Firearm Ownership in America by Year: An Updated Analysis in 2024

Related Studies: Gun Ownership by State | American Gun Ownership: A Look At Its Positive Impact | How Many Gun Owners Are in America?

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Methodology

The United States does not track or maintain official records of firearm ownership. As a result, understanding how many Americans own guns requires reliance on self-reported data, which can vary depending on the source, method, and willingness of individuals to disclose ownership.

To address these inconsistencies, we analyzed multiple self-reporting surveys and cross-referenced their findings with reputable studies and publicly available data. By combining insights from trusted sources and utilizing a comprehensive approach, we provided accurate and reliable reporting in the following sections.

Firearm Ownership in America by Year

Firearm ownership increased by 26% from 2000 to 2024. In 2000, only 27% of Americans owned guns. In 2000, only 27% (76,140,000 people) owned guns. After the pandemic gun buying spree, 34% (117,564,399 people) reportedly owned at least one firearm.¹

Household Firearm Ownership by Year

Although personal firearm ownership increased between 2000 and 2024, fewer households have firearms today. In 1975, 44% of households had firearms (39,756,600). This increased to 47% in 1990. The number of households with firearms decreased to 39% and increased to 42% between 2020 and 2024 (55,440,000). ¹

Firearm Ownership by Gender by Year

In 1980, 50% of American men and only 10% of American women owned guns. In the late 2010s, the number of men owning firearms decreased, while the number of women owning guns increased. ⁴

Today, only 40% of men report owning a firearm (66,300,000), while 25% of women report owning guns (41,700,000). ⁵

Number of First-Time Firearm Owners by Year

More than 21 million Americans bought their first gun between 2020 and 2023. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 2.4 million Americans purchased their first firearm (2019). ⁷

In 2020, 8.4 million Americans became first-time gun owners. This number decreased to 5.4 million in 2021, and 4.8 million in 2023. ⁶

Firearm Ownership by Political Party by Year

In 1999, more Democrats owned guns than Republicans (44% versus 41%). After Sandy Hook, more Republicans owned guns than Democrats (44% and 38% in 2015).

The gap increased in 2017, with 45% of Republicans and only 16% of Democrats reportedly owning guns. In 2024, only 20% of Democrats reportedly own a firearm, while 45% of Republicans report owning a firearm.

Urban vs. Rural Differences in Gun Ownership by Year

Gun ownership in rural areas versus urban areas remained consistent between 2017 and 2023. Nearly half (47%) of all Americans living in rural areas own at least one firearm. 19% of all Americans living in urban areas owned firearms in 2023. ^{5, 8}

The percentage of those owning firearms increases as populations become more rural. Between 2010 and 2014, only 14% of those in large metropolitan areas owned guns. On average, 19% of those living in suburban areas owned guns. 55% of those living in rural areas (towns with less than 10,000 people) owned firearms. ⁹

Discussion

Gun ownership in the U.S. declined in the early 2000s and increased again during the pandemic. Republicans and women have begun outpacing Democrats and men regarding gun ownership. Rural Americans are consistently more likely to own firearms than those who live closer to cities.

Sources

1. Gallup Polls: Guns
2. U.S. and World Population Clock
3. Number of Households in the U.S. 1960-2023
4. Stark Gender Gap in Gun Ownership
5. Key Facts About Americans and Guns
6. First-Time Gun Buyers During COVID-19
7. Firearm Purchases During the COVID-19 Pandemic
8. The Demographics of Gun Ownership
9. Trends in Gun Ownership 1978-2014