In many countries, firearms are a normal part of life. In some countries, it is due to a love of sport or a practical method of self-defense. In others, it is a cultural practice or a result of instability and war.
There are an estimated one billion guns in existence, with 857 million of those in civilian hands, whether legally or illegally.
1. USA
The United States has a long history of gun ownership, stretching back to the early colonial period, beginning with the English Bill of Rights in 1688.
While laws vary by state, the country generally has some of the most relaxed firearm laws in the world. There are more guns than there are people, at 120.5 firearms for every 100 Americans.
Low levels of gun control make the USA a good starting point for gun smugglers, who then sell the firearms to criminal gangs in Mexico and elsewhere, where 68 to 90% of all traced firearms originated in the USA.
2. Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory located almost 1000 miles off the coast of Argentina.
Permits are required to own firearms, and they must be legally registered. This tiny island, 33 times smaller than California, has 62.1 guns for every 100 inhabitants.
Air guns running off compressed air are not considered firearms, but airsoft guns powered by CO2 are and so require a firearms permit.
3. Yemen
The ownership and carrying of weapons have a long history in Yemeni culture. Until the mid-1900s, most men carried a Jambiya, a type of dagger.
Since 1992, all Yemenis have had the legal right to possess rifles, machine guns, pistols, and hunting rifles for personal defense.
Gun ownership has become much more common since the beginning of the civil war in 2015, and most weapons, including machine guns and artillery, can be purchased with ease.
For every 100 Yemenis, there are 52.8 guns.
4. New Caledonia
Like the Falklands, New Caledonia is a group of small islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 900 miles from Australia.
Since the mid-1980s, gun ownership has skyrocketed in New Caledonia, rising from 13,000 total firearms to 62,000; 42.5 firearms for every 100 people.
These figures indicate official statistics, whereas some believe unregistered firearms could outnumber registered ones 3-to-1.
5. Serbia
Firearms are ingrained in Serbian culture and much of the rest of the Balkans, and celebratory shots fired into the air are common at weddings and other celebrations.
After two mass shootings in 2023, many protested the common ownership of guns, and President Vucic declared a “general disarmament” in 2023.
A two-month amnesty resulted in over 80,000 firearms, 4 million rounds of ammunition, and 26,000 explosive devices being handed into the police.
Gun ownership is still high, with 39.1 firearms on record for every 100 Serbians.
6. Montenegro
In the early 20th century, the entire male population of Montenegro was turned into a citizen militia, and in 1910, King Nicholas made gun ownership mandatory in Montenegro.
Montenegrins were legally obliged to own a “Gasser Pattern” revolver. These soon became a status symbol and part of the Montenegrin cultural attire, cementing firearms in Montenegrin culture.
The Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s also led to an influx of weapons, and today, there are around 39.1 firearms for every 100 people.
7. Canada
Canada has relatively strict gun laws when compared to its southern neighbor. However, firearms are still prevalent for sports shooting and hunting, with 34.7 firearms to every 100 people.
Many in more rural areas own guns for self-defense, but against dangerous animals as opposed to humans.
Unlike the USA, carrying weapons for defense against other individuals is illegal.
8. Uruguay
Uruguay is the most well-armed country in Latin America, and there are 34.7 guns for every 100 people.
To receive a permit, you must provide a valid reason for wanting to own a firearm. Though gun ownership is common, Uruguay is the safest country in South America.
Despite these regulations, arms trafficking is common in Uruguay, and so there are also high numbers of illegal firearms.
9. Cyprus
Firearms are highly regulated in Cyprus. Rifles, shotguns, and handguns can all be owned with the proper licenses. Antique firearms for collection require a separate collectors license.
Despite having 34 firearms for every 100 people, gun crime is low in Cyprus. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an unrecognized state in the north of the island occupied by the Turkish military since 1974, has its own gun laws despite being legally recognized by the United Nations as a part of Cyprus.
10. Finland
Almost 8% of Finland’s population owns a firearms license, and with its vast wilderness, hunting is a very popular pastime.
Applicants for permits are required to have a good reason for owning a firearm and undergo a police interview. Weapons collectors require a special license.
Over 15% of the population— 900,000 people— are in the Finnish Defense Forces reserve. So, for many, firearms handling is a standard part of life.
11. Lebanon
Gun ownership is widespread in Lebanon, and there are estimated to be 31.9 firearms for every 100 people.
Official estimates are probably too low, as Lebanon is a central hub for arms trafficking. Armed militia groups such as Hezbollah, who are supplied with modern weaponry by Iran, also contribute to the high presence of firearms.
Sectarian violence based along clan and religious lines is also a significant problem and only fueled by easy access to firearms
12. Iceland
Iceland ranks #11 for gun ownership, with 31.7 guns for every 100 people. Even with such high ownership of firearms, Iceland ranks #1 on the Global Peace Index, which takes into consideration crime, violence, prison population, and ease of access to firearms.
Overall, murder rates are very low, with only five in 2020, and there was not even one firearms homicide between 2007 and 2018.
Iceland has stringent regulations surrounding guns, and before receiving their license, applicants must attend a lecture on gun laws and safety, undergo a written exam, and have hands-on training at a gun club.
13. Bosnia
Like Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia has many firearms left over from the Yugoslav Wars, which pitted the different religions and nationalities of former Yugoslavia against each other as they fought for their own independent nations.
There are an estimated 31.2 guns for every 100 inhabitants, with at least 750,000 illegal firearms believed to be in circulation, along with 16,000 tons of illegal ammunition.
14. Austria
Compared to much of the EU, gun control is relatively mild in Austria, and there are 30 guns for every 100 Austrians.
Those applying for a license must undergo a psychological examination and criminal background check. Carrying a firearm in public, openly or concealed, is legal with the relevant license as long as it does not cause a “public nuisance.”
Hunting is popular in Austria, and hunters work together with scientific institutions to help guide wildlife management plans.
15. North Macedonia
North Macedonia has 29.8 guns per every 100 people, with an estimated 620,000 guns in total in the hands of civilians, 450,000 of which are illegal and unregistered.
The existence of armed insurgent groups such as the Albanian National Army and a large number of organized criminal gangs involved with drugs and human smuggling means there is a large black market for firearms.
Following the 2023 mass shooting in Serbia, Macedonian authorities have promised to clamp down on illegal gun ownership.
16. Norway
Prospective gun owners in Norway must have a good reason to own them in order to receive their license.
If you wish to hunt with your guns, as 10% of all Norwegians do, you must complete 30 hours of study and pass a written exam. Those wishing to shoot for sport at a local gun club must pass a different exam.
There are 28.8 guns for every 100 Norwegians.
17. Liechtenstein
Guns are pretty common in Liechtenstein, with 28.8 to every 100 inhabitants, but it is one of the safest countries in the world.
There is evidence for a minimal trade in illicit firearms and ammunition, but the illegal arms trade is almost non-existent within the country.
All gun owners require a license to possess firearms, and those wishing to hunt must first apply for and be granted a hunting license.
18. Malta
Malta has the 4th highest gun ownership in the European Union, with 129,423 firearms owned by 39,143 registered owners, or 28.3 firearms to every 100 people.
Most of these are shotguns, though 28 cannons, four mortars, and 565 general-purpose machine guns are registered and owned legally.
There are also many antique weapons in the hands of collectors. Homicide rates are low in Malta, but the use of firearms in cases of murder is increasing.
Perspectives on Guns Vary by Country
Views towards firearms change wherever you go in the world. In many countries, walking down the road with a rifle would cause panic and mayhem, whereas in others, it is no stranger than someone walking with a dog or a rucksack.
In some cultures, they are a mark of manhood, and in others, they are nothing more than a useful tool. Firearms are present in many peaceful nations despite their low levels of violence. At the same time, in some, they are prevalent because of past violence.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.