Gun-related deaths from preventable, intentional, and undetermined causes totaled 48,830 in 2021, an increase of 8% from 45,222 deaths in 2020. Suicides account for 54% of deaths related to firearms, while 43% were homicides, and about 1% were preventable/accidental. Please note that the term gun is used on this page to refer to firearms that can be carried by a person, not to the larger class of weapon.

Since 2012, gun-related assault deaths have increased 45%. Suicide deaths involving guns have increased 28%, while assault deaths have increased 80% since 2012. In 2021, both suicide and assault deaths increased 8%.

Preventable or accidental gun-related deaths increased 3% in 2021. However, from 2012 to 2021, preventable gun-related deaths have changed little, from 548 to 549 deaths. Visit the data details tab to explore some of these trends in depth.

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Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Multiple Cause of Death 1999-2021 on CDC WONDER Online Database, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.

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