Tennessee
The latest Tennessee annual gun death data.
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1,587 Gun Deaths in Tennessee
Based on most recent available finalized data from CDC (2023).
667
HOMICIDES
878
SUICIDES
42
OTHER
95
YOUNG PEOPLE (1-17)
Key Takeaways
The overall gun death rate increased by 7% from 2022 to 2023. From 2014 to 2023, the overall gun death rate increased by 46%.
Tennessee had the 6th highest gun death 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 165 domestic violence-related homicides in Tennessee. 59% 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 six hours.
Gun violence costs Tennesseans $16 billion annually.
This amounts to $2,269 per person.
Firearm Homicide in Tennessee
5X
Males were five times as likely to die by gun homicide than females.
13X
Black people were 13 times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts.
42X
Young Black males ages 15-34 made up 2.4% of the state’s population but accounted for 42% of all gun homicide deaths in 2023. They were 42 times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts.
5X
Black females were five times as likely to die by gun homicide than white females.
10X
Young Hispanic/Latino males ages 15-34 were 10 times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts.
Firearm Suicide in Tennessee
5X
Males were five times as likely to die by gun suicide than females.
56%
White males over the age of 34 accounted for nearly 21% of the population in Tennessee but 56% 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
*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.
Factsheet: Gun Violence in Tennessee
Download and share our state factsheet with the most recent CDC data on gun violence in Tennessee.
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