Continuing Trends: Five Key Takeaways from 2023 CDC Provisional Gun Violence Data
The latest provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2023 shows continuing trends of gun violence in the United States from the year prior. Soon after the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions completed the analysis of 2022 gun violence data, the CDC released provisional data for 2023. While there are some signs of improvement, troubling trends persist, particularly among vulnerable demographic groups. Here are the five key takeaways from the CDC's 2023 provisional gun death data.
1. Overall Gun Deaths Decreased, But the Toll Remains Near-Record High
The CDC's data shows that gun violence claimed 46,728 lives in 2023, marking the third-highest number of gun-related deaths ever recorded in the United States. The overall gun death rate did see a 3% decline from 2022, resulting in 1,476 fewer deaths. However, this reduction, while encouraging, still shows the immense scale of the problem, with nearly 47,000 lives lost to gun violence in a single year.
2. Gun Suicides Reach All-Time High
A particularly concerning finding is the continued rise in gun suicides, which reached a record high in 2023. With a 1.5% increase from the previous year, 27,300 people died by suicide using a firearm. This trend is not new—since 2019, there has been a 12% increase in the gun suicide death rate. The rise in suicide by firearm is especially pronounced among certain demographic groups. For instance, gun suicide rates among Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Americans surged by 67%from 2022 to 2023 and by 86% since 2019. Similarly, significant increases were observed among Hispanic/Latino (34%), Asian American (30%), and Black female (68%) populations.
3. Gun Homicides Decrease, But Youth and Minority Communities Remain Vulnerable
The data revealed an 8.6% decrease in gun homicides in 2023, translating to 1,724 fewer homicides compared to the previous year. Despite this positive trend, certain groups remain disproportionately affected. Black people continue to face gun homicide rates that are 13 times higher than those of their white counterparts. Similarly, gun deaths remain the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17, with 2,566 young lives lost in 2023—a 2% increase in the death rate compared to 2022. Notably, while the gun homicide rate among Black and Hispanic/Latino children and teens has decreased, it has still doubled over the past decade.
4. Disparities in Gun Violence Persist Across Demographics
The 2023 data underscores the persistent and growing disparities in gun violence across different racial and ethnic groups. Gun suicide rates among Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Americans have all seen significant increases since 2019. The gun homicide rates among Asian Americans have also risen, with a 9% increase from 2022 to 2023 and a 19% increase since 2019. These disparities point to the need for targeted public health interventions that address the unique challenges faced by these communities.
5. Youth Gun Violence Remains a Pressing Concern
Gun violence among youth continues to be a major public health crisis. Guns have been the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 for four consecutive years. While the gun homicide rate among children and teens decreased by 3% in 2023, the overall gun death rate for this age group nearly doubled over the past decade. The increase in gun suicides among older teens and emerging adults ages 15-19 is particularly alarming. For instance, the gun suicide rate among Hispanic/Latino older teens and emerging adults increased by 18% in 2023 and doubled over the past decade. Similarly, the gun suicide rate among Black older teens and emerging adults has tripled in the last decade, surpassing the rate among their white counterparts.
The 2023 CDC provisional data on gun violence highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in addressing this critical public health issue. While the overall decline in gun deaths and homicides is a step in the right direction, the rising rates of gun suicides and the persistent disparities among youth and minority populations demand urgent and targeted public health interventions. The data serves as a sobering reminder that more comprehensive strategies are needed to reduce gun violence and save lives.