Gun Ownership: The US as World’s No. 1
The US gun ownership rate is the highest in the world.
October 8, 2015
1. There were 112.6 civilian guns per 100 people in the United States, based on U.S. government estimates (as of 2013).
2. This is equivalent to more than one gun per person, which has been true since 2009.
3. Most American households do not own guns, but U.S. gun owners tend to own multiple guns.
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4. The global runner-up for per capita gun ownership, Yemen, pales in comparison to U.S. gun ownership, with just 54.8 civilian guns per 100 people.
5. A review of the latest national data in other G7 economies shows that the gun ownership rate in Canada is about 2.2 per 100.
6. The rate is about 3.5 in the UK. In Germany, it is about 6.8. In Australia, the rate is at least 12.6 per 100.
7. The United States is also a leading manufacturer of small arms. It produced more than 5 million new guns in 2010 alone.
8. Gun manufacturing has more than doubled since 2009, when President Obama took office, reaching nearly 11 million new guns in 2013.
9. Several European countries are also major gun producers and exporters.
10. European gun manufacturers such as Beretta, Benelli, Sig, Glock and Browning have U.S. subsidiaries to take advantage of the high U.S. demand for small arms.
Sources: The Globalist Research Center, Washington Post, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms, GunPolicy.org (University of Sydney’s School of Public Health), Mother Jones
Takeaways
There were 112.6 civilian guns per 100 people in the US, based on government estimates (as of 2013).
Most American households do not own guns, but US gun owners tend to own multiple guns.
The global runner-up for per capita gun ownership is Yemen.
The gun ownership rate in Canada is about 2.2 per 100.
The gun ownership rate is 3.5 in UK, 6.8 in Germany and 12.6 per 100 in Australia.