Last updated September 18, 2024
Gun ownership is often a deeply personal choice, whether grounded in self-defense, hunting, sport shooting, or simply exercising a right. However, it also contributes significantly to each country's social and political fabric, shaping cultures and influencing policies. An examination of international gun ownership rates reveals striking differences among countries, reflecting societal norms, legislation, and historical contexts. According to a comprehensive data report by the Small Arms Survey, the United States stands out as the country with the highest rate of civilian gun ownership worldwide. With an estimated 120.5 firearms per 100 people, the U.S. ranks far ahead of countries such as Yemen, Serbia, Canada, and others, which record rates that are less than half this figure. Key findings from the data include:
Topping the list of countries with the highest civilian gun ownership rates is the United States, with an astonishing figure of 120.5 guns owned per 100 individuals. This is followed by Yemen, which claims the second spot with a significantly lower 52.8 guns owned per 100 individuals. Next, New Caledonia comes in third place with 42.5 guns per 100 individuals, with Serbia and Montenegro both sharing the fourth spot as they each have an average of 39.1 guns per 100 individuals. Further down the list, Canada and Uruguay both boast an ownership rate of 34.7 guns per 100 individuals, whereas Cyprus follows closely behind with an average of 34.0 guns per 100 individuals. Concluding the list of the top ten countries with the highest rates of civilian gun ownership are Finland, with an average of 32.4 guns per 100 individuals and Lebanon, averaging at 31.9 guns per 100 individuals. 10 Countries with the Highest Civilian Gun Ownership are:
The ten countries with the lowest rates of gun ownership are Solomon Islands, South Korea, Timor-Leste, Singapore, Benin, Malawi, North Korea, Japan, Eritrea, and Turkmenistan. Both Solomon Islands and South Korea rank as the countries with the lowest rates of gun ownership, with only 0.2 civilian guns owned per 100 people. Timor-Leste, Singapore, Benin, Malawi, North Korea, and Japan all follow, reporting an average ownership of 0.3 civilian guns per 100 people. Eritrea and Turkmenistan close the list, each with an average rate of 0.4 civilian guns owned per 100 people. 10 Countries With Lowest Gun Ownership
12.5
Ranked in World
#58
12.0
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#66
2.1
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#157
0.7
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#191
14.1
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#51
11.2
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#68
5.4
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#107
7.4
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#94
6.1
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#105
2.6
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#150
14.5
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#47
30.0
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#13
3.6
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#127
18.8
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#31
12.8
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#56
0.4
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#198
3.5
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#130
6.1
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#104
12.7
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#57
10.0
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#76
0.3
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#207
4.6
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#116
0.8
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#185
2.0
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#163
31.2
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#12
4.1
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#121
8.3
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#87
0.8
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#187
1.4
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#171
8.4
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#86
0.9
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#180
2.0
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#162
4.5
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#118
34.7
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#6
5.7
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#106
9.2
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#81
1.8
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#164
1.0
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#177
12.1
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#63
3.6
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#125
10.1
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#72
1.5
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#170
10.0
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#75
13.7
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#52
2.1
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#158
2.6
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#149
34.0
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#8
12.5
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#59
1.2
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#172
9.9
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#78
3.1
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#139
6.2
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#103
7.4
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#95
2.4
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#155
4.1
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#120
12.0
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#65
12.5
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#60
0.4
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#203
5.0
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#112
0.4
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#199
0.5
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#195
32.4
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#9
19.6
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#25
19.6
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#28
2.5
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#153
3.4
Ranked in World
#131
6.5
Ranked in World
#101
10.1
Ranked in World
#73
19.6
Ranked in World
#24
8.0
Ranked in World
#90
4.1
Ranked in World
#123
17.6
Ranked in World
#34
22.3
Ranked in World
#22
4.6
Ranked in World
#115
8.5
Ranked in World
#83
11.5
Ranked in World
#67
12.1
Ranked in World
#64
1.0
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#178
1.5
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#169
15.8
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#43
2.6
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#148
14.1
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#50
3.6
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#128
10.5
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#70
31.7
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#11
5.3
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#109
7.3
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#96
19.6
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#26
7.2
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#97
6.7
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#98
14.4
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#48
4.4
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#119
8.8
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#82
0.3
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#204
18.7
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#32
2.8
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#142
1.5
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#167
0.8
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#186
16.7
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#39
2.8
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#144
3.0
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#140
10.5
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#71
31.9
Ranked in World
#10
4.8
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#114
2.1
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#159
13.3
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#54
28.8
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#16
13.6
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#53
18.9
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#30
3.6
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#129
0.7
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#189
0.3
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#206
0.7
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#188
6.2
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#102
1.1
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#174
28.3
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#17
0.5
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#196
8.5
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#84
2.8
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#145
8.3
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#88
12.9
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#55
0.7
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#190
3.0
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#141
19.6
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#29
7.9
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#92
39.1
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#5
5.4
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#108
4.8
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#113
4.5
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#117
1.6
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#166
15.4
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#45
1.5
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#168
2.6
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#147
42.5
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#3
26.3
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#19
5.2
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#110
0.5
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#192
3.2
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#137
0.3
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#205
29.8
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#14
2.6
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#151
28.8
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#15
16.7
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#38
22.3
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#21
0.5
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#197
1.1
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#176
10.8
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#69
1.0
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#179
16.7
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#37
2.0
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#160
3.6
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#126
2.5
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#152
21.3
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#23
16.7
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#40
2.4
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#156
19.6
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#27
2.6
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#146
12.3
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#62
0.5
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#193
3.4
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#135
3.4
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#133
8.5
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#85
3.4
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#134
10.1
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#74
14.4
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#49
3.4
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#132
16.7
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#35
2.0
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#161
39.1
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#4
4.1
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#122
0.5
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#194
0.3
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#208
6.5
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#100
15.6
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#44
0.2
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#211
12.4
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#61
9.7
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#79
0.2
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#210
9.6
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#80
7.5
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#93
2.4
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#154
6.6
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#99
15.9
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#42
23.1
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#20
27.6
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#18
8.2
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#89
0.4
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#201
0.8
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#182
15.1
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#46
0.3
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#209
0.8
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#184
8.0
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#91
3.2
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#138
1.1
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#175
16.5
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#41
0.4
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#202
3.3
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#136
1.2
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#173
0.8
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#183
9.9
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#77
16.7
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#36
5.1
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#111
120.5
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#1
34.7
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#7
0.4
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#200
3.9
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#124
18.5
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#33
1.6
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#165
52.8
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#2
0.9
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#181
2.8
Ranked in World
#143
Region ↕ | Guns Owned↕ |
---|---|
12.5 | |
12.0 | |
2.1 | |
0.7 | |
14.1 | |
11.2 | |
5.4 | |
7.4 | |
6.1 | |
2.6 | |
14.5 | |
30.0 | |
3.6 | |
18.8 | |
12.8 | |
0.4 | |
3.5 | |
6.1 | |
12.7 | |
10.0 | |
0.3 | |
4.6 | |
0.8 | |
2.0 | |
31.2 | |
4.1 | |
8.3 | |
0.8 | |
1.4 | |
8.4 | |
0.9 | |
2.0 | |
4.5 | |
34.7 | |
5.7 | |
9.2 | |
1.8 | |
1.0 | |
12.1 | |
3.6 | |
10.1 | |
1.5 | |
10.0 | |
13.7 | |
2.1 | |
2.6 | |
34.0 | |
12.5 | |
1.2 | |
9.9 | |
3.1 | |
6.2 | |
7.4 | |
2.4 | |
4.1 | |
12.0 | |
12.5 | |
0.4 | |
5.0 | |
0.4 | |
0.5 | |
32.4 | |
19.6 | |
19.6 | |
2.5 | |
3.4 | |
6.5 | |
10.1 | |
19.6 | |
8.0 | |
4.1 | |
17.6 | |
22.3 | |
4.6 | |
8.5 | |
11.5 | |
12.1 | |
1.0 | |
1.5 | |
15.8 | |
2.6 | |
14.1 | |
3.6 | |
10.5 | |
31.7 | |
5.3 | |
7.3 | |
19.6 | |
7.2 | |
6.7 | |
14.4 | |
4.4 | |
8.8 | |
0.3 | |
18.7 | |
2.8 | |
1.5 | |
0.8 | |
16.7 | |
2.8 | |
3.0 | |
10.5 | |
31.9 | |
4.8 | |
2.1 | |
13.3 | |
28.8 | |
13.6 | |
18.9 | |
3.6 | |
0.7 | |
0.3 | |
0.7 | |
6.2 | |
1.1 | |
28.3 | |
0.5 | |
8.5 | |
2.8 | |
8.3 | |
12.9 | |
0.7 | |
3.0 | |
19.6 | |
7.9 | |
39.1 | |
5.4 | |
4.8 | |
4.5 | |
1.6 | |
15.4 | |
1.5 | |
2.6 | |
42.5 | |
26.3 | |
5.2 | |
0.5 | |
3.2 | |
0.3 | |
29.8 | |
2.6 | |
28.8 | |
16.7 | |
22.3 | |
0.5 | |
1.1 | |
10.8 | |
1.0 | |
16.7 | |
2.0 | |
3.6 | |
2.5 | |
21.3 | |
16.7 | |
2.4 | |
19.6 | |
2.6 | |
12.3 | |
0.5 | |
3.4 | |
3.4 | |
8.5 | |
3.4 | |
10.1 | |
14.4 | |
3.4 | |
16.7 | |
2.0 | |
39.1 | |
4.1 | |
0.5 | |
0.3 | |
6.5 | |
15.6 | |
0.2 | |
12.4 | |
9.7 | |
0.2 | |
9.6 | |
7.5 | |
2.4 | |
6.6 | |
15.9 | |
23.1 | |
27.6 | |
8.2 | |
0.4 | |
0.8 | |
15.1 | |
0.3 | |
0.8 | |
8.0 | |
3.2 | |
1.1 | |
16.5 | |
0.4 | |
3.3 | |
1.2 | |
0.8 | |
9.9 | |
16.7 | |
5.1 | |
120.5 | |
34.7 | |
0.4 | |
3.9 | |
18.5 | |
1.6 | |
52.8 | |
0.9 | |
2.8 |