Guns Per Capita

Guns per Capita
Guns per Capita
1.New MexicoNew Mexico55,340
2.New HampshireNew Hampshire46,860
3.VirginiaVirginia45,800
4.South DakotaSouth Dakota42,370
5.IdahoIdaho38,840
6.WyomingWyoming37,310
7.AlabamaAlabama36,240
8.ArkansasArkansas34,340
9.NevadaNevada34,090
10.AlaskaAlaska32,060
11.North DakotaNorth Dakota31,970
12.ArizonaArizona30,810
13.UtahUtah30,430
14.TexasTexas28,630
15.LouisianaLouisiana27,410
16.MontanaMontana25,700
17.West VirginiaWest Virginia24,960
18.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania24,830
19.GeorgiaGeorgia23,690
20.MississippiMississippi23,200
21.FloridaFlorida23,140
22.OklahomaOklahoma22,970
23.KentuckyKentucky22,230
24.ColoradoColorado21,890
25.IndianaIndiana21,240
26.ConnecticutConnecticut21,110
27.MarylandMaryland20,970
28.KansasKansas20,860
29.South CarolinaSouth Carolina20,180
30.OregonOregon19,710
31.TennesseeTennessee19,390
32.MinnesotaMinnesota19,100
33.North CarolinaNorth Carolina18,710
34.WashingtonWashington17,960
35.NebraskaNebraska17,590
36.MissouriMissouri16,100
37.OhioOhio16,040
38.IowaIowa14,770
39.WisconsinWisconsin14,300
40.MaineMaine13,910
41.VermontVermont13,410
42.IllinoisIllinois11,850
43.New JerseyNew Jersey10,790
44.CaliforniaCalifornia9,790
45.MichiganMichigan9,340
46.HawaiiHawaii6,490
47.MassachusettsMassachusetts5,720
48.DelawareDelaware5,710
49.Rhode IslandRhode Island4,520
50.New YorkNew York4,510

U.S. Gun Ownership

The United States is known globally for its unique relationship with firearms. With gun ownership deeply embedded in the country's constitution and culture, the prevalence of guns in America is unparalleled. As per the Small Arms Survey of 2017, the United States astonishingly had more guns than people — a ratio that's estimated to have only increased since. This article takes a closer look at the variation of gun ownership across the U.S., revealing how each of the 50 states stacks up when it comes to firearms per capita.

  • New Mexico tops the list with 55,340 firearms per capita, far outpacing the next closest state, New Hampshire, which has 46,860 firearms per capita. Meanwhile, New York, with 4,510 firearms per capita, possesses significantly fewer guns per person.
  • The most populous state, California, ranks 44th, with 9,790 firearms per capita — nearly half of the U.S. average. Small, rural states like Wyoming and South Dakota rank much higher, at 6th and 4th place respectively, reflective of national patterns indicating that gun ownership is more prevalent in rural areas.
  • States with stringent gun laws like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York, rank at the bottom, confirming the impact of local policy on gun ownership rates.
  • A surprising data point is that New Hampshire, a Northeast state with typically less gun ownership, ranks second. This might be attributable to its relatively loose gun laws compared to its neighboring states.

States with the Most Guns per Capita

New Mexico outpaces all other states significantly in firearms per capita, boasting a tremendous figure of 55,340 guns per 100,000 residents. The appeal of gun ownership in New Mexico can be attributed to a combination of cultural, historical, and legal factors that contribute to a robust tradition of firearm enthusiasm. The second-highest state, New Hampshire, reflects a somewhat unexpected trend. Despite being situated in the traditionally lower gun-ownership Northeast, the state has a notable 46,860 guns per 100,000 residents. Behind New Hampshire is the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 45,800 guns per capita. As both a Southern and Mid-Atlantic state, Virginia embodies a unique cross-section of firearm culture, history, and legislation. Next in line is South Dakota, boasting 42,370 guns per capita. Followed closely by Idaho with a substantial ownership rate of 38,840 guns per capita. The culture of hunting and outdoor activities in these largely rural states is likely a significant contributing factor to such high gun ownership rates. Wyoming, another rural state known for its strong tradition of hunting, has roughly 37,310 guns per capita. Alabama follows closely behind with 36,240 guns per person, while Arkansas comes next at 34,340 guns per capita. Nevada comes in ninth with 34,090 guns per person, no doubt influenced by the state's significant rural population and its observed culture of independence. Lastly, Alaska rounds out the top 10 list with 32,060 guns per capita, demonstrating a widespread culture of hunting and self-reliance. States with the Most Guns per Capita:

  1. New Mexico - 55,340
  2. New Hampshire - 46,860
  3. Virginia - 45,800
  4. South Dakota - 42,370
  5. Idaho - 38,840
  6. Wyoming - 37,310
  7. Alabama - 36,240
  8. Arkansas - 34,340
  9. Nevada - 34,090
  10. Alaska - 32,060

States with the Least Guns per Capita

Leading with the least guns per capita is the state of New York, with 4,510 firearms per 100,000 people. Following closely is Rhode Island, with 4,520 guns per capita. Third on the list is Delaware, reporting 5,710 guns per capita. Massachusetts isn’t far behind with 5,720 guns per capita, and Hawaii takes the fifth spot with 6,490 guns per capita. Moving further, we have Michigan and California in the sixth and seventh spots with 9,340 and 9,790 guns per capita, respectively. New Jersey and Illinois, with 10,790 and 11,850 guns per capita, fall next in the ranking. Vermont completes the list of the ten states with the least guns per capita with a figure of 13,410 guns recorded for every 100,000 individuals. States with the Least Guns per Capita:

  1. New York - 4,510
  2. Rhode Island - 4,520
  3. Delaware - 5,710
  4. Massachusetts - 5,720
  5. Hawaii - 6,490
  6. Michigan - 9,340
  7. California - 9,790
  8. New Jersey - 10,790
  9. Illinois - 11,850
  10. Vermont - 13,410

By Region

Alabama

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Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

36,240

#7

Alaska

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Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

32,060

#10

Arizona

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Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

30,810

#12

Arkansas

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Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

34,340

#8

California

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California

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

9,790

#44

Colorado

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Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

21,890

#24

Connecticut

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Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

21,110

#26

Delaware

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Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

5,710

#48

Florida

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Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

23,140

#21

Georgia

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Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

23,690

#19

Hawaii

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Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

6,490

#46

Idaho

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Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

38,840

#5

Illinois

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Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

11,850

#42

Indiana

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Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

21,240

#25

Iowa

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Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

14,770

#38

Kansas

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Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

20,860

#28

Kentucky

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Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

22,230

#23

Louisiana

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Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

27,410

#15

Maine

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Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

13,910

#40

Maryland

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Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

20,970

#27

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

5,720

#47

Michigan

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Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

9,340

#45

Minnesota

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Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

19,100

#32

Mississippi

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Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

23,200

#20

Missouri

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Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

16,100

#36

Montana

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Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

25,700

#16

Nebraska

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Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

17,590

#35

Nevada

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Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

34,090

#9

New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

46,860

#2

New Jersey

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New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

10,790

#43

New Mexico

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New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

55,340

#1

New York

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New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

4,510

#50

North Carolina

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North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

18,710

#33

North Dakota

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North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

31,970

#11

Ohio

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Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

16,040

#37

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

22,970

#22

Oregon

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Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

19,710

#30

Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

24,830

#18

Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

4,520

#49

South Carolina

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South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

20,180

#29

South Dakota

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South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

42,370

#4

Tennessee

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Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

19,390

#31

Texas

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Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

28,630

#14

Utah

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Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

30,430

#13

Vermont

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Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

13,410

#41

Virginia

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Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

45,800

#3

Washington

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Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

17,960

#34

West Virginia

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West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

24,960

#17

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

14,300

#39

Wyoming

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Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Guns per Capita

37,310

#6

Table

Region ↕Guns per Capita ↕
Alabama iconAlabama36,240
Alaska iconAlaska32,060
Arizona iconArizona30,810
Arkansas iconArkansas34,340
California iconCalifornia9,790
Colorado iconColorado21,890
Connecticut iconConnecticut21,110
Delaware iconDelaware5,710
Florida iconFlorida23,140
Georgia iconGeorgia23,690
Hawaii iconHawaii6,490
Idaho iconIdaho38,840
Illinois iconIllinois11,850
Indiana iconIndiana21,240
Iowa iconIowa14,770
Kansas iconKansas20,860
Kentucky iconKentucky22,230
Louisiana iconLouisiana27,410
Maine iconMaine13,910
Maryland iconMaryland20,970
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts5,720
Michigan iconMichigan9,340
Minnesota iconMinnesota19,100
Mississippi iconMississippi23,200
Missouri iconMissouri16,100
Montana iconMontana25,700
Nebraska iconNebraska17,590
Nevada iconNevada34,090
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire46,860
New Jersey iconNew Jersey10,790
New Mexico iconNew Mexico55,340
New York iconNew York4,510
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina18,710
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota31,970
Ohio iconOhio16,040
Oklahoma iconOklahoma22,970
Oregon iconOregon19,710
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania24,830
Rhode Island iconRhode Island4,520
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina20,180
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota42,370
Tennessee iconTennessee19,390
Texas iconTexas28,630
Utah iconUtah30,430
Vermont iconVermont13,410
Virginia iconVirginia45,800
Washington iconWashington17,960
West Virginia iconWest Virginia24,960
Wisconsin iconWisconsin14,300
Wyoming iconWyoming37,310
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