Black Illinois residents died from firearms at a rate higher than the overall population of any state in the nation during 2024, according to a new analysis of federal mortality data.

The Hirsch Law Group reviewed 2024 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and found a stark divide among demographic groups in Illinois. The latest figures cover the most recent full statistical year available.

Illinois recorded an overall firearm death rate of 12.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024. That figure placed the state slightly below the national rate of 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents.

The statewide number, however, concealed a much sharper disparity between Black and white Illinois residents. White residents had a firearm death rate of 8.6 per 100,000, while the rate among Black residents reached 37.9 per 100,000.

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That left a gap of 30 points between Black and white residents in the state. The firearm death rate among Black Illinoisans was also about 10 points higher than Mississippi’s overall rate.

Mississippi ranked highest among the states for firearm deaths, with 28 deaths per 100,000 residents. Even that nation leading statewide rate remained below the 37.9 deaths per 100,000 recorded among Black Illinois residents.

Across the United States, there were 44,447 firearm deaths in 2024. The resulting national rate was 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, slightly above the overall rate recorded in Illinois.

Suicide accounted for 27,593 of the national firearm deaths, producing a rate of 7.6 per 100,000 residents. Homicides accounted for another 15,364 deaths, with a rate of 4.7 per 100,000 residents.

The analysis also identified wide differences among racial groups across the country. Black Americans had the highest national firearm death rate, at 25.2 per 100,000 residents.

American Indian/Alaska Native residents followed at 14.5 firearm deaths per 100,000. White Americans had a national firearm death rate of 12.2 per 100,000 residents.

The Illinois figure for Black residents stood well above the national rate for Black Americans. It also far exceeded the overall national rate, the Illinois statewide rate, and Mississippi’s rate for its total population.

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At the other end of the state rankings, Hawaii had the lowest firearm death rate at 3.7 per 100,000 residents. Massachusetts followed at 3.8, New Jersey at 4, New York at 4.4, and Rhode Island at 4.6.

Age also corresponded with major differences in the 2024 data. Americans ages 13 to 17 had a firearm death rate of 11.7 per 100,000 residents.

Among Americans ages 18 to 24, the rate rose to 22.3 per 100,000. That was the highest firearm death rate recorded for any age group in the analysis.

The data showed an additional divide between men and women. Men had a firearm death rate of 22.1 per 100,000 in 2024, compared with 3.7 per 100,000 for women.

The Hirsch Law Group connected part of that gender gap to the large share of firearm deaths involving suicide. Men also died by suicide at substantially higher rates than women, according to the group.

“With suicide accounting for 62% of all U.S. firearm deaths in 2024, and men dying by suicide at substantially higher rates than women, the two factors partially explain the overall gender disparity,” the Hirsch Law Group noted.

Taken together, the 2024 figures show dramatically different firearm death rates depending on state, race, age, and gender. Illinois remained just below the national average overall, but its Black residents faced the highest rate highlighted by the analysis.