Rates of Homicide, Suicide, and Firearm-Related Death Among Children

Research Summary Canada Firearms Centre

Department of Justice Canada

February 27, 1997

Article: Centers for Disease Control, U.S.A. Rates of Homicide, Suicide, and Firearm-Related Death Among Children - 26 Industrialized Countries. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Volume 46, Number 5, February 7, 1997.

Introduction:

This study examined the causes of death among children, aged 0-14 years of age, according to national health statistics provided by 26 developed countries. The purpose was to compare patterns of violent death in the United States with that of other industrialized countries, including Canada. It was noted that since 1950, the overall death rate for children in the U.S. had declined substantially, mainly due to a reduction in deaths related to physical illness and unintentional injuries. At the same time, childhood homicide rates had tripled, and suicide rates had quadrupled.

Method:

Countries were selected for the study if they yielded high levels of gross national product, and if their populations exceeded one million, ensuring that countries were economically comparable and capable of providing the required data. The countries included were: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England and Wales, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States.

For the most recent year for which data were available, countries provided data by gender, age blocks (0-4, 5-14, and 0-14 years), and population rates, according to the following classifications:

• suicides
• homicides
• suicides by firearm
• homicides by firearm
• unintentional deaths by firearm
• firearm-related deaths with undetermined intention

It was found that the total child population aged 0-14 in all countries was 161 million, and 35% of children resided in the U.S.

Summary of Results:

Total Violent Child Deaths

• There were 2,872 violent child deaths within the 26 countries in one year - 59% were male and 41% were female.

Homicide

• Homicides accounted for 1,995 deaths, and 1,464 (73%) occurred in the U.S.
• The American homicide rate was five times higher than the rate in all other countries combined.

Suicide

• A total of 599 child suicides had occurred in one year, 72% male and 28% female.
• 321 child suicides occurred in the U.S., accounting for 54% of total child suicides.
• The U.S. rate of suicides was two times higher than the rate reported for all other countries combined.

Firearm-related Deaths

• Of all violent child deaths, a firearm was involved in 1,107 cases.
• Of all firearm-related deaths, 55% were reported as homicides; 20% as suicides; 22% unintentional; and, 3% undetermined intention.
• 86% of firearm-related deaths occurred in the U.S. The rate in the U.S. was 12 times the rate of all other countries combined.
• The rate for firearms-related homicide was 16 times higher in the U.S., the rate for firearms suicide was 11 times higher, and the rate for unintentional firearm deaths was nine times higher.
• Rates among other countries varied substantially, for example, there were no firearm-related deaths in five of the 26 countries.

Firearm-related Deaths in Canada

• In firearm-related deaths among children aged 0 to 14 years, Canada had the fifth highest rate, behind the United States, Finland, Northern Ireland and Israel, respectively.
• The rate of firearm-related child deaths in Canada was .4 per 100,000 population, one quarter the U.S. rate of 1.6.
• According to separate statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control, 43% of child firearm deaths in Canada were unintentional, 17% were homicide, 35% were suicide, and 4% were undetermined.
• Approximately 9% of all child homicides in Canada were committed with a firearm, and 24% of all suicides involved a firearm.