Death of weapons in the USA 2023: key statistics and trends

Death of weapons in the USA: Deep diving in data 2023.

The number of pistols that the Americans bought in 2024. 13.6 million, However, the sale of weapons has been constantly falling since 2020.

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2023, in 2023, almost 47,000 people lost their lives due to weapon injuries in the United States. Despite the decrease in deaths from weapons in the second year in a row, the numbers remain alarmingly high and still occupy the worst in history.

In this article, he examines the latest death trends from the USA, based on data from CDC, the Federal Investigative Bureau (FBI) and other key sources.

We are also immersed in public moods around violence using weapons and politicians aimed at solving its problem.

How many people die because of weapon injuries in the US every year?

According to CDC in 2023, 46,728 people died of damage related to weapons in the United States. These deaths include:

• Pistol murders
• Suicides with weapons
• Deaths with the participation of law enforcement agencies, accidents and people with indefinite circumstances

This sum excludes cases in which gunshot injuries played a role, but were not the main cause of death. CDC statistics are based on official death files that record one cause of death.

The number of mass shootings dropped significantly in 2024. Figures from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Division of deaths from weapons: murders vs. suicide

While the murders of weapons often dominate in public discussion, suicide of weapons actually constitute the majority of deaths related to weapons in the US, here is the collapse for 2023:

• 58% of weapons deaths were suicide (27,300 deaths)
• 38% are murders (17,927 deaths)
• Other deaths were caused by law enforcement agencies (604 deaths), accidents (463 deaths) or were indefinite circumstances (434 deaths).

What share of murders and suicides does weapon cover?

• Weapons murders: in 2023, about 79% of all murders (17 927 of 22,830) concerned firearms. This is one of the highest percentage registered since 1968, the earliest year for which CDC provides online data.

• Suicides from weapons: pistols were used in 55% of all suicides (27 300 of 49 316) in 2023, which is one of the highest interest from 2000.

How did the deaths of weapons change over time?

While the total number of deaths from weapons in 2023 was one of the highest in history, the death rate from weapons per capita has gradually decreased in recent years. Here is a look at the numbers:

• 13.7 Deaths from weapons per 100,000 people in 2023 (down from 14.2 in 2022 and 14.6 in 2021).
• The peak of deaths 16.3 weapons per 100,000 took place in 1974.

Murders with weapons vs. Suicide with weapons: closer to trends

• Murders with weapons: After a significant hill in 2020 and 2021, the murder of weapons fell significantly. From a record level of 20 958 in 2021, they fell to 17,927 in 2023, which is a 14%decrease.

• Suicides from weapons: Suicide of weapons has been growing for most of the last two decades, reaching 27,300 in 2023.

State pistol death indicator: where is your state?

The pistol death indicator differ significantly in the US, here is the shutter of the highest and lowest indicators in 2023:

Statements about the highest mortality from the pistol:

1. Colombia district (30.6 by 100,000)
2. Mississippi (29.4)
3. Louisiana (28.3)
4. Alabama (25.6)
5. New Mexico (25.3)

Statements about the lowest number of deaths from weapons:

1. Massachusetts (3.7 by 100,000)
2. New Jersey (4.6)
3. New York (4.7)
4. Rhode Island (4.8)
5. Hawaii (4.9)

These statistics take into account the murders of weapons, suicide and all other mortality associated with weapons tracked by CDC.

Comparison of deaths from American weapons with other countries

When it comes to weapon fatalities, the US is distinguished in terms of high rates, especially in comparison with other developed nations. In 2016, the United States had mortality from a weapon of 10.6 to 100,000, which is much higher than countries such as:

• Canada (2.1 per 100,000)
• Australia (1.0 per 100,000)
• France (2.7 per 100,000)
• Germany (0.9 to 100,000)
• Spain (0.6 to 100,000)

However, the US foot remains lower than in the case of several Latin American countries, including:

• Salvador (39.2 by 100,000)
• Venezuela (38.7 by 100,000)
• Guatemala (32.3 by 100,000)
• Colombia (25.9 by 100,000)
• Honduras (22.5 by 100,000)

In 2016, the United States took the 20th place around the world in terms of fatalities from a pistol.

How many people are killed in mass shootings each year?

The term “mass shooting” does not have a widely agreed definition, which means that determining the exact number of fatalities is difficult. According to the FBI, 105 people were killed in active shooters ‘incidents in 2023. Active shooters’ incidents include one or more people actively involved in trying to kill people in a populated area.

Alternatively, the archive of violence in the case of weapons defines mass shootings as any incident in which four or more people are shot, regardless of fatalities. According to this definition, 722 people died in mass shootings in 2023.

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Trends in mass shootings in time

Tracking mass shootings in time is difficult due to various definitions and the unpredictable nature of such incidents. However, the FBI gives a steady increase in active shooters’ incidents in 2000–2023. For example, the FBI registered only 3 incidents in 2000, which increased to 48 incidents in 2023.

Which firearm is most often used in pistol murders?

In 2023, the FBI registered the following division of weapons types involved in 13,529 murders and insignificant humanity:

• Pistols: 53%
• Rifles (including “assault weapons”): 4%
• Shooting: 1%
• Other firearms or indefinite types: 42%

A continuous crisis of violence in the United States

Violence with weapons is still a serious problem of public health in the US, with almost 47,000 people die of weapon injuries in 2023. While deaths from weapons per capita have dropped in recent years, suicides of weapons are growing. The United States still has one of the highest deaths in a developed world, even when the country is struggling with debates on the control of weapons and political reforms.

Understanding data is crucial for aware discussions about how to best deal with weapon violence. Carefully analyzing the numbers, we can identify trends, differences and potential solutions of this ongoing problem.

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Key results:

• 46,728 deaths related to weapons in 2023.
• 58% of these deaths was a suicide
• The mortality rate from the pistol per capita is decreasing, but remains high compared to global standards
• The pistols are the most common weapon used in pistol murders
• Mortality from the US pistol is much higher than most developed nations, but lower than several Latin American countries