1,025
gun deaths in Virginia, including
87
children and teens
(ages 0-19)
33%
Homicides comprised 1/3 of gun deaths
65%
Suicides comprised nearly 2/3 of gun deaths
84%
of gun death victims were male
19th
lowest gun death rate in the country in 2019

GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019

More than 1,000 Virginians died by gun violence in 2019, an average of nearly three people every day. Suicides were 65% of the gun deaths and homicides were 33%.

Number of deaths

TRENDS OVER TIME

The total gun death rate in Virginia increased 20% from 2012 to 2016, driven directly by a rise in homicides. The firearm homicide rate increased annually from 2012-2018, spiking 58% over the six-year period. While the total gun death rate and firearm homicide rate have changed minimally in recent years (from 2016-2019), early reports suggest the rates may have spiked in 2020, with cities across Virginia reporting an increase in the number of homicides.

The firearm suicide rate has not changed substantially over the last decade. Still, the firearm suicide rate continues to be higher than the firearm homicide rate in Virginia and in 2019, the firearm suicide rate was nearly 1.7 times higher than the firearm homicide rate.

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

  • 2.68 to 12.48
  • 12.49 to 22.29
  • 22.30 to 32.10
  • 32.11 to 41.91
  • Suppressed /
    Unreliable

Among the counties in Virginia, Petersburg city had the highest gun death rate, followed by Dickenson County and Danville city.

Conversely, Arlington County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Fairfax County and Alexandria city.

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

342
firearm homicides in 2019, including
50
children and teens
19th
lowest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

1/3 of gun deaths were homicides in 2019.

Homicide by Method

Nearly 80% of homicides were by firearm in 2019.

Demographics

In Virginia, 82% of firearm homicide victims are male and Black males are disproportionately impacted. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate nearly 16 times higher than White (non Latino) males of the same age group.

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

FIREARM SUICIDES

661
firearm suicides in 2019, including
34
children and teens
17th
lowest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

Nearly 2/3 of gun deaths were suicides in 2019.

Suicide by Method

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

Demographics

Older White men ages 75+ are at highest risk for firearm suicide.

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

RESOURCES

Fact Sheets and Reports:

Child Firearm Deaths in Virginia

Domestic Violence in Virginia

Firearm Homicide in Virginia

Firearm Suicide in Virginia

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 January 2021