The Commonwealth Fund report Comparing Deaths from Gun Violence in the U.S. with Other Countries demonstrates that the United States experiences disproportionately high rates of firearm mortality compared to both high-income and global peers, ranking in the 93rd percentile overall and even higher for specific groups such as children, adolescents, and women.
Firearms are identified as a leading cause of death among U.S. children and are frequently used in domestic violence, particularly against women, underscoring their central role in preventable mortality. The report further shows that most U.S. states have firearm death rates exceeding those of the majority of countries worldwide, with some approaching levels seen in conflict-affected regions.
Significant racial disparities persist, with Black and American Indian/Alaska Native populations experiencing the highest mortality rates. Overall, the findings position firearm violence as a major public health crisis in the U.S., with profound social and economic consequences, including substantial healthcare costs and reductions in life expectancy.
