Gun Facts in the U.S. 2026: The Reality of Firearms in America

Last Updated: Mar 2, 2026

An estimated 30% of Americans (about 102 million) own at least one firearm.
Men own more guns than women, but women are the faster-growing demographic of gun owners.
As of 2017, Americans possessed 46% of the world’s civilian-owned firearms.
42% (57 million) of American households contain at least one firearm.
81% of gun owners and 57% of non-gun owners in gun households say a firearm makes them safer.

Methodology

Firearm ownership is not officially recorded, tracked, or monitored in the United States.

Furthermore, data at the state and federal level differ due to survey limitations and variances in reporting. This report relies on many sources to collect the most accurate information.

All information collected below comes from the most reputable sources available. Here is how we compiled the data in this article:

Self-Report Surveys - Gun ownership and feelings towards guns
CDC WONDER Database - Firearm-related deaths, homicides, and suicides
Peer-Reviewed Studies - Correlations between gun ownership, crime, and deaths
State-Level Data - Noting that every state has different gun laws and tracking methods, and statewide the data do not always align with national data
NICS and ATF Reports - National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and ATF records concerning firearm sales and involvement in crimes

This article is not definitive, as firearm data reporting is incomplete and varies by source. For example, state-level reports appear lower than national ownership rates due to differences in reporting.

Ammo.com provides accurate and reliable information. You can jump to our list of reputable sources HERE.

How Many Americans Own Guns?

Despite many recent first-time gun buyers and the highest-ever gun sales, only one-third of the adult American population owns guns. Recent surveys show that 30% (or 102 million) of the American population owns guns as of 2025.⁽¹⁾ A previous 2025 survey suggests that only 23% of Americans own a firearm.⁽²⁾

As of 2025, over 57 million households in the United States (42%) have at least one firearm; up from 56 million households in 2019.

Number of People vs. Guns in the U.S.

As of 2025, comprehensive estimates show there were 1.50 firearms per person in the U.S., or 1.93 guns per adult.^{(4, 5, 6, 7)}

The United States had a population of approximately 341 million people in 2025, when there were estimated to be around 500 million privately owned firearms in the country.

States With the Most Guns

Per the most recent surveys and NICS reports, Wyoming has more guns per person than any other state. In 2025, the state had a population of 580,000-590,000, with surveys indicating that two-thirds owned guns. That's 245 firearms for every 1,000 individuals.⁽⁸⁾

West Virginia trailed in second place with 92 firearms per 1,000 people. South Dakota, New Mexico, and New Hampshire rounded up the top five in the firearms per capita category.⁽³²⁾

Here are the five states with the highest estimated guns per capita:

Wyoming - 245 per 1,000 people
West Virginia - 92 per 1,000 people
South Dakota - 72 per 1,000 people
New Mexico - 58 per 1,000 people
New Hampshire - 52 per 1,000 people

Note: All data included in this section are collected through self-reporting surveys on a state-by-state basis and do not align with national levels. Actual per capita rates are likely higher.

What Percentage of All the Guns in the World Are Owned by Americans?

According to the 2017 Small Arms Survey, the global estimate of firearms is over 1 billion. Of these, approximately 857 million (85%) were in civilian hands; 133 million (13%) were in military arsenals; and 23 million (2%) were owned by law enforcement agencies.

The same Small Arms Survey estimated that Americans owned 393 million firearms, which is about 120.5 firearms per 100 people. This means that Americans held roughly 46% of the world's privately owned firearms in 2017.⁽⁵⁾

Men vs. Women Gun Ownership

In 2025, 43% of men and 25% of women in the U.S. reported owning firearms.^{(9, 10)}

In 2017, 22% of U.S. females (approximately 36.9 million) owned firearms. By 2023, this percentage increased to 25%, meaning around 41.0 million women in the U.S. personally owned guns. This shows a growing trend in female gun ownership over the years.

Male firearm ownership has stagnated. In 2025, 43% of men stated they owned a firearm, which aligns with previous years.

In 2023, 29.2% of handgun permit holders in the United States were women; an increase from 28.3% in 2021. These data further highlight the growing trend of female participation in firearm ownership and concealed carry.⁽¹¹⁾

Men

2007 - 46%
2011 - 45%
2015 - 43%
2019 - 43%
2022 - 43%
2025 - 43%

Women

2007 - 13%
2011 - 19%
2015 - 15%
2019 - 18%
2022 - 22%
2025 - 25%

How Many Illegal Guns Are in the U.S.?

There's no definitive record of how many guns are illegal in the U.S. However, the ATF does track guns used in crimes across the nation.

Highlights From the Data on Illegal Guns in the US

How Many Guns Used in Crimes Are Obtained Illegally?

Per the 2016 Bureau of Justice Statistics report on crime guns, 56% of inmates who used a firearm during the commission of a crime obtained that firearm illegally. Alternatively, 25% stated they acquired the firearm from a family member or friend, and 10.1% stated they obtained the firearm from a retail source (presumably, a legal purchase).⁽¹²⁾

As of 2023, the ATF traced more than 400,000 firearms used during commissions of crime.⁽¹³⁾ This is consistent with ATF reports between 2017 and 2021 that show approximately 400,000 firearms traced annually.

Law enforcement agencies submit trace requests to the ATF when they confiscate a firearm. Between 2017 and 2021, nearly 2 million trace requests were sent to the ATF.⁽¹⁴⁾

As of 2023, the ATF traced 408,029 firearms seized during commissions of a crime.
85.9% of guns used in crimes were obtained illegally.
1,922,577 firearms were submitted to the ATF for trace requests between 2017 and 2021 (presumably recovered from crimes).
Recent ATF reports show an average of 160,000 firearms are reported stolen annually, while some surveys suggest the figure is much higher at 380,000.⁽¹⁴⁾

Can We Define "Illegal" Guns in the United States?

There's no singular definition for "illegal firearms" in the U.S. Purchase, possession, manufacture, or transport of certain firearms may be restricted or prohibited in some jurisdictions or nationally (as we've seen with bump stocks and the NFA).

This report defines illegal guns as those confiscated by law enforcement agencies across the U.S. The firearms in this report were recovered during an investigation of an alleged crime, or from a person who did not possess them lawfully.

What Is the Public Attitude Toward Gun Control?

According to a 2025 Gallup survey, 40% of Americans said gun laws should be more strict; 37% stated they were satisfied with current laws; 12% stated that laws are too strict.⁽¹⁾

Gun control support is declining. In 2024, 46% of Americans stated they wanted stricter gun laws, while 13% stated that current laws are too strict.

In 2024, most Americans stated there should be no ban on civilian handgun ownership (78%). The majority (52%) also stated they would support another assault weapons ban.⁽¹⁾

Larger majorities reportedly support prohibiting people with mental illness from owning guns (88%), increasing the minimum age to purchase to 21 (79%), and banning high-capacity magazines (66%).⁽³⁾

Wrap-Up

Americans own more guns than any other country's population. For a deeper look at how many guns are in the US, including historical trends and state-by-state breakdowns, see our full analysis. Firearms are deeply ingrained in American culture, from hunting to personal defense to sport shooting.

With nearly two firearms for every adult in their country, Americans' attitudes toward firearms still vary greatly. Although many support stricter gun control restrictions, fewer support them today than 20 years ago. For a full breakdown of the percentage of Americans that own guns by state, age, gender, and political party, see our dedicated report.

Sources

Written by

Cassandra McBride