How many people die from gun-related injuries in California each year?
Data updated December 10, 2024
An estimated 3.2 thousand people in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. This includes homicides, suicides, accidents, and other incidents where a shooting was considered the primary cause of death.
To understand how frequently these deaths happen, it helps to look at the rate at which they occur. In 2023, about 8.0 out of every 100,000 people in California died from a gun-related injury. For context, around 11.7 out of every 100,000 people in California died in a motor vehicle accident that year.
Showing data for
In 2023, an estimated
3.2K
people died from gun-related injuries
In 2023, an estimated
8
people per 100K died from gun-related injuries
The rate of gun-related deaths has also changed over time and varies between locations. In 2023, the rate of gun-related deaths in California was 42% lower than the overall rate of gun-related deaths in the US.
In 2023, the gun death rate was 42% lower in California than in the US.
Age-adjusted rate of firearms deaths, 1979 - 2023, 2023 data is provisional
The CDC also reports the intent behind gun-related deaths when known. These intents can include homicide and suicide, as well as other categories like accidents and law enforcement intervention.
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In 2023, 96% of gun-related deaths in California were either suicides or homicides. That year, about 51% of the state’s gun-related deaths were suicides.
In 2023, 51% of gun deaths in California were suicide.
Age-adjusted rate of firearms deaths, 1979 - 2023, 2023 data is provisional
Gun-related death rates differ between and within states. The CDC notes that there are complex factors behind these differences, including social, economic, and community conditions like poverty and racial or ethnic inequities. In some communities, the rate of gun-related deaths can be much higher than average due to unique factors like recurring gun violence, mass shooting incidents, or small population sizes, where even a few deaths can significantly affect the overall rate.
In 2023, the highest rate of gun-related deaths in California occurred in Humboldt County, CA (23.0 per 100,000 people). The lowest rate was in Santa Clara County, CA (3.7 per 100,000). In contrast, among the 492 counties with more than 20 gun-related deaths in 2023, Nassau County, NY, had the lowest rate (1.4 per 100,000 people), while Leflore County, MS, had the highest (101.6 per 100,000 people).
In 2023, the average gun-related death rate amongst US counties was 18 per 100K people.
Crude rate of firearms deaths, 2023 provisional data
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Health Statistics and 2 others
