Introduction
The rate of registered gun owners in the United States varies widely from state to state. For instance, there are states with low per capita rates such as Hawaii and Washington, while others like Wyoming, West Virginia, and South Dakota have high rates. The wide range of gun ownership can be attributed to both differences in state regulations and population density. States with stricter gun laws and larger populations tend to have lower rates of gun registration, while those with less restrictive rules and lower population densities often have higher registered firearm ownership levels. Additionally, states that border Mexico tend to have higher firearm registration numbers due to the prevalence of illegal firearms crossing their borders. Despite the varying levels of registered guns from one state to another, the overall estimated rate of civilian firearm ownership in the country is around 40%. This indicates that a significant portion of Americans owns firearms for various reasons ranging from hunting or collecting to personal security or self-defense.
| # | State | Registered Gun Rate | Gun Ownership Rate | Gun Death Rate | Open Carry Laws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 245.8 per 1k | 60.7% | 25.9 per 100k | Allowed |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 110.9 per 1k | Prohibited | ||
| 3 | West Virginia | 92.8 per 1k | 60.6% | 18.1 per 100k | Allowed |
| 4 | South Dakota | 72.2 per 1k | 55.6% | 13.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 5 | New Mexico | 58.1 per 1k | 35.9% | 22.7 per 100k | Allowed |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 52.1 per 1k | 46.3% | 8.9 per 100k | Allowed |
| 7 | Virginia | 49 per 1k | 35.3% | 13.4 per 100k | Allowed |
| 8 | Arkansas | 44.3 per 1k | 51.8% | 22.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 9 | Idaho | 40.2 per 1k | 57.8% | 17.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 10 | North Dakota | 40 per 1k | 53.3% | 13.8 per 100k | Allowed |
| 11 | Alabama | 38.7 per 1k | 52.8% | 23.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 12 | Alaska | 38.5 per 1k | 57.2% | 23.5 per 100k | Allowed |
| 13 | Nevada | 37.9 per 1k | 32.9% | 17 per 100k | Allowed |
| 14 | Arizona | 35.6 per 1k | 36.4% | 16.7 per 100k | Allowed |
| 15 | Texas | 34.1 per 1k | 35.5% | 14.2 per 100k | Allowed |
| 16 | Montana | 33.2 per 1k | 65.7% | 20.9 per 100k | Allowed |
| 17 | Louisiana | 32.9 per 1k | 52.3% | 26.3 per 100k | Allowed |
| 18 | Georgia | 28.2 per 1k | 37.7% | 17.7 per 100k | Allowed |
| 19 | Mississippi | 27.4 per 1k | 54.1% | 28.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 26.9 per 1k | 40.2% | 13.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 25.9 per 1k | 54.9% | 20.7 per 100k | Allowed |
| 22 | Colorado | 25.7 per 1k | 37.9% | 15.4 per 100k | Allowed |
| 23 | Kentucky | 24.1 per 1k | 52.5% | 20.1 per 100k | Allowed |
| 24 | Florida | 23.8 per 1k | 28.8% | 13.7 per 100k | Prohibited |
| 25 | Kansas | 23.8 per 1k | 42.3% | 16.9 per 100k | Allowed |
| 26 | Indiana | 23.1 per 1k | 42.4% | 17.3 per 100k | Allowed |
| 27 | Oregon | 23 per 1k | 41.4% | 13 per 100k | Allowed |
| 28 | South Carolina | 23 per 1k | 45.5% | 22 per 100k | Permit Required |
| 29 | Minnesota | 22.7 per 1k | 39.1% | 8.9 per 100k | Permit Required |
| 30 | Maryland | 22.1 per 1k | 16.7% | 13.5 per 100k | Permit Required |
| 31 | Nebraska | 22 per 1k | 39.2% | 10.1 per 100k | Allowed |
| 32 | Tennessee | 21.7 per 1k | 46.9% | 21.3 per 100k | Allowed |
| 33 | North Carolina | 21.1 per 1k | 37.1% | 16 per 100k | Allowed |
| 34 | Connecticut | 20.8 per 1k | 18.8% | 6 per 100k | Permit Required |
| 35 | Missouri | 18.4 per 1k | 52.8% | 23.9 per 100k | Allowed |
| 36 | Ohio | 17.7 per 1k | 41.9% | 15.2 per 100k | Allowed |
| 37 | Iowa | 17 per 1k | 38.5% | 11.2 per 100k | Allowed |
| 38 | Wisconsin | 16.3 per 1k | 47.1% | 12.2 per 100k | Allowed |
| 39 | Maine | 15.6 per 1k | 47.7% | 10.4 per 100k | Allowed |
| 40 | Vermont | 14.6 per 1k | 50.3% | 11.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 41 | Illinois | 11.4 per 1k | 22.6% | 14.1 per 100k | Prohibited |
| 42 | Michigan | 10.9 per 1k | 38.9% | 14.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 43 | California | 10.4 per 1k | 16.3% | 8.5 per 100k | Prohibited |
| 44 | Massachusetts | 6.5 per 1k | 9.9% | 3.7 per 100k | Permit Required |
| 45 | Hawaii | 6.4 per 1k | 9.1% | 3.4 per 100k | Permit Required |
| 46 | Delaware | 6.1 per 1k | 38.7% | 14.4 per 100k | Allowed |
| 47 | New York | 4.6 per 1k | 14.5% | 5.3 per 100k | Prohibited |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 4.5 per 1k | 13.9% | 5.1 per 100k | Permit Required |
| 49 | Utah | 3.4 per 1k | 39.7% | 13.6 per 100k | Allowed |
| 50 | Washington | 1.2 per 1k | 32.1% | 10.9 per 100k | Allowed |
| 51 | New Jersey | 1.1 per 1k | 8.9% | 5 per 100k | Prohibited |
Registered Gun Rate by State
Alabama
Registered Gun Rate
38.7 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#11
52.8%
Ranked in the US
#10
23.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#5
Allowed
Alaska
Registered Gun Rate
38.5 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#12
57.2%
Ranked in the US
#5
23.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#6
Allowed
Arizona
Registered Gun Rate
35.6 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#14
36.4%
Ranked in the US
#35
16.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#20
Allowed
Arkansas
Registered Gun Rate
44.3 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#8
51.8%
Ranked in the US
#14
22.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#8
Allowed
California
Registered Gun Rate
10.4 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#43
16.3%
Ranked in the US
#45
8.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#44
Prohibited
Colorado
Registered Gun Rate
25.7 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#22
37.9%
Ranked in the US
#32
15.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#22
Allowed
Connecticut
Registered Gun Rate
20.8 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#34
18.8%
Ranked in the US
#43
6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#45
Permit Required
Delaware
Registered Gun Rate
6.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#46
38.7%
Ranked in the US
#30
14.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#25
Allowed
District of Columbia
Registered Gun Rate
110.9 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#2
Prohibited
Florida
Registered Gun Rate
23.8 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#24
28.8%
Ranked in the US
#41
13.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#29
Prohibited
Georgia
Registered Gun Rate
28.2 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#18
37.7%
Ranked in the US
#33
17.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#15
Allowed
Hawaii
Registered Gun Rate
6.4 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#45
Ranked in the US
#49
3.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#50
Permit Required
Idaho
Registered Gun Rate
40.2 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#9
57.8%
Ranked in the US
#4
17.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#16
Allowed
Illinois
Registered Gun Rate
11.4 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#41
22.6%
Ranked in the US
#42
14.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#27
Prohibited
Indiana
Registered Gun Rate
23.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#26
42.4%
Ranked in the US
#21
17.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#17
Allowed
Iowa
Registered Gun Rate
17 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#37
38.5%
Ranked in the US
#31
11.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#38
Allowed
Kansas
Registered Gun Rate
23.8 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#25
42.3%
Ranked in the US
#22
16.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#19
Allowed
Kentucky
Registered Gun Rate
24.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#23
52.5%
Ranked in the US
#12
20.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#13
Allowed
Louisiana
Registered Gun Rate
32.9 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#17
52.3%
Ranked in the US
#13
26.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#2
Allowed
Maine
Registered Gun Rate
15.6 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#39
47.7%
Ranked in the US
#16
10.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#40
Allowed
Maryland
Registered Gun Rate
22.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#30
16.7%
Ranked in the US
#44
13.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#33
Permit Required
Massachusetts
Registered Gun Rate
6.5 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#44
Ranked in the US
#48
3.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#49
Permit Required
Michigan
Registered Gun Rate
10.9 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#42
38.9%
Ranked in the US
#29
14.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#24
Allowed
Minnesota
Registered Gun Rate
22.7 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#29
39.1%
Ranked in the US
#28
8.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#42
Permit Required
Mississippi
Registered Gun Rate
27.4 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#19
54.1%
Ranked in the US
#8
28.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#1
Allowed
Missouri
Registered Gun Rate
18.4 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#35
52.8%
Ranked in the US
#11
23.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#4
Allowed
Montana
Registered Gun Rate
33.2 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#16
65.7%
Ranked in the US
#1
20.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#11
Allowed
Nebraska
Registered Gun Rate
22 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#31
39.2%
Ranked in the US
#27
10.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#41
Allowed
Nevada
Registered Gun Rate
37.9 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#13
32.9%
Ranked in the US
#39
17 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#18
Allowed
New Hampshire
Registered Gun Rate
52.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#6
46.3%
Ranked in the US
#19
8.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#43
Allowed
New Jersey
Registered Gun Rate
1.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#51
Ranked in the US
#50
5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#48
Prohibited
New Mexico
Registered Gun Rate
58.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#5
35.9%
Ranked in the US
#36
22.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#7
Allowed
New York
Registered Gun Rate
4.6 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#47
14.5%
Ranked in the US
#46
5.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#46
Prohibited
North Carolina
Registered Gun Rate
21.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#33
37.1%
Ranked in the US
#34
16 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#21
Allowed
North Dakota
Registered Gun Rate
40 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#10
53.3%
Ranked in the US
#9
13.8 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#28
Allowed
Ohio
Registered Gun Rate
17.7 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#36
41.9%
Ranked in the US
#23
15.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#23
Allowed
Oklahoma
Registered Gun Rate
25.9 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#21
54.9%
Ranked in the US
#7
20.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#12
Allowed
Oregon
Registered Gun Rate
23 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#27
41.4%
Ranked in the US
#24
13 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#35
Allowed
Pennsylvania
Registered Gun Rate
26.9 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#20
40.2%
Ranked in the US
#25
13.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#30
Allowed
Rhode Island
Registered Gun Rate
4.5 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#48
13.9%
Ranked in the US
#47
5.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#47
Permit Required
South Carolina
Registered Gun Rate
23 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#28
45.5%
Ranked in the US
#20
22 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#9
Permit Required
South Dakota
Registered Gun Rate
72.2 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#4
55.6%
Ranked in the US
#6
13.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#31
Allowed
Tennessee
Registered Gun Rate
21.7 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#32
46.9%
Ranked in the US
#18
21.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#10
Allowed
Texas
Registered Gun Rate
34.1 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#15
35.5%
Ranked in the US
#37
14.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#26
Allowed
Utah
Registered Gun Rate
3.4 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#49
39.7%
Ranked in the US
#26
13.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#32
Allowed
Vermont
Registered Gun Rate
14.6 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#40
50.3%
Ranked in the US
#15
11.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#37
Allowed
Virginia
Registered Gun Rate
49 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#7
35.3%
Ranked in the US
#38
13.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#34
Allowed
Washington
Registered Gun Rate
1.2 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#50
32.1%
Ranked in the US
#40
10.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#39
Allowed
West Virginia
Registered Gun Rate
92.8 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#3
60.6%
Ranked in the US
#3
18.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#14
Allowed
Wisconsin
Registered Gun Rate
16.3 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#38
47.1%
Ranked in the US
#17
12.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#36
Allowed
Wyoming
Registered Gun Rate
245.8 per 1k
Ranked in the US
#1
60.7%
Ranked in the US
#2
25.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#3
Allowed