Firearm statistics help quantify how guns show up in public health outcomes, consumer demand (background checks), domestic manufacturing, and global civilian ownership.
46,728 people died from firearm-related injuries in the U.S. in 2023 (latest complete CDC mortality year).
In 2023, 58% of U.S. firearm deaths were suicides (27,300) and 38% were homicides (17,927).
About 32% of U.S. adults say they personally own a gun, and another 10% live in a household with a gun but do not personally own one.
FBI NICS firearm background checks peaked in 2020 (39,695,315); the full-year total was 26,123,215 in 2025.
ATF reported U.S. firearm manufacturing in 2023 included 3,939,517 pistols and 3,119,376 rifles (among other categories).
The FBI designated 24 shootings as active shooter incidents in 2024 (down from 48 in 2023).
Globally, the Small Arms Survey estimated ~1 billion firearms in circulation (as of 2017), with 857 million in civilian hands.
U.S. firearm deaths by intent (2023)
In the latest complete CDC mortality year, most U.S. firearm deaths were suicides, followed by homicides.
Intent
Bar
Deaths (2023)
Suicide
27,300
Murder (homicide)
17,927
Law enforcement involved
604
Accidental (unintentional)
463
Undetermined intent
434
Max = 27,300. Widths: Suicide 100.00%, Murder (homicide) 65.67%, Law enforcement involved 2.21%, Accidental (unintentional) 1.70%, Undetermined intent 1.59%.
FBI NICS firearm background checks by year (2019–2025)
NICS checks are commonly used as a proxy for firearm demand, but they are not the same as firearm sales (one check may cover multiple firearms, and many checks are for permits or other purposes).
U.S. firearm manufacturing by type (ATF AFMER, 2023)
ATF’s Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report (AFMER) provides a standardized look at domestic production. Pistols and rifles were the largest categories by volume in 2023.
Global civilian firearms per 100 people (selected countries, 2017 estimates)
The Small Arms Survey’s 2017 estimates are widely cited for country-level civilian firearm holdings. The U.S. estimate equates to roughly 120.5 civilian firearms per 100 people.
Country
Bar
Civilian firearms per 100
United States
120.5
Yemen
52.8
Montenegro
39.1
Serbia
39.1
Uruguay
34.7
Max = 120.5. Widths: United States 100.00%, Yemen 43.82%, Montenegro 32.45%, Serbia 32.45%, Uruguay 28.80%.
Firearms and homicide internationally
UN crime statistics highlight large regional differences in how often firearms are used in killings. In 2021, firearms were used in an estimated 75% of killings recorded in the Americas, versus 17% in Europe and 18% in Asia.
Active shooter incidents (FBI, 2024)
The FBI designated 24 shootings in 2024 as active shooter incidents, a decrease of 50% from 2023 (48 incidents).
FAQ
Are NICS background checks the same as firearm sales?
No. The FBI notes that NICS checks represent background checks initiated through the system and do not equal the number of firearms sold (purchase and permit rules vary by state, and a single check may cover multiple firearms).
What’s the latest year for complete U.S. firearm death data?
CDC’s complete mortality totals are currently available through 2023 (latest finalized year in the CDC death certificate-based system).
What’s the newest ATF manufacturing year in AFMER?
AFMER is published with a delay; the 2023 final report provides detailed domestic manufacturing totals by category.
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