How many people die from gun-related injuries in Tennessee each year?
Data updated December 10, 2024
An estimated 1.6 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 22.2 out of every 100,000 people in Tennessee died from a gun-related injury. For context, around 18.8 out of every 100,000 people in Tennessee died in a motor vehicle accident that year.
Showing data for
In 2023, an estimated
1.6K
people died from gun-related injuries
In 2023, an estimated
22.2
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 Tennessee was 60% higher than the overall rate of gun-related deaths in the US.
In 2023, the gun death rate was 60% higher in Tennessee 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, 97% of gun-related deaths in Tennessee were either suicides or homicides. That year, about 55% of the state’s gun-related deaths were suicides.
In 2023, 55% of gun deaths in Tennessee 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 Tennessee occurred in Shelby County, TN (48.8 per 100,000 people). The lowest rate was in Williamson County, TN (9.2 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
