The United States has the most armed citizens by a significant margin, with over 120 firearms per 100 residents, meaning more guns than people, far surpassing other nations like Yemen, the Falkland Islands, and Switzerland in civilian gun ownership rates, according to data from the Small Arms Survey.
The United States leads by a wide margin, with more guns than people, averaging over 120 guns per 100 residents. Other high-ownership nations include Canada, Finland, Norway, and Switzerland, where firearm culture is often tied to hunting and national defense.
The top 10 most powerful countries by military strength in 2025, according to the Global Firepower Index, are:
Gun Violence by Country 2026
The top 10 most dangerous places
Originally published March 25, 2021. Last updated October 31, 2023. Among 65 high-income countries and territories, the United States stands out for its high levels of gun violence. The US ranks seventh out of 65 for homicides by firearm (age-adjusted).
How Many Guns Does An Average Gun Owner Possess? The average American owns between one and five firearms. Men are more likely than women to own more than one, and those with only one firearm typically have a handgun or pistol.
The gun culture in the United States is unique among developed nations due to the massive volume of firearms owned by civilians, the popularity of firearms for self-defense, hunting, and sporting activities, and a generally permissive regulatory environment.
Percentage of U.S. Households Owning a Firearm
According to surveys published between 2023 and 2025, 42% to 52% of American households own guns. This equates to 53.3 million-66.5 million U.S. households owning guns.
The United States is consistently ranked as having the #1 most powerful military in the world for 2025 by organizations like Global Firepower and Business Insider. This ranking stems from its massive defense budget, advanced technology, global power projection, and dominance in air, sea, and cyber warfare, though China has the largest number of active personnel.
THE TOP 15 SAFEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
In-depth Analysis of the top 10 powerful countries
First on our list is the United States—a country where guns are deeply woven into its history and identity. The Second Amendment guarantees citizens' rights to bear arms, leading many states like Texas to adopt permissive laws regarding open carry and concealed weapons.
United States — The Gun Capital of the World
With over 393 million firearms owned by civilians, more than its population, the US tops the list by a massive margin.
With ten billion dollars worth of weapon exports, the U.S.A. is the world's largest weapons exporter. Not only that, but American firearms manufacturers and after-market companies continue to push the envelope in technological developments.
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." In 1791, the United States adopted the Second Amendment, and in 1868 adopted the Fourteenth Amendment.
hoplophile (plural hoplophiles) One who loves or is attracted to firearms or other weapons.
Wyoming has the highest rate of gun ownership, with an estimated 66 firearms per 100 residents. Massachusetts and New Jersey share the lowest rate at 14.7 firearms for every 100 residents. The state-level ownership may be lower due to data restraints.
Canada's estimated 7.1 million firearms in civilian hands, representing a rate of 241.5 per 1,000 population, place it in the same range as other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, where hunting is still a significant activity (United Nations, 1998, 52-53).
The bottom line from his “National Firearms Survey” is that gun-owning is common, the AR-15 really is the most popular firearm in America, and its club of owners is incredibly diverse. When he initially proposed a book on guns in America, English found that there was little factual information out there.
Explore the J. M. Davis Collection
As the World's largest privately-held collection of firearms, one can imagine the depth and breath of this collection. Here are a few examples, but the true appreciation only comes when seeing all of the pieces in person.
Number of registered weapons U.S. 2024, by state
Texas was the state with the highest number of registered weapons in the United States in 2024, with 1,136,732 firearms. Rhode Island, on the other hand, had the least, with 4,895 registered firearms.
Crime rate by country 2025: 10 countries with the highest crime...
Homicide rates vary significantly. New Orleans leads with 46 per 100,000, followed by Memphis at 41 per 100,000. Cities like Washington, D.C,. have seen fluctuating homicide rates in recent years, while some metropolitan areas have made progress in reducing murder rates through targeted intervention programs.