Report Highlights
- Gun ownership in America increased 28% from 1994 to 2023
- It is estimated that there are 393 million civilian-owned firearms in the U.S.
- There are 6.06 million registered civilian firearms in America
- Estimates show that 82,880,000 people own at least one firearm in 2023
- Women’s firearm ownership increased by 177.8% in the past years
- Gun ownership increased more among Hispanics than any other demographic between 2017-2023 (33%)
- Gun ownership declined by 22% in the 18-29 age group over the past six years
- One out of every 20 adults in the U.S. purchased a firearm for the first time during the pandemic
As the political climate heats up surrounding gun control and legislation, more Americans are buying firearms today than six years ago. In the past twenty years, gun ownership has risen slightly among women and Hispanics while it has decreased among men.
How Many Americans Own Guns?
In 2023, 32% of Americans own at least one firearm. There are approximately 259,000,000 adults, which equates to 82,880,000 people who own a firearm in the U.S.
Firearm ownership increased by 6.7% in the U.S. (all demographics) between 2017 and 2023. During that same time period, women increased ownership by 13.6%, and Hispanics increased ownership by 33.3%.
Not only is gun ownership on the rise, but some demographics are purchasing guns at higher rates today than ever before.
Furthermore, 7.5 million adults (2.9% of adults in the U.S.) became first-time gun owners between 2019 and 2021. Of those, 5.4 million did not have a firearm in the household before purchasing.
Gun Sale Trends in America 2010-2023
While firearm ownership historically remains between 40% and 47% of the adult population, purchase trends vary widely. More Americans bought firearms in 2020 than any year since 2010.
Increased gun sales backing increased gun ownership in the U.S.
How Many Legal Gun Owners in the United States?
Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to tell exactly how many legal firearm owners there are in the U.S. However, we can explore the NICS, gun sales, and firearm ownership trends to better explain the legality of firearm ownership in America.
- Current estimates state that there have been more than 7 million firearms sold in the US via an FFL dealer or private seller with a background check (January through May)
- More than 64 million background checks (E-Checks) have been approved since 2002
- There are currently more than 6 million registered firearms of the estimated 393 million in circulation
How Many illegal?
While some estimate that more than one million Americans possess firearms illegally, criminals do not regularly report firearm possession. Therefore, we must look into past data to better understand illegal firearm ownership in the U.S.
- Only 146 firearms were confiscated during a license or registration process in 2021
- 316,464 firearms were recovered by the ATF in 2021 involving the commission of a crime
- 47,361 firearms were confiscated from individuals under the age of 21 in the U.S. in 2021
- 68% of firearm offenders are rearrested within 8 years, compared to only 46% of non-firearm offenders (2005)
- In 2018, there were 6,719 federal convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)
What Percentage of Americans Own Guns?
40%, or approximately more than 82,000,000 Americans own guns. As a matter of fact, 28% more people report having firearms in 2023 than twenty years ago.
Gun ownership has been on the rise in recent years.
How Many Guns Does An Average Gun Owner Possess?
The average American owns between one and five firearms. Men are more likely than women to own more than one, and those with only one firearm typically have a handgun or pistol.
- 62% of gun owners with only one firearm have a handgun
- 66% of gun owners have more than one firearm
- 29% of gun owners have five firearms
- Men are more likely to own more than one firearm (74%) than women
How Many US Households Have Guns?
Currently, more than 40% of households have at least one firearm (an estimated 52,000,000 households). The number of households with guns increased by 14.3% since 1994, with 18% more buying firearms during the pandemic.
Household gun ownership is on the rise in the U.S. Many households acquired new firearms during the pandemic.
How Many Americans Report That They or Someone in Their Household Have A Gun?
Only 10% of respondents to the June 2023 survey stated they do not personally own a firearm but do live in a home with someone else who does. This is a 6.7% increase from 2017.
What Is The Primary Reason Why Americans Possess Guns?
- 72% of gun owners say they keep a firearm for protection in 2023
- Only 32% of Americans own a firearm for hunting
- 30% of gun owners use firearms for sports
- 15% of firearm owners keep them as a collection
- 7% of owners use their firearms in a work-related setting
Despite fluctuations in firearm ownership, the number one reason owners keep firearms is for protection (an increase of 7.5% since 2017). However, firearm collections have increased by 15.4% since 2017.
The majority of gun owners cite personal defense as a reason for owning guns.
Sources
- Pew Research Gun Owners in America
- Guns in America
- Gun Owners 1994
- NICS 2020-2021
- Firearm Tracing and Recovery
- Firearms Sold in the US
- First-time Gun Buyers
- Pandemic First Time Buyers
How Many Gun Owners are in America? (2023 Statistics) originally appeared in The Resistance Library at Ammo.com.
All good stats, from where I sit…I just hope all those new owners are spending 10x that on AMMO (while we can still get and afford it).
And tricked out fighting kits, with boo coo mags…that they strap on and train/run with.
“And don’t forget to spit polish your home made dum dums”.
-Fleabaggs
How many gun owners are there in 2024???
(Checks notes)
Same as last year…
NOT ENOUGH!!!!
And it will be the same next year…
Whistlin diesel owns a tank and lot’s of guns
and he just bought a Komatsu D355A AKA Kill dozer
The main statistical question is, “What percentage of white Americans own guns?”
Bingo.
Not enough
That’s who the government doesn’t want to have guns. They don’t care about niggers having guns. Niggers are too busy being niggers to be a threat to tyranny.
That’s because they’re the ones giving the schwartzes the guns in the first place.
These numbers are full on shit.
It’s 10x that.
Who didn’t inherent guns from ancestors?
Mine were lost.
“Currently, more than 40% of households have at least one firearm”
…more or less the number of households that will survive at least a week when SHTF.
I’m actually considering an F15 since FJB said he said that’s what we would need. Can’t find one for sale, must be popular. /sarc
Are there any stats how many possess stolen firearms? Bastards.
“I’m a red blooded American patriot and a proud gun owner and defender of the 2nd amendment. Don’t let them take your guns”…several stolen guns in the gun safe , a gun safe sos no one steals me guns.
If you shop for sporting goods or buy a bible you may be illegally spied on.
” Americans who shopped at sporting goods stores and bought religious books “like a Bible” were flagged through their banks as potential domestic terrorists, Rep. Jim Jordan revealed Jan. 17.”
So if you’ve shopped at a sporting goods store, including Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or myriad gun retailers, you could be flagged to law enforcement as “Lone Actor/Homegrown Violent Extremism.” All these retailers and dozens more appeared on a list Jordan found that a federal financial crime agency distributed to instruct bank employees in how to criminalize their fellow Americans’ religious and political ideas.
Turns out, benign, all-American consumerism by a completely peaceful and law-abiding citizen with zero criminal record or activity somehow threatens the people running my own country into the ground. What are they afraid of, and why do they hate Jesus so much?
thefederalist.com/2024/01/18/i-bought-a-bible-slingshot-and-sports-gear-so-im-probably-on-a-domestic-terrorist-watchlist/
Going forward, all ammo purchases will be cash only.
The time to have bulked up was ’16-’20. Now, cash only, as needed. I won’t even buy a case online.
Places that have NICS background checks are more likely to send data to the FBI as well, even pawn shops. And they’re in the side of government.
Remembering what these pukes say years later is probably a tell tale sign of ‘ extremism .’
/s/
Gun Grab Monday Jan. 22
vcdl.org/mpage/UrgentActionAlert011924
The Virginia Senate Courts of Justice committee is going to hear a large group of gun-control bills on Monday, including:
* Ban on “assault weapons” and magazines that will hold more than 10 rounds and ban on public carry of “assault weapons”
* 2-Day, 3-day or a 5-day waiting period when purchasing a firearm (different bills)
* Ban on concealed carry in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages
* Homemade guns must be serialized, as would be guns made before 1968
* No firearms for anyone under 21
* Permit to purchase firearms
The one stat I find fascinating is that firearms ownership in the 18 to 29 year old group has dropped 22%. I would like to know the reasons for that. Is that age group that useless and feckless?
Because 22 to 29 men are becoming weak little bitches
I know many and quite frankly, they’re not going to survive what’s about to happen.
Proud 29%’r. I mean, there are purposes for each different one I own…. from training, hunting, C&C, open on my property, home defense, pest control, theft control, farm needs, short range, long range, with night scopes, etc. Those who get it, get it.
I once had a firearm, it was tragically lost in the big move across the lake several winters ago. Another time there was a fellow who had a pistol but he tied the barrel into the coolest knot and sold it as an art piece. That’s all I know.
That’s Cornhole Cornyn, the Texas dupe, on Trump’s right.
4 shotguns, 4 rifles, 3 handguns and 1 pneumatic cueball cannon.