Top 25 Countries With the Highest Rate of Gun Ownership

Residents of the United States own more guns than anywhere else in the world.

The right to own guns is an interesting aspect of the legal system, and many governments believe that their citizens should own guns for protection purposes. Currently, over 175 nations allow their citizens to own firearms, but only three constitutions in the world still include the right to own a gun, and these are the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. Other than the United States, the other two constitutions have specific restrictive conditions on gun ownership. Private citizens own guns for protection purposes, hunting, and some use them for target practice.

Top 3 Countries by Gun Ownership Rates

United States

The United States has the highest gun ownership rate with about 101 guns per hundred Americans, almost double that of the second country on the list. The United States has several federal gun laws which regulate the possession, manufacturing, transferring, and destruction of ammunition and firearms. Other than the federal gun laws, each state has its guns controlling statutes. The constitution protects the right to own a gun, however, the numerous mass shooting incidents in the country have resulted in the public outcry against the lack of restrictions in the country’s gun laws. Each state has its own rules regarding who can own a gun with some requiring a background check before issuing a license. There is also controversy over the class of people who should own a gun; convicted felons, individuals on the federal’s no-fly list, and people with violent or severe mental illnesses are not allowed to own firearms.

Serbia

Serbia is ranked second in the firearms per capita with a rate of 58.21 guns per 100 people. Serbia has firearms laws which govern the firm gun culture, particularly in rural regions which have over a million legal firearms in circulation. Serbians over the age of eighteen can possess a gun, but the license is not issued to individuals with a mental disorder, history of illegal substance or alcohol abuse, and the ones with a criminal history. In Serbia, a thorough background search is mandatory with the police having the final say in the matter. The law stipulates that all guns must be stored in a safe place and the police can confiscate them if owners are irresponsible.

Yemen

Yemen has the third highest gun ownership rate in the world with a rate of 54.8 guns per a hundred people. In Yemen, the law permits individuals to own handguns, semiautomatic, and automatic weapons. The prime minister regulates guns in Yemen and anyone with a genuine reason provided he/she is over eighteen years old can get a license to carry a weapon. Before acquiring a firearm, each person must pass a background check which considers addictions, mental health, and criminal history. The law does not state whether a person with a history of family violence should be given or denied a gun license. Applicants are not required to undergo any theoretical or practical training on firearm safety before acquiring a license.

Controversies Surrounding Gun Ownership

Gun ownership is a controversial topic. Gun control advocates point to the many public and school shootings that have resulted in mass casualties over the past several years. As much as guns offer protections to owners, without control and regulations many people can end up misusing their weapons. Many US states have strict gun laws but still experience high death rates by firearms and it’s believed that most of the guns in these incidences were purchased from other states, advocating a need for a nationalized control. Gun owners argue that strict regulations will only benefit criminals who will attack unarmed people.

Which Country Has the Highest Rate of Gun Ownership?

The United States has the highest gun ownership rate with about 101 guns per hundred Americans, almost double that of the second highest country, Serbia.

Countries With the Highest Rate of Gun Ownership

Rank	Country	Guns Owned Per 100 People
1	United States	101
2	Serbia	58.21
3	Yemen	54.8
4	Cyprus	36.4
5	Saudi Arabia	35.0
6	Iraq	34.2
7	Uruguay	31.8
8	Norway	31.3
9	France	31.2
10	Canada	30.8
11	Austria	30.4
12	Iceland	30.3
13	Germany	30.3
14	Finland	27.3
15	Oman	25.5
16	Bahrain	24.8
17	Kuwait	24.8
18	Switzerland	24.45
19	Republic of Macedonia	24.1
20	Montenegro	23.1
21	New Zealand	22.6
22	Greece	22.5
23	United Arab Emirates	22.1
24	Croatia	21.7
25	Panama	21.7

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