A new report says gun violence in the U.S. may be driving down the country's life expectancy rate.

The report studied 17 of the world's richest countries and explored why the U.S. has the lowest life expectancy for men at 75.6 years and women at 80 years. The prevalence of firearms in the United States was cited in the study as an explanation for the higher death rates from violence, suicidal impulses and accidental shootings.

Americans, the study said, account for 35 to 50 percent of the world's civilian-owned firearms.

The report showed incident of violence in the U.S. are not more frequent than other countries, but are more deadly. 

The study was conducted by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine.

READ: Guns driving down life expectancy in America

AP: Violence plays role in shorter US life expectancy