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State Data

Virginia

1,237 Gun Deaths in Virginia

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

475

HOMICIDES

730

SUICIDES

32

OTHER

58

YOUNG PEOPLE (1-17)

Key Takeaways

  • The overall gun death rate increased by 34% from 2014 to 2023. 

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

  • Virginia had the 3rd highest gun suicide rate among Asian people in the country overall in 2023. 

  • In 2022, there were at least 120 domestic violence-related homicides in Virginia. 65% were by firearm.

An average of one person killed every 7 hours.

Gun violence costs Virginians more than $14.3 billion annually.

This amounts to $1,645 per person.

Firearm Homicide in Virginia

6x

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

12X

Black people were 12 times as likely to die by gun homicide compared to their white counterparts.  

18X

Young Black males ages 15-34 made up 3% of the state’s population but accounted for 42% of all gun homicide deaths in 2023. They were 18 times as likely to die by gun homicide compared to their white counterparts.   

4x

Black females had a gun homicide rate over four times as high as white females. 

Firearm Suicide in Virginia

8X

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

54%

White males over the age of 34 accounted for 17.4% of the population in Virginia but 54% of all gun suicide deaths in 2023.  

44%

44% 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 Virginia

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