1,105 Gun Deaths in South Carolina
Based on most recent available finalized data from CDC (2022).
494
HOMICIDES
570
SUICIDES
41
OTHER
74
CHILDREN & TEENS AGES 1-17
Key Takeaways
The overall gun death rate increased 37% from 2013 to 2022.
South Carolina had the 9th highest gun death rate in the country in 2022.
Firearms were the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 in 2022.
In 2021, there were at least 68 domestic violence-related homicides in South Carolina. 69% were by firearm.
The county with the highest gun homicide rate in 2022 was Orangeburg County, with a rate over three times as high as the state rate.
The county with the highest gun suicide rate in 2022 was Horry County, with a rate 51% higher than the state rate.
An average of one person killed every eight hours.
Gun violence costs South Carolinians $12.1 billion annually.
Firearm Homicide in South Carolina
5X
While males were five times as likely to die by gun homicide than females, South Carolina also had the 7th highest gun homicide rate for females in the country in 2022.
10X
Black people were ten times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts.
47%
Young Black males ages 15-34 make up 4% of the state’s population but accounted for 47% of all gun homicide deaths in 2022.
4X
Black females were four times as likely to die from gun homicide as their white counterparts.
Firearm Suicide in South Carolina
5X
While males were five times as likely to die by gun suicide than females, South Carolina also had the 7th highest gun suicide rate for females in the country in 2022.
56%
White males over the age of 34 accounted for 19% of the population in South Carolina but nearly 56% of all gun suicide deaths in 2022.
45%
45% of all gun suicide deaths in 2022 were over the age of 54.
Guns are used in the majority of homicides & suicides.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death. Age-adjusted Gun Deaths and Rates per 100,000. WONDER Online Database, 1999-2022; & WISQARS. National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) and Cost of Injury Modules. 2021-2022
