How many gun owners live in America?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

There are more than 81 million gun owners that live in America. However, that number still doesn't do justice to the sheer number of guns in the country. As of 2021, guns per capita in the U.S. reached a staggering 120.5 guns for every 100 residents. That means there are 67 million more guns in the U.S. than there are people.

Gun ownership is a deeply ingrained aspect of American life for many, but it's important to note that these 81 million gun owners are not evenly distributed across the country. The rates of gun ownership vary significantly from state to state, with states like Wyoming, New Hampshire, and New Mexico having the highest rates of gun ownership per capita.

Interestingly, although there are more guns than people in America, not all gun owners possess multiple firearms. Many own just one or two, while a small fraction of Americans own a significant portion of the nation's firearms. This group of super-owners has, on average, 17 guns each.