It won’t come as much of a surprise to learn that gun ownership is widespread around the world. While the US often gets a lot of attention for having the Second Amendment and loose gun laws, America is far from the only nation in the world that allows legal firearm possession.
50. Denmark
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 10.0 per 100 people
- Registered firearms: 340,000
- Firearms in civilian possession: 567,000
49. Costa Rica
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 10.0 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 493,000
- Registered firearms: 235,631
48. Belize
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 10.0 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 37,000
- Registered firearms: 10,755
47. Samoa
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 10.1 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 20,000
- Registered firearms: 4,000
46. Georgia
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 10.1 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 402,000
- Registered firearms: 159,000
45. Colombia
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 10.13 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 4,971,000
- Registered firearms: 706,210
44. Chile
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 12.12 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 2,220,000
- Registered firearms: 763,182
43. Russia
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 12.29 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 17,620,000
- Registered firearms: 6,600,000
42. Australia
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 14.50 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 3,573,000
- Registered firearms: 3,158,795
41. Namibia
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 15.40 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 396,000
- Registered firearms: 195,990
40. Paraguay
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 16.7 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,140,000
- Registered firearms: 392,000
39. United Arab Emirates
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 16.7 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,569,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
38. Saudi Arabia
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 16.7 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 5,468,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
37. Cyprus, North
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 17.4 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 61,000
- Registered firearms: 49,142
36. Greece
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 17.6 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,920,000
- Registered firearms: 1,010,000
35. Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 18.5 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 5,895,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
34. Jordan
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 18.7 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,473,000
- Registered firearms: 120,000
33. Bahamas
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 18.8 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 74,000
- Registered firearms: 17,110
32. Luxembourg
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 18.9 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 110,000
- Registered firearms: 86,000
31. Monaco
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 19.6 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 7,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
30. French Guiana
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 19.6 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 55,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
29. Réunion
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 19.6 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 171,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
28. Iraq
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 19.6 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 7,588,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
27. France
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 19.6 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 12,732,000
- Registered firearms: 4,501,235
26. Germany
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 19.6 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 15,822,000
- Registered firearms: 5,830,000
25. Portugal
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 21.3 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 2,186,000
- Registered firearms: 1,400,000
24. Greenland
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 22.3 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 13,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
23. Pakistan
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 22.3 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 43,917,000
- Registered firearms: 6,000,000
22. Sweden
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 23.1 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 2,296,000
- Registered firearms: 1,955,478
21. Kosovo
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 23.8 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 436,000
- Registered firearms: 43,206
20. New Zealand
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 26.3 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,212,000
- Registered firearms: 1,200,000
19. Switzerland
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 27.6 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 2,332,000
- Registered firearms: 791,719
18. Malta
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 28.3 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 119,000
- Registered firearms: 96,425
17. Liechtenstein
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 28.8 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 11,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
16. Norway
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 28.8 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,537,000
- Registered firearms: 1,254,638
15. Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 29.8 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 621,000
- Registered firearms: 169,687
14. Austria
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 30.0 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 2,577,000
- Registered firearms: 837,000
13. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 31.2 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,185,000
- Registered firearms: 353,000
12. Iceland
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 31.7 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 106,000
- Registered firearms: 73,000
11. Lebanon
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 31.9 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,927,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
10. Finland
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 32.4 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,793,000
- Registered firearms: 1,542,396
9. Cyprus, Rep. of
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 34.0 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 285,000
- Registered firearms: 154,327
8. Uruguay
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 34.7 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 1,198,000
- Registered firearms: 605,313
7. Canada
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 34.7 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 12,708,000
- Registered firearms: 2,081,442
6. Montenegro
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 39.1 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 245,000
- Registered firearms: 103,536
5. Serbia
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 39.1 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 2,719,000
- Registered firearms: 1,186,086
4. New Caledonia
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 42.5 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 115,000
- Registered firearms: 55,000
3. Yemen
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 52.8 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 14,859,000
- Registered firearms: N/A
2. Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 62.1 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 2,000
- Registered firearms: 1,705
1. United States of America
- Estimated civilian firearms holdings: 120.5 per 100 people
- Firearms in civilian possession: 393,347,000
- Registered firearms: 1,073,743
The image featured at the top of this post is ©JOE KLAMAR / AFP via Getty Images.
