What demographic groups (age, sex, race) accounted for the largest share of 2024 firearm homicides and suicides?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
In 2024 firearm homicides were concentrated among young men of color — especially Black males aged roughly 15–34, who accounted for a disproportionately large share of victims — while firearm suicides were dominated by older White males and by men overall, with suicides making up the majority of gun deaths nationally (provisional 2024 data) [1] [2] [3] [4]. National public-health reporting and analyses consistently show teens and young adults are the age groups with the highest firearm homicide rates, and White adults — particularly older White men — represent the largest share of firearm suicides [5] [4] [3].
1. Homicides: young men of color account for the largest share
Firearm homicides in 2024 were heavily concentrated among males and skewed young: teens and adults aged 15–34 have the highest homicide rates, and analyses of 2024 federal data indicate a striking overrepresentation of Black males in that age band — The Trace’s analysis found Black males ages 15–34 made up roughly 36 percent of 2024 gun-homicide victims despite being about 4 percent of the population [5] [1]. Public-health sources also identify American Indian or Alaska Native and Hispanic populations as having elevated firearm-homicide rates relative to the national average, reinforcing that homicides are concentrated among particular racial and ethnic groups and younger ages [5] [4]. Cross-sectional and trend studies show men are far more likely than women to be victims of firearm homicide, with historical male:female ratios around 5:1 [6].
2. Suicides: dominated by White males, especially older adults
The largest single demographic share of firearm suicides is White Americans, who represented the vast majority of gun-suicide victims in recent CDC-based analyses — Everytown reports White Americans comprised about 81 percent of firearm suicide victims in recent years, and public-health reporting shows firearm suicide rates peak among older adults, with particularly high rates among White men aged 45 and older and the oldest cohorts [3] [4] [7]. National provisional counts for 2024 show suicides continued to be the majority of gun deaths (about 60–62 percent of gun deaths), meaning the racial and age distributions of suicides drive most of the overall firearm-death burden [2] [4].
3. Sex and age split: men and certain age bands carry most of the burden
Across both intent types, males account for the lion’s share of firearm deaths: studies report male-to-female ratios on the order of 5:1 for homicide and roughly 7:1 for suicide historically, and recent CDC reporting confirms large male predominance in firearm suicide and homicide counts [6] [8]. Age patterns differ by intent: homicides concentrate in adolescence and young adulthood (15–34), while suicides concentrate among middle-aged and older adults, with a pronounced peak among older White men [5] [4] [7].
4. Why the patterns diverge: context, exposure and method
The divergence follows well-documented social and structural patterns: homicide risk correlates with community-level factors and tends to be higher in urban settings and among racial groups experiencing concentrated disadvantage, while suicide risk by firearm is higher among populations with greater firearm ownership and older males who use more lethal methods [5] [4] [9]. Researchers and public-health advocates emphasize that these are not biologically predetermined distributions but outcomes shaped by firearm access, social conditions, and differing exposures to violence and mental-health stressors [4] [9].
5. Data limits, provisional counts and alternative interpretations
The 2024 picture relies in part on provisional federal data and independent analyses; counts and percentages are subject to revision and are affected by death-certificate race/ethnicity reporting limitations [2] [8]. Different organizations emphasize different slices — advocacy groups highlight the overwhelming White share of suicides to push prevention strategies focused on older men [3], while urban-focused outlets stress the concentrated toll on young Black men to argue for community violence intervention and structural remedies [1] [5]. Both perspectives are supported by the underlying data but emphasize different policy responses.
Conclusion
Synthesizing available reporting: firearm homicides in 2024 were disproportionately borne by young men of color, particularly Black males aged about 15–34, while firearm suicides were dominated by White males — especially older adults — and men overall accounted for the majority of firearm deaths; suicides comprised roughly three in five gun deaths in provisional 2024 data [1] [2] [3] [5]. These patterns reflect distinct drivers and therefore require distinct prevention strategies tailored to the demographic realities that the data reveal [4] [9].