Gun industry statistics highlight how U.S. demand signals (background checks), domestic production, imports/exports, and the industry’s economic footprint have shifted since the 2020–2021 surge.
Gun Industry Statistics (Top Highlights)
- 26,123,215 NICS firearm background checks were recorded in 2025 (FBI month/year totals).
- 28,097,205 NICS firearm background checks were recorded in 2024.
- 9,772,259 total firearms were manufactured in the U.S. in 2023 (ATF AFMER: pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and miscellaneous firearms).
- 5,933,210 firearms were imported in 2023 (ATF Firearms Commerce Statistical Update 2024).
- 479,033 firearms were exported by U.S. manufacturers in 2023 (ATF Firearms Commerce Statistical Update 2024).
- The firearm & ammunition industry supported 384,437 U.S. jobs and about $90.06B in total economic activity in 2023 (NSSF economic impact report).
- There were 128,690 active federal firearms licensees (FFLs) as of FY 2024 (ATF fact sheet).
- Of NICS firearm checks processed by the FBI’s NICS Section in 2024, 110,505 were denied (FBI 2024 NICS Operational Report).
U.S. Demand Proxy: NICS Firearm Background Checks
NICS checks are a widely used indicator of firearm purchase activity, but they are not the same as firearm sales (one check can cover multiple firearms, and some checks are permit- or administrative-related). Still, year-to-year totals help show direction and magnitude of demand.
NICS firearm background checks (annual totals)
| Year | Bar | Checks |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 39,695,315 | |
| 2021 | 38,876,673 | |
| 2022 | 31,596,646 | |
| 2023 | 29,854,176 | |
| 2024 | 28,097,205 | |
| 2025 | 26,123,215 |
Max = 39,695,315. Widths: 2020 100.00%, 2021 97.94%, 2022 79.60%, 2023 75.21%, 2024 70.78%, 2025 65.81%.
U.S. Firearm Manufacturing (ATF AFMER)
ATF’s Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report (AFMER) shows U.S. production by category. For 2023, the AFMER totals indicate 9,772,259 firearms manufactured (including miscellaneous firearms such as frames/receivers and other uncategorized types) and category exports from U.S. manufacturers.
U.S. firearms manufactured by category (2023)
| Category | Bar | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Pistols | 3,939,517 | |
| Rifles | 3,119,376 | |
| Misc. firearms | 1,305,530 | |
| Revolvers | 805,054 | |
| Shotguns | 602,782 |
Max = 3,939,517. Widths: Pistols 100.00%, Rifles 79.18%, Misc. firearms 33.14%, Revolvers 20.44%, Shotguns 15.30%.
Imports vs. Exports
Imports are tracked separately from domestic production. ATF’s Firearms Commerce Statistical Update reports 5,933,210 total firearms imported in 2023 (handguns, rifles, and shotguns), while U.S. manufacturers exported 479,033 firearms in 2023.
Firearms imported into the U.S. (2023)
| Import type | Units |
|---|---|
| Handguns | 3,788,194 |
| Rifles | 1,162,442 |
| Shotguns | 982,574 |
| Total | 5,933,210 |
Firearms exported by U.S. manufacturers (2023)
| Export type | Units |
|---|---|
| Pistols | 217,691 |
| Revolvers | 12,112 |
| Rifles | 198,768 |
| Shotguns | 45,067 |
| Misc. firearms | 5,395 |
| Total | 479,033 |
Retail Footprint: Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs)
The number and mix of FFLs shapes the retail and distribution footprint of the gun industry. As of FY 2024, ATF reported 128,690 active FFLs.
Active FFLs by license type (FY 2024)
| FFL type | Active licenses |
|---|---|
| Type 01: Dealer | 47,776 |
| Type 02: Pawnbroker | 6,149 |
| Type 03: Collector | 49,689 |
| Type 06: Manufacturer of Ammunition | 1,858 |
| Type 07: Manufacturer of Firearms | 20,578 |
| Type 08: Importer | 1,698 |
| Type 09: Dealer of Destructive Devices | 145 |
| Type 10: Manufacturer of Destructive Devices | 496 |
| Total active FFLs | 128,690 |
Background Check Outcomes: Proceeds vs. Denials (FBI NICS Section)
In its 2024 NICS Operational Report, the FBI reported the outcome mix for NICS firearm checks handled by the FBI’s NICS Section (non-POC states and related jurisdictions). The report notes 110,505 denials in 2024 for checks processed by the NICS Section.
Economic Impact of the Firearm & Ammunition Industry
Industry economic impact studies estimate jobs and output across direct, supplier, and induced activity. For 2023 data, an NSSF economic impact report estimated 384,437 total jobs supported and about $90.06B in total economic activity.
U.S. jobs supported by the firearm industry (2023)
| Category | Bar | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Direct jobs | 154,611 | |
| Induced jobs | 125,778 | |
| Supplier jobs | 104,048 |
Max = 154,611. Widths: Direct jobs 100.00%, Induced jobs 81.35%, Supplier jobs 67.30%.
Taxes and Conservation Funding
The federal Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax (FAET) is applied at 10% of the manufacturer’s price for pistols and revolvers and 11% for other firearms (rifles and shotguns), cartridges, and shells. This excise tax is part of the funding mechanism behind wildlife conservation programs such as Pittman-Robertson.
For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced over $1.3 billion in apportionments to support conservation and outdoor access (funding generated by excise taxes on ammunition, firearms, and related equipment, among other sources).
Global Context
Globally, the Small Arms Survey estimated that of roughly one billion firearms in circulation as of 2017, about 857 million were in civilian hands.
Market sizing for the commercial firearms sector varies by research firm. One widely cited market estimate valued the global firearms market at about $9.9B in 2024 with growth projections into the 2030s.
Sources
- FBI — NICS Firearm Background Checks: Month/Year (PDF): https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/nics_firearm_checks_-_month_year.pdf
- ATF — Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report (AFMER) 2023 Final (PDF): https://www.atf.gov/media/15716/download
- ATF — Firearms Commerce in the United States: Statistical Update 2024 (PDF): https://www.atf.gov/media/22706/download
- ATF — Facts and Figures for Fiscal Year 2024 (FFLs): https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/fact-sheet/facts-and-figures-fiscal-year-2024
- FBI — 2024 NICS Operational Report (PDF): https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/2024-nics-operational-report.pdf
- NSSF — Economic Impact of the Firearm Industry (2023 data, 2024 report PDF): https://www.nssf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-Economic-Impact-Report.pdf
- Congressional Research Service — Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax (FAET): https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12173
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Over $1.3 Billion to Support Conservation and Outdoor Access: https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2025-01/over-13-billion-support-fish-and-wildlife-conservation-and-outdoor-access
- Small Arms Survey — Estimating global civilian-held firearms numbers: https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/estimating-global-civilian-held-firearms-numbers
- Global Market Insights — Firearms market size estimate (industry report page): https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/firearms-market