368
gun deaths in New Jersey, including
38
children and teens
(ages 0-19)
52%
Homicides comprised more than half of all gun deaths
47%
Suicides comprised nearly half of all gun deaths
90%
of gun death victims were male
3rd
lowest gun death rate in the country in 2019

GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019

In 2019, 368 people in New Jersey died by gun violence, an average of one person every day. Suicides were 47% of the gun deaths and homicides were 52%.

Number of deaths

TRENDS OVER TIME

The gun death rate in New Jersey continued its three-year downward trend, reaching its lowest rate in over a decade in 2019. The firearm homicide rate has similarly decreased each year from 2016 to 2019, while the firearm suicide rate has decreased annually from 2017 to 2019. However, recent data collected by New Jersey state police suggest this downward trend in homicides will not hold true for 2020.

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

  • 2.01 to 4.81
  • 4.82 to 7.62
  • 7.63 to 10.43
  • 10.44 to 13.10
  • Suppressed /
    Unreliable

Among the counties in New Jersey, Essex County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Salem County and Camden County.

Conversely, Morris County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Bergen County and Middlesex 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

193
firearm homicides in 2019, including
30
children and teens
12th
lowest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

More than half of gun deaths were homicides in 2019.

Homicide by Method

More than 2/3 of homicides were committed with firearms in 2019.

Demographics

In New Jersey, young Black males are disproportionately impacted by firearm homicide. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 106 times higher than White males of the same age group.

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

FIREARM SUICIDES

173
firearm suicides in 2018
1st
lowest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

Nearly half of all gun deaths were suicides in 2019.

Suicide by Method

Nearly 1/4 of suicides were by firearm in 2019.

Demographics

White males ages 75+ are at the 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 February 2021