1,012
gun deaths in South Carolina, including
95
children and teens
(ages 0-19)
45%
Homicides comprised more than two in every five gun deaths
53%
Suicides comprised more than half of all gun deaths
84%
of gun death victims were male
8th
highest gun death rate in the country in 2019

GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019

Over 1,000 South Carolinians died by gun violence in 2019, an average of nearly three people every day. Suicides were 53% of the gun deaths and homicides were 45%.

Number of deaths

TRENDS OVER TIME

Over the last 10 years (2010-2019), the overall gun death rate in South Carolina increased nearly 43%. The largest single-year spike happened from 2018 to 2019, in which the rate increased by 13%. Both the firearm homicide and suicide rates continued to rise throughout the decade, with few exceptions. Most notably, the firearm homicide rate increased dramatically, by 86%, from 2010 to 2019. The firearm suicide rate increased 19% in that time period.

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

  • 12.99 to 17.59
  • 17.60 to 22.20
  • 22.21 to 26.81
  • 26.82 to 31.22
  • Suppressed /
    Unreliable

Among the counties in South Carolina, Colleton County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Jasper County and Barnwell County.

Conversely, York County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Beaufort County and Edgefield 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

453
firearm homicides in 2019, including
59
children and teens
5th
highest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

More than 2/5 of gun deaths were homicides in 2019.

Homicide by Method

More than 4/5 of homicides were committed with firearms in 2019.

Demographics

In South Carolina, young Black males are disproportionately impacted by firearm homicide. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate more than 9 times higher than White males of the same age group.

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

FIREARM SUICIDES

532
firearm suicides in 2019, including
29
children and teens
21st
highest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

More than half of all gun deaths were suicides in 2019.

Suicide by Method

More than 3/5 of suicides were by firearm in 2019.

Demographics

In South Carolina, 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