Firearm Deaths In Canada

• From 1970 to 1996, approximately 37,399 individuals died or were killed as a result of gun shot wounds. This accounts for an average of 1,385 deaths per year over 27 years.
• Between 1970 and 1996, 14% of all firearm-related deaths involved homicides.
• Between 1987 and 1996, there were approximately 183 firearm homicides per year.
• From 1987 to 1996, four percent of firearm-related deaths involve accidents. Every year, a small proportion of firearms deaths (2%) can be attributed to legal intervention (e.g., police shooting of an offender) or undetermined firearm deaths.
• Approximately 32% of all homicides involved firearms over the last ten years (1988-1996). Twenty-nine percent involved stabbing, 20% beating, 11% strangulation and the remaining 7% involved other methods (e.g., fire, poisoning).
• Between 1987 and 1996, 79% of all firearm-related deaths were suicides. During this period, approximately 28% of all suicides involved firearms, or an average of 1,030 firearm suicides per year.
• Between 1989 and 1996, the average annual rate of firearm deaths in all of Canada is 4.5 per 100,000. The Northwest Territories (18.5 per 100,000) reported the highest rate while the Yukon (11.8 per 100,000) and New Brunswick (7.2 per 100,000) reported the second and third highest rate of firearm deaths overall, respectively.

Firearms Research Unit
Canada Firearms Centre
March 1999