U.S. Firearm Deaths Per Year: A Collective Report 1968-2024

Report Highlights: Nearly 1.9 million Americans have died from firearm-related incidents since 1968.

1,601,659 men and 285,228 women have died due to firearm-related causes since 1968.
Suicides account for 54% of all gun-related deaths in the United States.
Between 2014 and 2023, 15,899 people died during self-defense situations involving firearms.
Mass shootings have resulted in 1,399 deaths since 1966.
Police shootings have caused 20,238 deaths since 1968.

US Firearm Deaths Per Year - Report Highlights

All sources used to compile the data in this report can be found HERE.

Methodology

The data presented in this report were compiled from a comprehensive review of nationwide databases, reputable research sources, and newspaper articles to ensure accuracy and reliability.

CDC WONDER Database: The primary source for firearm-related mortality data, this database compiles information from death certificates dating back to 1968. All data for 2024 are provisional and may be subject to revision.
Mass Shooting Data: To ensure precision, mass shooting statistics were cross-referenced with newspaper articles. This data set includes only targeted attacks, excluding incidents involving gang violence or crimes unrelated to the shooting itself.
Defensive Gun Use Deaths: Information on defensive firearm-related deaths was gathered from various studies and surveys conducted from 1987 onward. This includes data from the Gun Violence Archive, which collects firearm-related death data from over 7,000 news publications. However, these figures may undercount the true number of firearm-related deaths due to limited reporting in certain incidents.
Stray Bullet Deaths: The United States does not maintain a dedicated database for stray bullet deaths. As a result, this information was compiled using recent newspaper headlines and reports to provide the most accurate and up-to-date figures available.

Note: Each data set was rigorously cross-verified where possible to ensure reliability and to account for discrepancies in reporting standards across different sources.

Between 1968 and 2024, there were 1,886,887 firearm-related deaths in the United States. Of these, 1,601,659 were men, and 285,228 were women, reflecting the disproportionate impact of firearm-related incidents on men.

Peak Year: The highest number of firearm-related deaths occurred in 2021, with 41,866 men and 6,964 women succumbing to gunshot wounds. This marked a record year for both genders.
Lowest Year: The fewest firearm-related deaths were recorded in 1968, with 17,666 men and 3,815 women losing their lives to gun violence. ^{3, 4, 5}

These data highlight a significant variation in annual firearm deaths over the decades, with a notable upward trend in more recent years.

How Many Firearms Deaths in Defence?

From 2014 to 2023, defensive firearm use in the United States resulted in an average of 1,590 deaths annually.

Defensive Gun Use Frequency: Approximately 1.8 million defensive gun uses occur each year, based on data collected from 1987 to the present. ¹
Peak Year: Defensive firearm-related deaths peaked in 2017, with 2,117 deaths reported. ¹
Lowest Year: The lowest number of defensive firearm-related deaths occurred in 2023, with 1,278 deaths documented. ¹

The figures in this section are based on data from the Gun Violence Archive, which aggregates firearm-related death information from over 7,000 news publications. These numbers may undercount the actual total of defensive-use firearm deaths due to incomplete reporting or discrepancies in how incidents are categorized.

How Many Firearms Deaths by Suicide?

Over half of all firearm-related deaths in the United States are attributed to suicides, accounting for 54% of all gun-related fatalities between 1966 and 2024. On average, 18,000 suicide-related gun deaths occur each year.

Peak Year: The highest number of firearm-related suicides was recorded in 2023, with 27,308 deaths.
Lowest Year: The fewest firearm-related suicides occurred in 1968, with 10,911 deaths. ^{3, 4, 5}

Firearm Deaths by Suicide per Decade (1968-2020)

How Many Firearms Deaths in Mass Shootings?

Between 1966 and 2024, there were 195 mass shootings in the United States, resulting in 1,398 deaths. On average, 24 people die each year in mass shooting incidents. ²

Mass shootings in this report are defined as incidents where four or more people were killed (excluding the shooter) in a public place. The definition excludes events involving gang violence or incidents tied to other crimes.

Firearm Deaths in Mass Shootings (1966-2024)

How Many Firearms Deaths by Police Shootings?

Since 1968, 20,238 Americans have died in police shootings, averaging 381 deaths per year. These incidents often involve complex circumstances, ranging from self-defense situations to the use of deadly force during arrests. ^{3, 4, 5}

Firearm Deaths by Police per Year (1968-2020)

Stray Bullet Deaths in the U.S.

Stray bullet deaths are difficult to track accurately due to inconsistent reporting and classification. Research indicates that 32% of stray bullet injuries result in death, but many fatalities may be misclassified under other categories. We explored newspaper headlines in 2024 and discovered 34 incidents where a stray bullet killed someone.

Wrap-Up

Between 1968 and 2024, firearms claimed the lives of nearly 1.9 million Americans, with 85% of those fatalities being men. Suicides accounted for the majority of deaths, making up 54% of all firearm-related fatalities, with an average of 18,000 suicide-related deaths annually. Defensive firearm use resulted in an average of 1,590 deaths per year, while mass shootings caused 1,398 deaths across 195 incidents since 1966. Police shootings contributed to 20,238 deaths, averaging 381 annually. Stray bullet deaths, though harder to track, added to the toll, with 34 fatalities reported in 2024 based on newspaper analyses.

Sources

Written by

Cassandra McBride