809
gun deaths in Washington, including
72
children and teens
(ages 0-19)
21%
Homicides comprised 1/5 of gun deaths
74%
Suicides comprised 3/4 of gun deaths.
85%
of gun death victims were male
13th
lowest gun death rate in the country in 2018

GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2018

More than 800 people in Washington died by gun violence in 2018, an average of two people every day. Suicides were 74% of the gun deaths and homicides were 21%.

Number of deaths

TRENDS OVER TIME

Over the last 10 years (2009-2018), the overall gun death rate in Washington increased 13%. Increases in both homicide and suicide rates contributed to the overall change over the course of the decade; in that time period, the firearm homicide rate increased 34% and the firearm suicide rate increased 9%.

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

  • 7.09 to 12.79
  • 12.80 to 18.50
  • 18.51 to 24.21
  • 24.22 to 30.04
  • Suppressed /
    Unreliable

Among the counties in Washington, Ferry County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Skamania County and Stevens County.

Conversely, King County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Douglas County and Snohomish 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 (2009-2018).

FIREARM HOMICIDES

173
firearm homicides in 2018, including
28
children and teens
12th
lowest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

One in five gun deaths were homicides in 2018.

Homicide by Method

More than 3/5 of homicides were committed with firearms in 2018.

Demographics

In Washington, 78% of firearm homicide victims are male and Black males are disproportionately impacted. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 12 times higher than White (non Latino) males of the same age group.

Note: Based on a five-year average (2014-2018).

FIREARM SUICIDES

599
firearm suicides in 2018, including
40
children and teens
16th
lowest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

3/4 of gun deaths were suicides in 2018.

Suicide by Method

Nearly half of all suicides were by firearm in 2018.

Demographics

American Indian/Alaska Native males and White (non Latino) males ages 75+ are at highest risk for firearm suicide.

Note: Based on a five-year average (2014-2018).

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 2018, 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, 1999-2018. Available: http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html.

Last updated September 2020