West Virginia
The latest West Virginia annual gun death data.
315 Gun Deaths in West Virginia
Based on most recent available finalized data from CDC (2023).
62
HOMICIDES
244
SUICIDES
9
OTHER
Key Takeaways
The overall gun death rate increased by 15% from 2014 to 2023.
West Virginia had the 8th highest gun suicide rate in the country in 2023.
Firearms were the second leading cause of death among young people ages 1-17 from 2019 to 2023.
In 2022, there were at least 33 domestic violence-related homicides in West Virginia. 52% 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 28 hours.
Gun violence costs West Virginians $3 billion annually.
This amounts to $1,695 per person.
Firearm Homicide in West Virginia
3X
Males were three times as likely to die by gun homicide than females from 2019 to 2023.
6X
Black people were nearly six times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts from 2019 to 2023.
8X
Young Black males ages 15-34 were eight times as likely to die from gun homicide than their white counterparts from 2019 to 2023.
Firearm Suicide in West Virginia
7X
Males were seven times as likely to die by gun suicide than females.
68%
White males over the age of 34 accounted for 27% of the population in West Virginia but more than two-thirds (68%) of all gun suicide deaths in 2023.
50%
Half (50%) 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.
