Virginia
The latest Virginia annual gun death data.
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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.
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 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
*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.
Substantial Risk Order
Virginia’s Substantial Risk Order (SRO) law temporarily prohibits a respondent who poses a substantial risk of personal injury to self or others in the near future from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. Eligible petitioners include, attorneys for the Commonwealth and law enforcement officers. Visit ERPO.org for more information on VA's Substantial Risk Order Law.
Factsheet: Gun Violence in Virginia
Download and share our state factsheet with the most recent CDC data on gun violence in Virginia.
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