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Mapped: How do Gun-Related Death Rates Vary by State?

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Mapped: How do Gun-Related Death Rates Vary by State?

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  • Mississippi has the highest gun death rate in the U.S. at 28.1 per 100K people—over 7 times higher than Hawaii’s.
  • The Southern and Western states dominate the upper end of the rankings, while the Northeast reports the lowest rates.
  • Gun violence rates often correlate with lax firearm laws, higher gun ownership, and socioeconomic disparities.

Gun violence remains one of the most persistent public health challenges in the United States. While the national conversation often focuses on federal policy, the reality on the ground varies dramatically by state.

The map above, created by USAFacts using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shows the age-adjusted rate of firearm deaths per 100,000 residents in each U.S. state in 2024.

Here is a table of all 50 states and their firearm death rates:

Rank State Firearm Deaths per 100K People (Age Adjusted, 2024)
1 Mississippi 28.1
2 New Mexico 27.0
3 Alaska 24.8
4 Alabama 24.0
5 Wyoming 23.6
6 Louisiana 23.0
7 Arkansas 20.8
8 District of Columbia 20.4
9 Montana 20.3
10 Tennessee 20.2
11 South Carolina 19.9
12 Missouri 19.8
13 Oklahoma 19.4
14 Kentucky 18.8
15 Georgia 17.8
16 Nevada 17.7
17 Indiana 17.5
18 South Dakota 17.4
19 Arizona 17.3
20 North Carolina 16.7
21 Idaho 16.3
22 Colorado 15.6
23 Kansas 15.4
24 West Virginia 15.3
25 Ohio 14.8
26 Oregon 14.4
27 Texas 14.3
28 Utah 13.7
29 Florida 13.2
30 Virginia 12.9
31 Illinois 12.6
32 North Dakota 12.5
33 Wisconsin 12.2
34 Delaware 12.1
35 Michigan 12.1
36 Pennsylvania 12.1
37 Iowa 12.0
38 Maine 12.0
39 Maryland 11.8
40 Washington 11.3
41 Nebraska 11.1
42 Vermont 10.7
43 New Hampshire 10.3
44 Minnesota 9.9
45 California 7.1
46 Connecticut 5.9
47 Rhode Island 4.7
48 New York 4.4
49 New Jersey 4.1
50 Massachusetts 3.9
51 Hawaii 3.8

At a glance, we can see a wide spectrum—from just 3.8 deaths per 100,000 people in Hawaii to over 28 in Mississippi.

U.S. Gun Deaths: A National Crisis with Local Variations

Compared to other high-income nations, the U.S. gun death rate is exceptionally high. However, the disparity becomes even more striking when comparing individual states. Southern states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama lead the country in firearm mortality, with death rates often double or triple those in Northeastern states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.

What Drives State-by-State Disparities?

The reasons behind these geographic differences are complex but generally revolve around three key factors:

  • Firearm legislation: States with stricter gun laws tend to have lower gun death rates. For example, Hawaii and Massachusetts have some of the strongest firearm restrictions and the lowest death rates.
  • Gun ownership: Higher rates of gun ownership are associated with more firearm-related deaths, whether by homicide or suicide.
  • Socioeconomic conditions: Poverty, lack of access to mental health care, and social instability all contribute to higher rates of gun violence.

The Role of Culture and History

In many parts of the U.S., particularly in the South and Mountain West, firearms are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric. Hunting, self-defense, and strong support for Second Amendment rights shape policy decisions and public sentiment, making any statewide gun control efforts politically challenging.

Meanwhile, urban areas in lower-death-rate states still face localized spikes in gun violence, often driven by factors such as gang activity. This underscores how state-level averages can mask important within-state variations.

Related reading: Mapped: U.S. States With the Most Guns

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Explore more data-rich visuals like this in our recommended post: 30 Years of Gun Manufacturing in America.

Source
America
United States