Trends in Death Rates for Leading Methods of Injury: United States, 2003-2023

After a period of stability from 2003 to 2013, the total injury death rate increased 21% from 2013 to 2019 and an additional 25% through 2021 before declining 4% through 2023. This pattern of an increase before 2019 and an even greater increase from 2019 to 2021 was seen for both unintentional injury and homicide deaths. Suicide, however, exhibited a different pattern, with increases from 2003 to 2018 and then a decline from 2018 to 2020 before resuming its increase. Drug overdose was the leading method of unintentional injury deaths during the period. Death rates increased from 2003 to 2022, with the largest increase from 2019 to 2022. The rate declined from 2022 to 2023. Firearms were the leading method for both suicide and homicide, with rates generally increasing over the period. Since 2021, firearm-involved homicide rates declined, while firearm-involved suicide rates were stable.