GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019
More than 800 people in Washington died by gun violence in 2019, an average of two people every day. Suicides were 76% of the gun deaths and homicides were 20%.
TRENDS OVER TIME
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
- 7.28 to 10.18
- 10.19 to 13.09
- 13.10 to 16.00
- 16.01 to 18.99
- Suppressed /
Unreliable
[{"county":"Adams","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Asotin","data":"14.47","test":14.47,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Benton","data":"11.01","test":11.01,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Chelan","data":"11.94","test":11.94,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Clallam","data":"15.17","test":15.17,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Clark","data":"8.96","test":8.96,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Columbia","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Cowlitz","data":"10.75","test":10.75,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Douglas","data":"7.67","test":7.67,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Ferry","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Franklin","data":"9.43","test":9.43,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Garfield","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Grant","data":"11.12","test":11.12,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Grays Harbor","data":"13.18","test":13.18,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Island","data":"10.88","test":10.88,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Jefferson","data":"10.53","test":10.53,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"King","data":"7.28","test":7.28,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Kitsap","data":"9.32","test":9.32,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Kittitas","data":"12.83","test":12.83,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Klickitat","data":"13.6","test":13.6,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Lewis","data":"13.62","test":13.62,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Lincoln","data":"18.09","test":18.09,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Mason","data":"16.19","test":16.19,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Okanogan","data":"16.46","test":16.46,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Pacific","data":"16.13","test":16.13,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Pend Oreille","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Pierce","data":"11.43","test":11.43,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"San Juan","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Skagit","data":"10.6","test":10.6,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Skamania","data":"18.99","test":18.99,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Snohomish","data":"8.05","test":8.05,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Spokane","data":"11.34","test":11.34,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Stevens","data":"18.66","test":18.66,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Thurston","data":"10.18","test":10.18,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Wahkiakum","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Walla Walla","data":"11.48","test":11.48,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Whatcom","data":"9.05","test":9.05,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Whitman","data":"8.84","test":8.84,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Yakima","data":"14.8","test":14.8,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"","data":"9.69","test":9.69,"label":"leg-0"}]
Among the counties in Washington, Skamania County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Stevens County and Lincoln County.
Conversely, King County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Douglas County and Snohomish County.
FIREARM HOMICIDES
165
firearm homicides in 2019, including
24
children and teens
10th
lowest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.
Gun Deaths by Intent
One in five gun deaths were homicides in 2019.
Homicide by Method
More than 3/5 of homicides were committed with firearms in 2019.
Demographics
In Washington, young Black males are disproportionately impacted by firearm homicide. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 13 times higher than White males of the same age group.
Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).
FIREARM SUICIDES
637
firearm suicides in 2019, including
28
children and teens
22nd
lowest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.
Gun Deaths by Intent
3/4 of gun deaths were suicides in 2019.
Suicide by Method
Half of all suicides were by firearm in 2019.
Demographics
American Indian/Alaska Native males and White males ages 75+ are at highest risk for firearm suicide.
Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).
RESOURCES
Additional Information
- Prevent Firearm Suicide - Washington
- Disarm Domestic Violence - Washington
- Implement ERPO - Washington
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
