Illinois
The latest Illinois annual gun death data.
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1,691 Gun Deaths in Illinois
Based on most recent available finalized data from CDC (2023).
962
HOMICIDES
688
SUICIDES
41
OTHER
124
YOUNG PEOPLE (1-17)
Policies to Reduce Gun Violence in Illinois
Though Illinois has stronger gun violence prevention laws than much of the country, there are specific actions Illinois could take to further reduce rates of firearm death and injury in the state. This report offers several recommendations, backed by empirical research, that state actors should adopt to achieve this end. The recommendations are divided among four main issue areas and preceded by an overview of the current state law and relevant research supporting the recommendations that follow. Read: Policies to Reduce Gun Violence in Illinois.
Key Takeaways
The overall gun death rate increased by 48% from 2014 to 2023.
Illinois had the 10th highest overall gun homicide rate in the country in 2023.
Firearms were the leading cause of death among young people ages 1-17 in 2023.
In 2022, there were at least 108 domestic violence-related homicides in Illinois. 43% of the homicides were by firearm.
County Firearm Death Data
This map shows county-level firearm death data from 2020–2024. Users can filter to view overall firearm deaths, firearm homicides, or firearm suicides. Death counts reflect the total number of deaths between 2020–2024 while rates represent the average annual rate during this period. The map includes finalized CDC mortality data through 2023 and preliminary data for 2024, providing a snapshot of COVID-era and post-COVID trends. All data comes from CDC WONDER.*
An average of one person killed every five hours.
Gun violence costs Illinoisans $20.3 billion annually.
This amounts to $1,612 per person.
Firearm Homicide in Illinois
6X
Males were six times as likely to die by gun suicide than females.
37X
Black people were 37 times as likely to die by gun homicide compared to their white counterparts.
63X
Young Black males ages 15-34 made up 2% of the population but accounted for 44% of all gun homicides in 2023. They were 63 times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts.
5X
Hispanic/Latino people were five times as likely to die by gun homicide compared to their white counterparts.
14X
Black females were 14 times as likely to die by gun homicide than white females.
Firearm Suicide in Illinois
8X
Males were eight times as likely to die by gun suicide than females.
55%
White males over the age of 34 accounted for 18% of the population in Illinois but 55% 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.
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
*CDC WONDER data limitations:
- Map results are labeled “unreliable” when there are fewer than 20 deaths.
- Map data are suppressed (not shown) for counties with fewer than 10 deaths.
- Map totals may include "other" gun deaths that are not reflected in homicide or suicide totals.
Firearms Restraining Order
Illinois's Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) is a civil order that temporarily prohibits individuals who pose a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others in the near future from purchasing and possessing firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm. Law enforcement and family members are authorized to petition for a FRO. Visit ERPO.org for more information on Illinois's ERPO law.
Factsheet: Gun Violence in Illinois
Download and share our state factsheet with the most recent CDC data on gun violence in Illinois.
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