GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019
More than 1,500 Ohioans died by gun violence in 2019, an average of four people every day. Suicides were 62% of the gun deaths and homicides were 36%.
TRENDS OVER TIME
The gun death rate in Ohio has substantially increased over the second half of the decade (2014-2019). The rate increased 33% from 2014-2017, decreased slightly from 2017 to 2018, before rising again from 2018 to 2019. The substantive increase in the total rate was due to a rise in both firearm homicides and suicides during that time period. The firearm homicide rate increased 49% from 2014 to 2017, decreased slightly the following year, before rising again in 2019. The firearm suicide rate has consistently and steadily increased, increasing 30% from 2014 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
- 4.65 to 8.35
- 8.36 to 12.06
- 12.07 to 15.77
- 15.78 to 19.57
- Suppressed /
Unreliable
[{"county":"Adams","data":"17.22","test":17.22,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Allen","data":"9.81","test":9.81,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Ashland","data":"4.65","test":4.65,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Ashtabula","data":"12.67","test":12.67,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Athens","data":"10.15","test":10.15,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Auglaize","data":"8.1","test":8.1,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Belmont","data":"12.09","test":12.09,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Brown","data":"14.29","test":14.29,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Butler","data":"9.62","test":9.62,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Carroll","data":"9.54","test":9.54,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Champaign","data":"11.85","test":11.85,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Clark","data":"12.6","test":12.6,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Clermont","data":"8.9","test":8.9,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Clinton","data":"8.9","test":8.9,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Columbiana","data":"11.98","test":11.98,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Coshocton","data":"12.94","test":12.94,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Crawford","data":"9.61","test":9.61,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Cuyahoga","data":"15.14","test":15.14,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Darke","data":"8.03","test":8.03,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Defiance","data":"6.35","test":6.35,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Delaware","data":"5.09","test":5.09,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Erie","data":"9.24","test":9.24,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Fairfield","data":"8.26","test":8.26,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Fayette","data":"7.51","test":7.51,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Franklin","data":"13.14","test":13.14,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Fulton","data":"7.43","test":7.43,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Gallia","data":"17.73","test":17.73,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Geauga","data":"7.97","test":7.97,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Greene","data":"8.16","test":8.16,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Guernsey","data":"12.13","test":12.13,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Hamilton","data":"14.75","test":14.75,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Hancock","data":"7.59","test":7.59,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Hardin","data":"8.47","test":8.47,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Harrison","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Henry","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Highland","data":"11.7","test":11.7,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Hocking","data":"15.95","test":15.95,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Holmes","data":"4.94","test":4.94,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Huron","data":"10.62","test":10.62,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Jackson","data":"18.75","test":18.75,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Jefferson","data":"19.57","test":19.57,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Knox","data":"8.81","test":8.81,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Lake","data":"7.93","test":7.93,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Lawrence","data":"12.9","test":12.9,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Licking","data":"10.82","test":10.82,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Logan","data":"9.37","test":9.37,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Lorain","data":"9.32","test":9.32,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Lucas","data":"12.92","test":12.92,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Madison","data":"9.43","test":9.43,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Mahoning","data":"16.52","test":16.52,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Marion","data":"9.01","test":9.01,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Medina","data":"7.49","test":7.49,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Meigs","data":"17.44","test":17.44,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Mercer","data":"8.25","test":8.25,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Miami","data":"7.97","test":7.97,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Monroe","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Montgomery","data":"16.29","test":16.29,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Morgan","data":"13.02","test":13.02,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Morrow","data":"7.22","test":7.22,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Muskingum","data":"12.66","test":12.66,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Noble","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Ottawa","data":"9.88","test":9.88,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Paulding","data":"10.21","test":10.21,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Perry","data":"13.1","test":13.1,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Pickaway","data":"10.16","test":10.16,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Pike","data":"18.54","test":18.54,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Portage","data":"8.19","test":8.19,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Preble","data":"9.94","test":9.94,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Putnam","data":"5.71","test":5.71,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Richland","data":"10.21","test":10.21,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Ross","data":"10.56","test":10.56,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Sandusky","data":"10.86","test":10.86,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Scioto","data":"11.51","test":11.51,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Seneca","data":"9.07","test":9.07,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Shelby","data":"6.04","test":6.04,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Stark","data":"12.92","test":12.92,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Summit","data":"12.12","test":12.12,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Trumbull","data":"14.87","test":14.87,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Tuscarawas","data":"9.61","test":9.61,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Union","data":"7.43","test":7.43,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Van Wert","data":"7.94","test":7.94,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Vinton","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Warren","data":"6.01","test":6.01,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Washington","data":"8.83","test":8.83,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Wayne","data":"8.04","test":8.04,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Williams","data":"6.97","test":6.97,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Wood","data":"6.59","test":6.59,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Wyandot","data":"10.42","test":10.42,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"","data":"11.76","test":11.76,"label":"leg-1"}]
Among the counties in Ohio, Jefferson County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Jackson County and Pike County.
Conversely, Ashland County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Holmes County and Delaware County.
FIREARM HOMICIDES
565
firearm homicides in 2019, including
84
children and teens
17th
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
More than 3/4 of homicides were committed with firearms in 2019.
Demographics
In Ohio, young Black males are disproportionately impacted by firearm homicide. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 25 times higher than White males of the same age group.
Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).
FIREARM SUICIDES
980
firearm suicides in 2019, including
54
children and teens
21st
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
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 February 2021
