Where does your state rank in gun ownership? We analyzed all 50 states, gun ownership rates, and ownership percentages to bring you this article. Of course, we’ve also included the answers to some of your most burning questions about gun control, ownership, and crime.
Report Highlights:
- The United States has the highest per capita rate of civilian firearm ownership at 120.48 firearms per 100 people.
- American civilians own 46% (approximately 393.3 million) of the world’s 857 million civilian-use firearms. (Source)
- Montana has the highest amount of gun owners (66.3%).
- Wyoming has the most guns per capita, with 245.8 firearms for every 1,000 residents.
- The top 5 states for gun ownership comprise only .8% of the nation’s firearm-related homicides (185 homicides between all 5 states).
- The bottom 5 states for gun ownership comprise 4% of the nation’s firearm-related homicides (1,038 firearm-related homicides).
- According to surveys, 36% of gun owners are white, 24% are black, and 15% are Hispanic. The remaining civilians do not personally own a firearm but do live in a home with someone who does.
- Recent polls show that 32% of adults in the U.S. own at least one firearm.
- 72% of gun owners say the main reason for owning a firearm is for protection.
- According to this poll, 32% of US adults own at least one firearm.
- New Jersey has the lowest rate of gun ownership at only 8.9% of the population and the least amount per capita (1.1 for every 1,000 people).
Global Civilian Firearm-Ownership
Globally, it is estimated that more than 857 million civilians own firearms for personal or defensive use. It’s likely that this number is much higher than the registered firearms that local governments can track.
Note: This information is based on a survey. The information given is only as accurate as the respective government provides.
Global Civilian Firearm Rates & Gun Deaths
One of the more pressing questions regarding civilian firearm ownership is, “Do firearms result in more deaths?” If we compare ownership to firearm-related gun deaths (including homicides and suicides), the correlation between ownership rates and deaths becomes unclear.
Gun Ownership Rates By State
While more states with strict firearm purchasing laws have fewer firearms, that isn’t always the case, despite State-mandated background checks and permits-to-purchase, many states still rank rather high.
What State Has the Most Guns
It is estimated that Texas has more guns than any other state, with 1,005,555 guns and just over 29 million residents. Florida trails behind in second place, with 518,725 guns and a population of just over 21 million residents.
Rhode Island has the lowest number of guns, with 4,887, and a population size of just over one million residents.
Gun Ownership Per Capita By State
While Wyoming doesn’t have the most guns of any state, it does have the most guns per person. Based on recent estimates, Wyoming has 245.8 guns per resident. In contrast, New Jersey has only 1.1 guns per resident, making it the lowest gun ownership state per capita.
Percentage of Gun Ownership by State
Montana has the highest percentage of residents who own guns, with 65.7% of the population. Furthermore, New Jersey has the lowest percentage of gun owners (only 8.9% of residents own a firearm).
State Firearm Ownership and Firearm-Related Deaths
Firearm Ownership & Firearm-Related Deaths
There is no direct correlation between gun ownership and firearm-related death. In fact, the five states with the highest firearm-related deaths have relatively low firearm ownership rates.
Firearm Ownership & Firearm-Related Suicides
In 2021, there were 26,328 firearm-related suicides in the U.S. Thirty percent of firearm-related suicides in 2021 occurred in five states that don’t fall in the top ten for gun ownership.
Firearm Ownership & Firearm-Related Homicides
The deadliest states in the U.S. in 2021 regarding firearms were Texas, California, Illinois, Florida, and Georgia. These states are not in the top fifteen for gun ownership.
ATF Seizures and State of Origin
The ATF now tracks firearms recovered and their state of origin. Tracking firearms is important as it indicates which states are contributing to gun crime in strict areas. However, the states with the most guns are rarely the origin place of seized firearms. (Source)
Note: These firearms were recovered by the ATF. They may or may not have been involved in a crime.
Sources
- Gun Ownership Facts
- Gun Ownership Statistics
- Everytown Gun Laws
- Global Firearm Deaths
- Global Gun Ownership
- Demographics of Gun Ownership in the U.S.
- Number of Registered Guns per State
- ATF Firearm Tracing
- Supreme Court Civilian Firearm Ownership
Gun Ownership by State (2023 Statistics) originally appeared in The Resistance Library at Ammo.com.
262 MILLION citizens killed by their own governments worldwide since 1900. Reason #1 to guard gun ownership by the population like a junk yard dog.
My “calibers” are , um, “old”. Still I’ve been practicing lately with my .38 SPL revolver with 4-1/2″ barrel at 100 yards. What a “bitch”, the ammo says 18.8″ trajectory drop at 100 yards. It’s all good as I’m moving in to 50 yards to see what the hell is up. Know the ammo, know how it shoots out of one’s arsenal. Just thought it educational to try the shot.
A bit shocked my home state is 30th in gun ownership.
Absolutely everyone I know is armed.
Even more shocking is Florida at 40th.
Everyone I know there is even more armed.
Maybe we are all hiding our armory from The Borg…
DAMN! The Devil really went down to GA after all!
It looked like I was gonna be stuck here as far as I could tell
I thought I might as well suck up, what the hell
I said, “You know that song that Charlie Daniel’s did
About how you went down to Georgia and played fiddle against that kid?”
“Yeah”, he said “It broke my heart, but what are you gonna do?”
“Well, to tell you the truth I thought your solo was the better of the two”
-RWH
These stats are bullshit. They only account for LEGAL ownership for starters. Are we to believe that there is not one illegal gun in all of America?
I was thinking guns they KNOW of…
Yup, not counting niggers and hillbillies guns. Millions more there.
well… you cant tally what isnt tracked moron.
ALL statistics are kept this way. To what degree could you possibly make an assumption on ANY national stat, including things like the underground economy, and actually be assured with any confidence that the assumption is fair?
some people try to sound more intelligent and informed than their actual cognitive abilities or understanding allows.
“some people try to sound more intelligent and informed”
Fact
How many firearms have been passed down from generation to generation that they do not know about? How many made it back from the various wars over the last 100 years. I think there are at least 1/2 billion guns in private ownership and maybe as high as 600 million.
NEVER give up your guns!!!
Just 0.1% of Legal Illinois Firearm Owners Have Registered their “Banned” Firearms
Mass non-compliance. Should be the same for their upcoming “draft.”
Governor Smirking Pig Face says that’s no big deal because Illinois residents don’t have those kind of guns. WTF?! They “don’t have them” but you passed laws requiring them to register them?
Illinois is home to Springfield Armory, Krebs Custom, DSA, Armalite, LMT and I probably missed some. Les Baer was here but moved across the river to Iowa. I’m sure others will be following Les.
Illinois is home to Chicongo.
Murder City with the most draconian gun laws in the country.
Thank God for those laws or like the “vaccine”, it would be even more deadly.
There has to be a mistake in the per capita gun ownership chart. I find it difficult to believe that in Wyoming, there are 245 guns per capita. More likely 245 guns per 1000 citizens.
This is why a lot of charts lose their credibility. I question the entire article and don’t believe that a lot of states like TX only have 35% ownership
Jacobs or whoever at ammo . com is a dumbass who gets things wrong every single time.
Did they figure in the number of guns we left behind in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan when we pulled out? Asking for a friend.
2 things:
Eric Holder the former attorney general gave a speech at some DC think tank 1996. He said Americans love their guns and must be brainwashed against them. Video on jootube.
2nd. : Smith Mundt modernization Act 2012. It legalized domestic dissemination of propaganda. Hence all the ridiculous staged mass shootings that have taken place. No one cries no one dies. All phoney baloney.
Death rates from illegally possessing a firearm by race ….
Everybody knows why it’s an unreported or underreported figure !
The same for a mass shooting by someone under some level of physiological/ emotional treatment including prescription drugs
It’s all out there
Crazy does Crazy & Nigs gonna Nig
Before you do a survey asking individuals how many guns they own, you might want to first determine what percentage are going to tell you the truth.
Most people I know, if a stranger were to ask them that question would respond with F off.
Also, there are still guns out there that came back from WWI and WWII (souvenirs) that there were no records of, let’s just say I’ve heard rumors. Disclosure – I don’t have actual personal knowledge of that fact.
I have no clue how many guns I own….
And never will.
No one ever said, “I wish I had less guns.”
16 and none of your damn business. I’d say “normal” count. lol
I may be missing something, but it states that the US has overall 120 firearms per 100 civilians, but the state with the most guns, Wyoming, the state with the highest ownership has only 245 guns per 1000 residents, that’s 25 per 100. Then below, it states Wyoming has 245 guns per resident.
If that’s what the study really states, it is garbage and totally untrustworthy and worthless. If I had an employee hand me a report that didn’t foot like this, I’d send him for a do over. I’m amazed someone would publish a “study” with so much contradictory data. Doesn’t anybody proof read their work anymore?
If (when) CBDCs become reality, the purchase of ammo will be a choke point.
Get all you’ll ever need BEFORE such an occurrence.
At least 100 million more firearms in the country than they show. There have been almost 400 million background checks run since 1999.
Take the guns first.
-Donald J. Trump (never even shot a BB gun in Queens)
Fuck this guy. “Wake Up”.
I guarantee Kentucky probably has more guns than anyone. We like to buy guns under the table; cash talks and bullshit walks.