How can there be more deaths in 2020 and yet the rate of gun deaths is lower or remains the same? The explanation for this apparent contradiction is related to population growth. The population grew at a faster pace than the number of people who died by guns. In other words, despite an increase in total gun deaths over this ten-year period, the age-adjusted gun death rate is lower because the population growth is larger.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A percentage change was developed using 2011 and 2020 data. The term “homicide” includes shootings by police. See the methodology page for more information.