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State Data

Pennsylvania

1,807 Gun Deaths in Pennsylvania

Based on most recent available finalized data from CDC (2023).

693

HOMICIDES

1,077

SUICIDES

37

OTHER

68

YOUNG PEOPLE (1-17)

Key Takeaways

  • The overall gun death rate increased by 30% from 2014 to 2023. 

  • Firearms were the leading cause of death among young people ages 1-17 in 2023. 

  •  52% of all gun homicides occurred in Philadelphia County in 2023 even though it makes up 12% of the state’s overall population. 

  • In 2022, there were at least 76 domestic violence-related homicides in Pennsylvania. 63% were by firearm.

An average of one person killed every five hours.

Gun violence costs Pennsylvanians more than $20.9 billion annually.

This amounts to $1,610 per person.

Firearm Homicide in Pennsylvania

6X

Males were six times as likely to die by gun homicide than females.  

22X

Black people were 22 times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts. 

6X

Hispanic/Latino people were six times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts.  

38%

Young Black males ages 15-34 made up 2% of the state’s population but accounted for 38% of all gun homicide deaths in 2023.   

8X

Black females were eight times as likely to die by gun homicide than white females.  

Firearm Suicide in Pennsylvania

8X

Males were eight times as likely to die by gun suicide than females.  

62%

White males over the age of 34 accounted for 22% of the population in Pennsylvania but 62% of all gun suicide deaths in 2023.  

50%

Half (50%) of all gun suicide deaths in 2023 were over the age of 54.  

Guns are used in the majority of homicides & suicides.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death.  Age-adjusted Gun Deaths and Rates per 100,000. WONDER Online Database, 1999-2023; & WISQARS. National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) and Cost of Injury Modules. 2022

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Factsheet: Gun Violence in Pennsylvania

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