163
gun deaths in Maine, including
10
children and teens (ages 0-19)
8%
Homicide comprised nearly 10% of gun deaths
88%
Suicides comprised the majority of gun deaths
90%
of gun death victims were male
17th
lowest gun death rate in the country in 2019

GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019

In 2019, 163 people in Maine died by gun violence, an average of three people every week. Suicides were 88% of the gun deaths and homicides were 8%.

Number of deaths

TRENDS OVER TIME

The total gun death rate in Maine increased 11% from 2018 to 2019, due to an increase in the number of both homicides and suicides. Over the last 10 years (2010-2019), the overall gun death rate in Maine increased 45% and the firearm suicide rate increased 39%. The firearm homicide rate has been classified as “suppressed” every year over the last decade, as there were too few deaths to calculate a reliable rate, so a trend cannot be calculated.

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 from 2010-2019, therefore these data points are omitted from the graph above.

County Variations

Age-adjusted gun death rate per 100,000

  • 6.20 to 9.10
  • 9.11 to 12.01
  • 12.02 to 14.92
  • 14.93 to 17.97
  • Suppressed /
    Unreliable

Among the counties in Maine, Piscataquis County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Washington County and Somerset County.

Conversely, Cumberland County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Androscoggin County and York 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 (2010-2019).

FIREARM HOMICIDES

13
firearm homicides in 2019

Gun Deaths by Intent

Nearly 10% of gun deaths were homicides in 2019.

Homicide by Method

More than half of homicides were committed with firearms in 2019.

Demographics

In Maine, White individuals are at the highest risk for firearm homicide. On average, White males make up 52% of the firearm homicide victims and White females make up 37%. 

Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).

FIREARM SUICIDES

144
firearm suicides in 2019
20th
highest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

The majority of gun deaths were suicides in 2019.

Suicide by Method

More than half of all suicides were by firearm in 2019.

Demographics

White males ages 75+ 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