Registered Firearm Rates by State Ranked From 1 to 50

Nearly 40% of Americans exercise their Second Amendment right to bear arms. However, the dispersion of firearms across the United States varies greatly according to the state.

To better understand which states have the most and fewest number of registered firearms, Wisevoter analyzed data from the Bureau of ATF. Data is based on the registered gun rate per 1,000 residents. They also used statistics from RAND Corporation to determine gun ownership rates.

Mindfully American’s goal with this article is to provide data-driven information about where registered firearms are the most and least frequently found. These rankings don’t account for unregistered firearms, and only a handful of states require their residents to register their firearms. For this reason, we also included statistics on non-registration-based firearm ownership rates.

1: Wyoming

Wyoming has the largest registered firearm rate in the nation, with 245.8 registered guns per 1,000 residents. The Equality State ranks second in the United States for the highest firearm ownership rate, at 60.7%.

2: West Virginia

West Virginia’s registered firearm rate is less than half of Wyoming’s, at 92.8 per 1,000 residents. The Mountain State is also one of ten states with a designated state firearm. In April 2013, West Virginia declared the Hall Model 1819 flintlock rifle as its firearm.

3: South Dakota

The Mount Rushmore State has a rate of 72.2 registered firearms for every 1,000 residents. It also has a gun ownership rate of 55.6%, ranking it sixth in the nation for this category.

4: New Mexico

New Mexico’s 58.1 registered firearms for every 1,000 residents is around four times less than Wyoming’s rate. It also has a significantly lower gun ownership rate of 35.9%. That ranks it 36th in the U.S. for the firearm ownership rate category.

5: New Hampshire

The Granite State’s registered firearm rate is 52.1 for every 1,000 New Hampshirites. As for its gun ownership rate, New Hampshire ranks 19th in the nation, with an ownership rate of 46.3%.

6: Virginia

Virginia has an even 49 registered guns per 1,000 people. Like New Mexico, its firearm ownership rate is significantly lower for its high position on this list, at 35.3%. That means The Old Dominion ranks 38th in the nation for its rate of gun ownership.

7: Arkansas

For every 1,000 residents in Arkansas, there’s an average of 44.3 registered firearms. Arkansas’ gun ownership rate is 51.8%, ranking it 14th in the nation for this category.

8: Idaho

Having a registered firearm rate of 40.2 per 1,000 Idahoans might sound relatively small compared to other states on this list. However, as the data shows, looking at registered firearms alone doesn’t paint the full picture. Idaho’s gun ownership rate is 57.8%, which is significantly above the national average of 39.8%.

9: North Dakota

North Dakota’s registered firearm rate is just shy of Idaho’s, at 40.0 registered guns for every 1,000 residents. Its firearm ownership rate is 53.3%, ranking it ninth in the nation compared to Idaho’s fourth-place ranking.

10: Alabama

Alabama drops into the 30s, with 38.7 registered guns per 1,000 people. The Yellowhammer State has a firearm ownership rate of 52.8%, landing it in the bottom of the top ten states with the highest rates of firearm ownership.

11: Alaska

Alaska is the second state on this list to have a state firearm. The Pre- 1964 Winchester Model 70 became Alaska’s state firearm in 2014, and it surely makes up some of the 38.5 registered guns per 1,000 residents The Last Frontier has. Alaska’s firearm ownership rate ranks fifth in the U.S., at 57.2%.

12: Nevada

The Silver State has a rate of 37.9 registered firearms for every 1,000 residents. It also has a gun ownership rate of 32.9%, ranking it 39th in the nation for this category.

13: Arizona

Arizona chose to make the Colt Single Action Army revolver its state firearm in 2011. That makes it the second state to declare a state firearm, following in Utah’s footsteps just one month later. Arizona has 35.6 registered firearms per 1,000 residents and a gun ownership rate of 36.4%.

14: Texas

There are just over 34 registered firearms per 1,000 Texans. The Colt Walker is Texas’ state firearm, which claimed this title in 2021. The Lone Star State’s firearm ownership rate is 35.5%, ranking it 37th in the nation for this category.

15: Montana

At first glance, it’s odd to see Montana this low in a firearm ranking article. After all, the Treasure State has the highest gun ownership rate in the country, at 65.7%. However, with only 33.2 registered firearms per 1,000 residents, Montana ranks 15th in the nation for this particular topic.

16: Louisiana

The Pelican State’s registered firearm rate is 32.9 for every 1,000 Louisianans. As for its gun ownership rate, Louisiana ranks 13th in the nation, with an ownership rate of 52.3%.

17: Georgia

For every 1,000 residents in Georgia, there’s an average of 28.2 registered firearms. The Peach State’s gun ownership rate is 37.7%, ranking it 33rd in the nation for this category.

18: Mississippi

The rate of registered firearms in Mississippi is slightly less than in Georgia (27.4 per 1,000 residents). That said, the difference in their firearm ownership rates is significant. Mississippi’s rate is 54.1%, ranking it eighth in the country.

19: Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania long rifle is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the state rifle in Pennsylvania. There are just shy of 27 registered guns per 1,000 Pennsylvanians. The Keystone State’s gun ownership rate is 40.2%, ranking it right in the middle for this category, in 25th place.

20: Oklahoma

Nearly 26 registered firearms exist in Oklahoma for every 1,000 residents. Oklahoma has the seventh-highest gun ownership rate in the U.S., at a rate of 54.9%.

21: Colorado

The Centennial State’s registered firearm rate is 25.7 firearms per 1,000 Coloradans. Colorado’s registered firearm rate is 37.9%, clocking it in at 32nd place in the nation.

22: Kentucky

The Kentucky long rifle, which is commonly used for hunting, has been Kentucky’s state firearm since 2013. There are 24.1 registered firearms for every 1,000 residents in the Bluegrass State, and the firearm ownership rate is 52.5%.

23: Florida

The Sunshine State has a rate of 23.8 registered firearms for every 1,000 residents. It also has a gun ownership rate of 28.8%, ranking it 41st in the nation for this category.

24: Kansas

Kansas’ firearm ownership rate of 42.3% ranks it in 22nd place, closely mirroring its registered gun rate ranking. There are 23.8 registered firearms in Kansas per 1,000 locals.

25: Indiana

The Grouseland Rifle made its debut as Indiana’s state firearm in 2012. Indiana’s registered firearm rate is 23.1 for every 1,000 residents. Meanwhile, its firearm ownership rate is 42.4%, ranking it 21st in the country for that category.

26: Oregon

The Beaver State’s registered firearm rate is 23 for every 1,000 Oregonians. As for its gun ownership rate, Oregon ranks 24th in the nation, with an ownership rate of 41.4%.

27: South Carolina

South Carolina shares Oregon’s registered firearm rate of 23. It also has a relatively similar gun ownership rate (45.5%).

28: Minnesota

For every 1,000 residents in Minnesota, there’s an average of 22.7 registered firearms. The North Star State’s gun ownership rate is 39.1%, ranking it 28th in the U.S. for this category.

29: Maryland

For every 1,000 Marylanders, there are 22.1 registered firearms. The Free State has the lowest gun ownership rate on this list so far, at 16.7%. That ranks it 44th in the nation for firearm ownership.

30: Nebraska

Twenty-two registered firearms exist in Nebraska per 1,000 residents. On top of that, the Cornhusker State ranks 27th in the nation for firearm ownership, with a rate of 39.2%.

31: Tennessee

Since 2016, the Barrett M82 has been an extra popular name in Tennessee, for it was deemed the state firearm. Tennessee has 21.7 registered firearms per 1,000 residents. Its gun ownership rate is 46.9%, ranking it 18th in the nation.

32: North Carolina

North Carolinians register their firearms at a rate of 21.1 per 1,000 residents. In terms of firearm ownership, the Tar Heel State ranks 34th in the nation, with a rate of 37.1%.

33: Connecticut

The Nutmeg State has a rate of 20.8 registered firearms for every 1,000 residents. It also has a gun ownership rate of 18.8%, ranking it 43rd in the nation for this category.

34: Missouri

Missouri is the most recent state to declare a state rifle. In July 2023, the Hawken rifle received the title. The Show Me State has a registered firearm rate of 18.4 firearms per 1,000 Missourians. Its 52.8% rate of firearm ownership ranks it 11th in the U.S.

35: Ohio

The Buckeye State’s registered firearm rate is 17.7 for every 1,000 Ohioans. As for its gun ownership rate, Ohio ranks 23rd in the nation, with an ownership rate of 41.9%.

36: Iowa

There’s less than a one registered firearm difference between Iowa and Ohio (17 per 1,000 residents). That said, the difference in gun ownership rates is more notable, with Iowa having a lower rate of 38.5%, ranking it 31st in the country.

37: Wisconsin

For every 1,000 residents in Wisconsin, there’s an average of 16.3 registered firearms. The Badger State’s gun ownership rate is 47.1%, ranking it 17th in the nation for this category.

38: Maine

15.6 registered firearms exist in Maine per 1,000 Mainers. The Pine Tree State’s gun ownership rate is significantly higher, at 47.7%. That puts Maine in spot number 16 for firearm ownership rates from a national perspective.

39: Vermont

For every 1,000 Vermonters, there are 14.6 registered firearms. Nevertheless, Vermont’s gun ownership rate is 50.3%, ranking it in 13th place for the category.

40: Illinois

Illinois is the first state to drop out of the teens with its registered firearm rate. The Prairie State has 11.4 registered guns per 1,000 residents and a firearm ownership rate of 22.6% (42nd in the nation).

41: Michigan

Michigan makes the bottom ten on this list, with 10.9 registered firearms for every 1,000 residents. It ranks relatively higher in terms of gun ownership, with a rate of 38.9%. That ranks it in 29th place in the firearm ownership category.

42: California

The Golden State has 0.5 fewer registered guns per 1,000 than Michigan (10.4). That said, its gun ownership rate is significantly lower; a 16.3% firearm ownership rate places California in 45th place.

43: Massachusetts

Massachusetts takes a big step down from California. For every 1,000 Bay Staters, there are only 6.5 registered firearms. It also has a small gun ownership rate of 9.9%, ranking it 48th in the country.

44: Hawaii

The Aloha State has a rate of 6.4 registered firearms for every 1,000 residents. It also has a gun ownership rate of 9.1%, ranking it 49th in the nation for this category.

45: Delaware

The First State’s registered firearm rate is 6.1 for every 1,000 residents. As for its gun ownership rate, Delaware ranks 30th in the nation, with an ownership rate of 38.7%.

46: New York

The registered gun rate moves off two hands in New York, with a rate of 4.6 registered firearms for every 1,000 New Yorkers. Its gun ownership rate (14.5%) also ranks 46th in the nation.

47: Rhode Island

For every 1,000 residents in Rhode Island, there’s an average of 4.5 registered firearms. The Ocean State’s gun ownership rate is 13.9%, ranking it 47th in the nation for this category.

48: Utah

Would you have pictured Utah being the first state to name a state firearm? If not, you can add this fact to your “learned today” list. The M1911 pistol became Utah’s state firearm in March 2011. The Beehive State has an average of 3.4 registered firearms per 1,000 residents and a gun ownership rate of 39.7% (26th ranking in the U.S.).

49: Washington

Washington takes a registered firearms dip, with 1.2 registered guns for every 1,000 Washingtonians. The Evergreen State’s firearm ownership rate ranks 40th in the nation, with a 32.1% ownership rate.

50: New Jersey

New Jersey has the lowest registered firearm rate in the nation. There are only 1.1 registered guns per 1,000 residents in the Garden State. On top of that, New Jersey has the lowest gun ownership rate in the U.S., at 8.9%.

Rural vs Urban

According to a Pew Research Center survey from June 2023, 47% of participants who live in rural parts of the U.S. reported owning a firearm. In contrast, only 30% of Americans living in suburbs and 20% living in urban areas owned guns.

Men vs Women

According to Pew’s survey, 40% of male participants said they own a firearm. Only 25% of women reported the same. That said, a Harvard University study showed that those numbers could be skewed. In 2021, Harvard estimated that 42% of firearm owners are women, with a 14% increase in female gun ownership over the previous five years.

States With the Highest and Lowest Firearm Fatality Rates

Most Americans would agree that too many citizens lose their lives to firearms. However, some states have higher rates of firearm fatalities than others. These are the states with the most and least annual firearm fatalities.

States With the Highest and Lowest Firearm Fatality Rates Ranked From 1 to 50

How US Firearm Violence Compares With 14 High-Income Nations

The United States takes center stage in many of the wrong ways when it comes to global firearm violence. Data reveals stark differences in firearm trends in fellow high-income countries.

How US Firearm Violence Compares With 14 High-Income Nations