282
gun deaths in Iowa, including
23
children and teens
(ages 0-19)
13%
Homicides comprised 13% of gun deaths
82%
Suicides comprised the majority of gun deaths
90%
of gun death victims were male
9th
lowest gun death rate in the country in 2018

GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2018

Nearly 300 Iowans died by gun violence in 2018, an average of more than five people every week. Suicides were 82% of the gun deaths and homicides were 13%.

Number of deaths

Note: The CDC considers firearm homicide rates based on fewer than 20 deaths “statistically unreliable.” There were fewer than 20 firearm homicides reported in 2009, therefore this data point is omitted from the graph above.

TRENDS OVER TIME

Over the last 10 years (2009-2018), the overall gun death rate in Iowa increased 39%. Increases in the suicide rate contributed to the overall change over the course of the decade; in that time period, the firearm suicide rate increased 36%.

Age-adjusted rate per 100,000

Total gun death rate
Firearm homicide rate
Firearm suicide rate

Note: The CDC considers firearm homicide rates based on fewer than 20 deaths “statistically unreliable.” There were fewer than 20 firearm homicides reported in 2009, therefore this data point is omitted from the graph above.

County Variations

Age-adjusted gun death rate per 100,000

  • 4.74 to 7.44
  • 7.45 to 10.15
  • 10.16 to 12.86
  • 12.87 to 15.46
  • Suppressed /
    Unreliable

Among the counties in Iowa, Union County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Jefferson County and Des Moines County.

Conversely, Dubuque County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Johnson County and Story County.

Notes:

  • The CDC suppresses data in which fewer than 10 deaths are reported in a given time frame and considers firearm death rates based on fewer than 20 deaths “statistically unreliable.” Counties that meet this criteria are labeled “Suppressed/Unreliable.”
  • Based on a ten-year average (2009-2018).

FIREARM HOMICIDES

37
firearm homicides in 2018
2nd
lowest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

Nearly 15% of gun deaths were homicides in 2018.

Homicide by Method

Nearly half of homicides were committed with firearms in 2018.

Demographics

In Iowa, 79% of firearm homicide victims are male and Black males are disproportionately impacted. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate nearly 21 times higher than White (non Latino) males of the same age group.

Note: Based on a five-year average (2014-2018).

FIREARM SUICIDES

231
firearm suicides in 2018, including
16
children and teens
14th
lowest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

The majority of gun deaths were suicides in 2018.

Suicide by Method

Nearly half of all suicides were by firearm in 2018.

Demographics

White (non Latino) males ages 75+ are at highest risk for firearm suicide.

Note: Based on a five-year average (2014-2018).

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 2018, 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, 1999-2018. Available: http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html.

Last updated September 2020