. By comparison, 38% were classified as murders (17,927 deaths).
Learn More on the Voronoi App
The U.S. has more guns than people, with nearly 400 million in civilian possession. In this map, we rank states by the highest percentage of gun ownership for adults.