Gun Ownership by State (2023 Statistics)

Support Our Retailers Ammo.com
, , ,
1

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 by State (2023 Statistics) originally appeared on Ammo.com

7 Likes
2

I guess that’s all based on registered firearms? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Remind me to tend to Great G-pa’s G-pa’s and Dads graves in thanks for the “memories”

7 Likes
3

9.65 per citizen, come on guys we can do better!

7 Likes
4

I feel like the “friendly” green checkmark-yes in the columns for permits and state background checks are supposed to condition us to think those are good things.

A red “Required” would be a better way to indicate it in my opinion.

Why even have the state background check column? There’s already a federal background check required.

7 Likes
6

There is no accurate count, they are guessing based on very short time period, S/N’s were not even required for years, no ppwk required for many years let alone all the war trophies that came back, after desert storm 1000’s of AK’s were confiscated and found hidden under vehicles and equipment that got shipped back and 1000’s were probably not found, I know at Camp Lejeune there were massive amount of parts pulled from fuel tanks of vehicles guys tried to sneak back, not to mention all the missing weapons the Military has lost, I would say registered count may be 50% of the actual count. As most guys who served there were numerous times you could have stolen weapons and got away with it, I was never that brave or stupid, Ammo was easily taken when accountability was mostly non-existant, I can remember many times I could have lifted explosives and such and got away with it. Not sure what year, but when accountability rules changed we had to account for almost every little piece of anything withdrawn from Armory or bunkers. In Afghanistan ammo was literally stacked up and laying in every building, never signed for one round. Vehicles depending on mission had pretty well any weapon or ammo you could load on it, and no one had to sign anything…from training to war changes every thing when it comes to accountability, probably why several billion is cash was never found, Unit Commanders had cash budgets they used to pay for information from locals, I had 82nd guy tell me one of his commanders would pay the locals with cash not to shoot at them when they passed through certain areas and they never got at shot at…

8 Likes
7

I know that I am well above the average . And alot of them there is no record of .

9 Likes
8

You have always been above average, at what I do not know… :rofl:

8 Likes
9

I have been told that before but never by a guy .

9 Likes
10

Get your mind out of the gutter, Belt-Fed has you ruined…

7 Likes
11

I’ll have you know I was this way before Belt Fed . I have always been a smart ass . One grandfather was a iron miner from New York and the other was a quarry worker and farmer from the Ozarks . You learned how to not get your feelings hurt real quick . You also got good at dishing it out .

8 Likes
12

True true. No one will ever count my own grandpa’s prized war souvenier. “The other guy didn’t need it anymore,” he often said about his Walther.

8 Likes
13

sound a little butthurt to me… :rofl: :grampa:

5 Likes
14

Not at all . From what Belt fed said you couldnt butt hurt anyone . :grin:

6 Likes
15

:rage: :face_with_symbols_over_mouth: :rofl: :rofl:

5 Likes
16

I knew Belt-Fed could not keep his mouth shut… :rofl:

6 Likes
17

Our kids, grand kids, nieces, and nephews have all been told, when we go, its their duty to take care of our firearms until they, or their children need them.
My ole man warned us of 9/11 and what would happen after. He was spot on.
As was said during the first revelatory war :" Stay the Course"
My kids and grand kids will, how about yours?

8 Likes
18

Even my liberal daughter and her husband have been buy some guns .

7 Likes
19

Big Mike could have told you that . :rofl:

7 Likes
20

I strongly advise folks to create trusts, pass on the tradition of self sufficient living, to be responsible for educating children and grandchildren in history, and instill faith in our heavenly Father.

It goes without saying to also teach them critical thinking, discernment and to shoot straight… always.

8 Likes
21

:face_with_symbols_over_mouth: :face_with_symbols_over_mouth:

6 Likes