GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019
Nearly 900 Coloradans died by gun violence in 2019, an average of two people every day. Suicides were 76% of the gun deaths and homicides were 19%.
TRENDS OVER TIME
Over the last 10 years (2010-2019), the overall gun death rate in Colorado increased nearly 32%. Increases in both homicide and suicide rates contributed to the overall change over the course of the decade; in that time period, the firearm homicide rate increased 52% and the firearm suicide rate increased nearly 30%.
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
- 8.74 to 15.04
- 15.05 to 21.35
- 21.36 to 27.66
- 27.67 to 33.85
- Suppressed /
Unreliable
[{"county":"Adams","data":"11.68","test":11.68,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Alamosa","data":"18.25","test":18.25,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Arapahoe","data":"11.01","test":11.01,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Archuleta","data":"18.43","test":18.43,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Baca","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Bent","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Boulder","data":"8.74","test":8.74,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Broomfield","data":"10.94","test":10.94,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Chaffee","data":"15.97","test":15.97,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Cheyenne","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Clear Creek","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Conejos","data":"30.49","test":30.49,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Costilla","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Crowley","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Custer","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Delta","data":"20.78","test":20.78,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Denver","data":"11.51","test":11.51,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Dolores","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Douglas","data":"9.61","test":9.61,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Eagle","data":"8.85","test":8.85,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"El Paso","data":"16.84","test":16.84,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Elbert","data":"12.28","test":12.28,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Fremont","data":"17.52","test":17.52,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Garfield","data":"14.61","test":14.61,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Gilpin","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Grand","data":"16.48","test":16.48,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Gunnison","data":"20.69","test":20.69,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Hinsdale","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Huerfano","data":"32.72","test":32.72,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Jackson","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Jefferson","data":"10.45","test":10.45,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Kiowa","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Kit Carson","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"La Plata","data":"14.84","test":14.84,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Lake","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Larimer","data":"11.8","test":11.8,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Las Animas","data":"31.99","test":31.99,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Lincoln","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Logan","data":"11.7","test":11.7,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Mesa","data":"19.92","test":19.92,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Mineral","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Moffat","data":"21.24","test":21.24,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Montezuma","data":"22.66","test":22.66,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Montrose","data":"19.06","test":19.06,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Morgan","data":"12.53","test":12.53,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Otero","data":"15.03","test":15.03,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Ouray","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Park","data":"33.85","test":33.85,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Phillips","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Pitkin","data":"11.28","test":11.28,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Prowers","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Pueblo","data":"18.11","test":18.11,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Rio Blanco","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Rio Grande","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Routt","data":"12.79","test":12.79,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Saguache","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"San Juan","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"San Miguel","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Sedgwick","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Summit","data":"10.71","test":10.71,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Teller","data":"23.51","test":23.51,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Washington","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Weld","data":"11.22","test":11.22,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Yuma","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"}]
Among the counties in Colorado, Park County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Huerfano County and Las Animas County.
Conversely, Boulder County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Eagle County and Douglas County.
FIREARM HOMICIDES
164
firearm homicides in 2019, including
29
children and teens
14th
lowest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.
Gun Deaths by Intent
Nearly 1 in 5 gun deaths were homicides in 2019.
Homicide by Method
2/3 of homicides were by firearm in 2019.
Demographics
In Colorado, young Black males are disproportionately impacted. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 12.6 times higher than White males of the same age group.
Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).
FIREARM SUICIDES
647
firearm suicides in 2019, including
43
children and teens
10th
highest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.
Gun Deaths by Intent
More than 3/4 of gun deaths were suicides in 2019.
Suicide by Method
Half of all suicides were by firearm in 2019.
Demographics
In Colorado, American Indian/Alaska Native and White males are at highest risk for firearm suicide.
Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).
Resources
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 March 2021
