GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019
More than 600 people in Wisconsin died by gun violence in 2019, an average of more than one person every day. Suicides were 71% of the gun deaths and homicides were 25%.
TRENDS OVER TIME
The total gun death rate in Wisconsin increased substantially from 2014 to 2016, before consistently and steadily decreasing from 2016-2019. Still, the gun death rate in 2019 is higher than it was at the start of the decade, from 2010-2014.
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
- 6.01 to 9.81
- 9.82 to 13.62
- 13.63 to 17.43
- 17.44 to 21.06
- Suppressed /
Unreliable
[{"county":"Adams","data":"12.32","test":12.32,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Ashland","data":"21.06","test":21.06,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Barron","data":"9.72","test":9.72,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Bayfield","data":"19.3","test":19.3,"label":"leg-3"},{"county":"Brown","data":"7.19","test":7.19,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Buffalo","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Burnett","data":"14.13","test":14.13,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Calumet","data":"6.33","test":6.33,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Chippewa","data":"11.75","test":11.75,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Clark","data":"9.71","test":9.71,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Columbia","data":"10.93","test":10.93,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Crawford","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Dane","data":"6.02","test":6.02,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Dodge","data":"6.94","test":6.94,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Door","data":"10.85","test":10.85,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Douglas","data":"9.51","test":9.51,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Dunn","data":"8.03","test":8.03,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Eau Claire","data":"9.33","test":9.33,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Florence","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Fond du Lac","data":"8.5","test":8.5,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Forest","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Grant","data":"9.38","test":9.38,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Green","data":"8.07","test":8.07,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Green Lake","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Iowa","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Iron","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Jackson","data":"13.08","test":13.08,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Jefferson","data":"7.46","test":7.46,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Juneau","data":"10.79","test":10.79,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Kenosha","data":"7.59","test":7.59,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Kewaunee","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"La Crosse","data":"7.78","test":7.78,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Lafayette","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Langlade","data":"13.79","test":13.79,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Lincoln","data":"9.21","test":9.21,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Manitowoc","data":"8.82","test":8.82,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Marathon","data":"8.29","test":8.29,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Marinette","data":"11.81","test":11.81,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Marquette","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Menominee","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Milwaukee","data":"15.23","test":15.23,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Monroe","data":"9.6","test":9.6,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Oconto","data":"10.16","test":10.16,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Oneida","data":"9.96","test":9.96,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Outagamie","data":"8.38","test":8.38,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Ozaukee","data":"6.01","test":6.01,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Pepin","data":"Suppressed","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Pierce","data":"6.73","test":6.73,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Polk","data":"14.48","test":14.48,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Portage","data":"7.49","test":7.49,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Price","data":"13.19","test":13.19,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Racine","data":"8.44","test":8.44,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Richland","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Rock","data":"9.3","test":9.3,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Rusk","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Sauk","data":"8.23","test":8.23,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Sawyer","data":"12.86","test":12.86,"label":"leg-1"},{"county":"Shawano","data":"6.08","test":6.08,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Sheboygan","data":"6.11","test":6.11,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"St. Croix","data":"7.67","test":7.67,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Taylor","data":"Unreliable","test":0,"label":"leg-na"},{"county":"Trempealeau","data":"8.84","test":8.84,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Vernon","data":"8.6","test":8.6,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Vilas","data":"14.17","test":14.17,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Walworth","data":"9.23","test":9.23,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Washburn","data":"13.92","test":13.92,"label":"leg-2"},{"county":"Washington","data":"7.81","test":7.81,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Waukesha","data":"6.87","test":6.87,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Waupaca","data":"9.43","test":9.43,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Waushara","data":"8.88","test":8.88,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Winnebago","data":"8.13","test":8.13,"label":"leg-0"},{"county":"Wood","data":"8.85","test":8.85,"label":"leg-0"}]
Among the counties in Wisconsin, Ashland County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Bayfield County and Milwaukee County.
Conversely, Ozaukee County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Dane County and Shawano County.
FIREARM HOMICIDES
153
firearm homicides in 2019, including
23
children and teens
13th
lowest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.
Gun Deaths by Intent
1/4 of gun deaths were homicides in 2019.
Homicide by Method
More than 2/3 of homicides were committed with firearms in 2019.
Demographics
In Wisconsin, young Black males are disproportionately impacted by firearm homicide. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 56 times higher than White males of the same age group.
Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).
FIREARM SUICIDES
427
firearm suicides in 2019, including
22
children and teens
13th
lowest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.
Gun Deaths by Intent
70% 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 the highest risk for firearm suicide in Wisconsin.
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
