GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019
Nearly 1,600 Pennsylvanians died by gun violence in 2019, an average four people every day. Suicides were 63% of the gun deaths and homicides were 36%.
TRENDS OVER TIME
While one year does not denote a trend, the total gun death rate, firearm homicide rate, and firearm suicide rate all decreased from 2018 to 2019.
Age-adjusted rate per 100,000
Total gun death rate
Firearm homicide rate
Firearm suicide rate
County Variations
Age-adjusted gun death rate per 100,000
- 4.86 to 8.46
- 8.47 to 12.07
- 12.08 to 15.68
- 15.69 to 19.45
- Suppressed /
Unreliable
[{"county":"Adams","data":"9.82","test":9.82,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Allegheny","data":"13.09","test":13.09,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Armstrong","data":"11.84","test":11.84,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Beaver","data":"11.05","test":11.05,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Bedford","data":"13.16","test":13.16,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Berks","data":"10.49","test":10.49,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Blair","data":"8.67","test":8.67,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Bradford","data":"11.5","test":11.5,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Bucks","data":"6.15","test":6.15,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Butler","data":"8.61","test":8.61,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Cambria","data":"15.01","test":15.01,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Cameron","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Carbon","data":"14.67","test":14.67,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Centre","data":"6.65","test":6.65,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Chester","data":"5.94","test":5.94,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Clarion","data":"15.41","test":15.41,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Clearfield","data":"13.23","test":13.23,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Clinton","data":"11.11","test":11.11,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Columbia","data":"11.56","test":11.56,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Crawford","data":"11.84","test":11.84,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Cumberland","data":"8.26","test":8.26,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Dauphin","data":"11.96","test":11.96,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Delaware","data":"10.44","test":10.44,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Elk","data":"15.82","test":15.82,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Erie","data":"10.89","test":10.89,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Fayette","data":"13.35","test":13.35,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Forest","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Franklin","data":"9.26","test":9.26,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Fulton","data":"17.11","test":17.11,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Greene","data":"11.32","test":11.32,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Huntingdon","data":"11.77","test":11.77,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Indiana","data":"9.54","test":9.54,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Jefferson","data":"11.57","test":11.57,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Juniata","data":"10.46","test":10.46,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Lackawanna","data":"9.1","test":9.1,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Lancaster","data":"6.95","test":6.95,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Lawrence","data":"16.06","test":16.06,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Lebanon","data":"9.53","test":9.53,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Lehigh","data":"9.49","test":9.49,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Luzerne","data":"12.25","test":12.25,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Lycoming","data":"10.34","test":10.34,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Mc Kean","data":"9.23","test":9.23,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Mercer","data":"11.85","test":11.85,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Mifflin","data":"11.45","test":11.45,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Monroe","data":"10.61","test":10.61,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Montgomery","data":"5.96","test":5.96,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Montour","data":"10.81","test":10.81,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Northampton","data":"8.08","test":8.08,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Northumberland","data":"8.19","test":8.19,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Perry","data":"12.34","test":12.34,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Philadelphia","data":"19.45","test":19.45,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Pike","data":"11.6","test":11.6,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Potter","data":"13.71","test":13.71,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Schuylkill","data":"14.14","test":14.14,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Snyder","data":"7.2","test":7.2,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Somerset","data":"10.46","test":10.46,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Sullivan","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Susquehanna","data":"13.64","test":13.64,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Tioga","data":"11.24","test":11.24,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Union","data":"4.86","test":4.86,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Venango","data":"11.93","test":11.93,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Warren","data":"9.95","test":9.95,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Washington","data":"11.53","test":11.53,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Wayne","data":"17.2","test":17.2,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Westmoreland","data":"10.29","test":10.29,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Wyoming","data":"11.92","test":11.92,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"York","data":"11.6","test":11.6,"label":"leg-1"}]
Among the counties in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Wayne County and Fulton County.
Conversely, Union County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Chester County and Montgomery County.
FIREARM HOMICIDES
548
firearm homicides in 2019, including
64
children and teens
23rd
highest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.
Gun Deaths by Intent
More than 1/3 of gun deaths were homicides in 2019.
Homicide by Method
3/4 of homicides were committed with firearms in 2019.
Demographics
In Pennsylvania, young Black males are disproportionately impacted by firearm homicide. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate nearly 39 times higher than White males of the same age group.
Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).
FIREARM SUICIDES
964
firearm suicides in 2019, including
33
children and teens
12th
lowest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.
Gun Deaths by Intent
More than 3/5 of gun deaths were suicides in 2019.
Suicide by Method
Half of all suicides were by firearm in 2019.
Demographics
In Pennsylvania, White males ages 75+ are at highest risk for firearm suicide.
Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).
RESOURCES
Fact Sheets and Reports:
Additional Information
Notes
- All rates listed are age-adjusted in order to allow for accurate comparisons between populations with different age distributions.
- All data is from 2019, the most recent year of data available unless otherwise indicated.
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, 1999-2019. Available: http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html.
Last updated February 2021
