Cultural cartography

American Gun Ownership: The Story Behind the Numbers

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Did you know there are more civilian-owned guns in America than people? This striking fact helps explain why understanding gun ownership patterns across the U.S. has become increasingly important for policymakers and citizens alike.

A fascinating new visualization by Bruno Venditti and Anna Diederichs for VisualCapitalist.com reveals dramatic differences in gun ownership rates across American states. It shows where firearms are most concentrated and why these patterns matter.

Gun ownership by U.S. state
The Big Picture

Nearly 400 million firearms are in civilian hands across America, but they’re not evenly distributed. Recent data from the Pew Research Center, compiled by Data Pandas in 2024, shows some surprising patterns.

Montana Takes the Lead

Up in the Mountainous Northwest, Montana tops the charts with 66.3% of adults owning firearms. Its neighbor Wyoming isn’t far behind at 66.2%, and Alaska rounds out the top three at 64.5%. But what makes these states such hotspots for gun ownership?

States with higher gun ownership typically share several characteristics:

  • Lower population density
  • More rural communities
  • More relaxed gun control legislation
  • Stronger hunting traditions

The trend toward increased gun ownership continues. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) reports roughly 10% annual growth in U.S. gun manufacturing and imports over the last decade. During the uncertainty of 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, Americans acquired a record 17 million new firearms.

RankStateGun Ownership Rate
1Montana66.3%
2Wyoming66.2%
3Alaska64.5%
4Idaho60.1%
5West Virginia58.5%
6Arkansas57.2%
7Mississippi55.8%
8Alabama55.5%
9South Dakota55.3%
10North Dakota55.1%
11Oklahoma54.7%
12Kentucky54.6%
13Louisiana53.1%
14Tennessee51.6%
15Oregon50.8%
16Vermont50.5%
17South Carolina49.4%
18Georgia49.2%
19Kansas48.9%
20Missouri48.8%
21Nevada47.3%
22Maine46.8%
23Utah46.8%
24Arizona46.3%
25New Mexico46.2%
26North Carolina45.8%
27Texas45.7%
28Wisconsin45.3%
29Nebraska45.2%
30Colorado45.1%
31Indiana44.8%
32Virginia44.6%
33Iowa43.6%
34Minnesota42.8%
35Washington42.1%
36New Hampshire41.1%
37Pennsylvania40.7%
38Michigan40.2%
39Ohio40.0%
40Florida35.3%
41Delaware34.4%
42Maryland30.2%
43California28.3%
44Illinois27.8%
45Connecticut23.6%
46New York19.9%
47Hawaii14.9%
48Rhode Island14.8%
49Massachusetts14.7%
50New Jersey14.7%
A Tale of Two Americas

While northwestern states show high ownership rates, it’s a different story along the coasts. New Jersey and Massachusetts share the lowest rate at 14.7%, followed closely by Rhode Island (14.8%) and Hawaii (14.9%). These differences tell us about more than just numbers – they reflect distinct regional attitudes toward firearms.

America’s Unique Relationship with Firearms

When we look beyond our borders, America’s gun culture stands out sharply. The Small Arms Survey shows Americans own 120.5 firearms per 100 residents. For perspective, that’s more than double the rate of Yemen, which ranks second globally at 52.8 per 100 residents.

Why such a difference? Several factors shape America’s unique gun culture:

  • Constitutional Rights: The Second Amendment’s protection of gun ownership rights creates a legal framework unique to the U.S.
  • Historical Roots: America’s frontier history and revolutionary origins helped establish strong gun traditions
  • Personal Protection: Recent Gallup polls show 88% of gun owners cite self-defense as their primary reason for ownership
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