Special Report

States Where the Most People Are Killed by Guns

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

The mass shooting committed by an 18-year-old with a legally acquired arsenal at Ross Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, was the bloodiest and most heartbreaking U.S. mass shooting of the year — so far.

Mass shootings — where at least four people, not including the shooter, are injured or killed — have averaged more than one per day in the United States. The May 24 massacre of 19 children and two teachers was followed by 19 other mass shootings in the final days of the month, and one more in June. (There have been more mass shootings than days this year.)

Between the start of the year and June 1, when an armed man killed at least four people at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, there were 233 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive.

In 2020, 45,222 people were killed by firearms in the United States, 43% of them by murder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. So where are these gun-related deaths most likely to happen?

To determine the states where the most people are killed by guns, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2020 firearm mortality data from the CDC. States are ranked by the firearm death rate — the number of firearm deaths per 100,000 residents. Population data came from the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 American Community Survey and are five year estimates. 

Out of the 10 states with the highest rates of firearm mortality per capita, six are located in the South and none are among the 10 most populous states. Alaska, with a population of only about 581,000 residents, reported almost 24 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 residents in 2020, making it the sixth deadliest state for gun violence.

New York and California — the fourth and second largest states by population, respectively — rank among the 10 states with the lowest firearm mortality rates. Texas, the country’s second-largest state by population, ranks 26th on this list. (Here are states where murder rate is soaring.)

Here is the state where the most people are killed by firearms

okimo / iStock via Getty Images

50. Hawaii
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 3.4 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 50 – #50 most
> Population: 1,420,074 – #40 largest

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

49. Massachusetts
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 3.7 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 268 – #37 most
> Population: 6,873,003 – #15 largest

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

48. New Jersey
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 5.0 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 443 – #32 most
> Population: 8,885,418 – #11 largest

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

47. Rhode Island
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 5.1 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 54 – #49 most
> Population: 1,057,798 – #44 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

Eloi_Omella / iStock via Getty Images

46. New York
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 5.3 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,052 – #18 most
> Population: 19,514,849 – #4 largest

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

45. Connecticut
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 6.0 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 219 – #39 most
> Population: 3,570,549 – #29 largest

[in-text-ad]

choness / iStock via Getty Images

44. California
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 8.5 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 3,449 – #2 most
> Population: 39,346,023 – #1 largest

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

43. New Hampshire
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 8.9 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 128 – #45 most
> Population: 1,355,244 – #41 largest

rruntsch / iStock via Getty Images

42. Minnesota
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 8.9 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 513 – #29 most
> Population: 5,600,166 – #22 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

41. Nebraska
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 10.1 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 197 – #40 most
> Population: 1,923,826 – #37 largest

Daniel Hanscom / iStock via Getty Images

40. Maine
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 10.4 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 153 – #43 most
> Population: 1,340,825 – #42 largest

[in-text-ad]

roman_slavik / iStock via Getty Images

39. Washington
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 10.9 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 864 – #21 most
> Population: 7,512,465 – #13 largest

bscottberg / iStock via Getty Images

38. Iowa
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 11.2 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 351 – #34 most
> Population: 3,150,011 – #31 largest

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

37. Vermont
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 11.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 76 – #48 most
> Population: 624,340 – #49 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

36. Wisconsin
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 12.2 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 717 – #25 most
> Population: 5,806,975 – #20 largest

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

35. Oregon
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 13.0 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 592 – #27 most
> Population: 4,176,346 – #27 largest

[in-text-ad]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

34. Virginia
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 13.4 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,174 – #14 most
> Population: 8,509,358 – #12 largest

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

33. Maryland
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 13.5 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 803 – #24 most
> Population: 6,037,624 – #19 largest

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

32. Utah
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 13.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 429 – #33 most
> Population: 3,151,239 – #30 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

31. South Dakota
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 13.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 120 – #46 most
> Population: 879,336 – #46 largest

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

30. Pennsylvania
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 13.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,752 – #6 most
> Population: 12,794,885 – #5 largest

[in-text-ad]

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

29. Florida
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 13.7 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 3,041 – #3 most
> Population: 21,216,924 – #3 largest

DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

28. North Dakota
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 13.8 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 100 – #47 most
> Population: 760,394 – #47 largest

jessa2482 / iStock via Getty Images

27. Illinois
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 14.1 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,745 – #7 most
> Population: 12,716,164 – #6 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

dlewis33 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

26. Texas
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 14.2 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 4,164 – #1 most
> Population: 28,635,442 – #2 largest

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

25. Delaware
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 14.4 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 135 – #44 most
> Population: 967,679 – #45 largest

[in-text-ad]

peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

24. Michigan
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 14.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,454 – #10 most
> Population: 9,973,907 – #10 largest

Ron and Patty Thomas / iStock via Getty Images

23. Ohio
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 15.2 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,764 – #5 most
> Population: 11,675,275 – #7 largest

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

22. Colorado
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 15.4 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 922 – #19 most
> Population: 5,684,926 – #21 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

21. North Carolina
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 16.0 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,699 – #8 most
> Population: 10,386,227 – #9 largest

4kodiak / E+ via Getty Images

20. Arizona
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 16.7 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,265 – #12 most
> Population: 7,174,064 – #14 largest

[in-text-ad]

TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

19. Kansas
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 16.9 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 494 – #30 most
> Population: 2,912,619 – #35 largest

mvp64 / iStock via Getty Images

18. Nevada
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 17.0 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 547 – #28 most
> Population: 3,030,281 – #32 largest

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

17. Indiana
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 17.3 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,159 – #15 most
> Population: 6,696,893 – #17 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

vkbhat / E+ via Getty Images

16. Idaho
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 17.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 321 – #36 most
> Population: 1,754,367 – #39 largest

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

15. Georgia
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 17.7 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,897 – #4 most
> Population: 10,516,579 – #8 largest

[in-text-ad]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

14. West Virginia
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 18.1 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 325 – #35 most
> Population: 1,807,426 – #38 largest

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

13. Kentucky
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 20.1 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 902 – #20 most
> Population: 4,461,952 – #26 largest

Majestic_Aerials / iStock via Getty Images

12. Oklahoma
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 20.7 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 826 – #22 most
> Population: 3,949,342 – #28 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

11. Montana
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 20.9 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 238 – #38 most
> Population: 1,061,705 – #43 largest

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

10. Tennessee
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 21.3 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,473 – #9 most
> Population: 6,772,268 – #16 largest

[in-text-ad]

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

9. South Carolina
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 22.0 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,131 – #17 most
> Population: 5,091,517 – #23 largest

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

8. Arkansas
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 22.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 673 – #26 most
> Population: 3,011,873 – #33 largest

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

7. New Mexico
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 22.7 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 479 – #31 most
> Population: 2,097,021 – #36 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

6. Alaska
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 23.5 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 175 – #41 most
> Population: 736,990 – #48 largest

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

5. Alabama
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 23.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,141 – #16 most
> Population: 4,893,186 – #24 largest

[in-text-ad]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

4. Missouri
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 23.9 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,426 – #11 most
> Population: 6,124,160 – #18 largest

JTSorrell / E+ via Getty Images

3. Wyoming
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 25.9 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 154 – #42 most
> Population: 581,348 – #50 largest

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

2. Louisiana
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 26.3 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 1,183 – #13 most
> Population: 4,664,616 – #25 largest

[in-text-ad-2]

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

1. Mississippi
> Firearm death rate, 2020: 28.6 per 100,000 people
> Total deaths: 818 – #23 most
> Population: 2,981,835 – #34 largest

Sponsored: Attention Savvy Investors: Speak to 3 Financial Experts – FREE

Ever wanted an extra set of eyes on an investment you’re considering? Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help guide you through the financial decisions you’re making. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.