UNC Injury Prevention Research Center

Injury Statistics: Violence

For a printable version of this fact sheet, click here.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide claimed the lives of 20,308 Americans in 2001 and suicide was responsible for the deaths of 30,622 Americans. Homicide is particularly a problem for young Americans, as it is the second leading cause of death for persons 10 to 24 years of age and is the leading cause of death for African-Americans in this age group. Suicide was the third leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 24 in 2001. Furthermore, more than 2 million nonfatal violence-related injuries occurred in the United States in 2001.

All Violence-Related Incidents 1996-1998	# of deaths in U.S.	# of deaths in NC
Total Deaths	151,102	4,699
Suicide/Firearm	35%	39%
Suicide/Poisoning	11%	8%
Suicide/Suffocation	10%	7%
Suicide/Other	5%	3%
Homicide/Firearm	26%	29%
Homicide/Cut or Pierce	5%	6%
Homicide/Suffocation	1%	1%
Homicide/Other	7%	7%

Source: CDC State Injury Profiles, 2001

IPRC Resources:

Numerous research projects conducted at IPRC are measuring and addressing the scope of violence-related injuries and deaths:

IPRC is also working with the North Carolina Public Health Institute and the CDC on a violence prevention training program. For more information visit the Preventing Violence through Networking, Technical Assistance and Training (PREVENT) website.

For more information contact:

Injury Statistics: Violence

All Violence-Related Incidents 1996-1998

# of deaths in U.S.

# of deaths in NC