Learn About the Costs of Violent Deaths

Violence is a significant economic burden costing society about $47 billion a year in total medical and work loss costs.

In 2005, 51,173 violence-related deaths (homicide, suicide and legal intervention combined) resulted in $47 billion in total medical and work loss costs. Males accounted for 79% of these deaths, resulting in total combined costs ($39 billion) that were almost 5 times greater than the total combined cost for females ($8 billion). However, the average medical costs per violence-related death were similar between the sexes, with $4,196 for men and $4,231 for women. Violent deaths among individuals in the 20-24 year and 25-29 year age groups cost society the most in total combined medical and work loss costs ($8.3 billion and $7 billion, respectively).

Suicide accounted for the majority of violence-related injury deaths (64%), costing society $26.7 billion in combined medical and work loss costs. The total combined cost of suicide was greater than the total combined costs of homicide ($20 billion) and legal intervention ($455 million). However, the average homicide was more costly to society than the average suicide, with average combined medical and work loss costs of $1.1 million and $819,000, respectively.

Firearm-related injuries were the leading mechanism (cause) of violence-related death, representing 58% of all violent deaths. These injuries accounted for $27.7 billion in total medical and work loss costs. Suffocation and poisoning were the next two highest-ranking mechanisms of violent death, with a total combined cost of $7.8 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively.