Gun ownership rates vary significantly across countries, reflecting a diverse range of cultural, legal, and historical factors. The gun ownership rate is determined by the total number of civilian-owned guns in a country per 100 people. High gun ownership rates in many countries are attributed to a combination of hunting traditions, recreational shooting, and historical factors such as the maintenance of citizen militias. Whereas other countries have extremely low gun ownership rates, often close to zero per 100 people. This is largely due to strict gun control laws and cultural norms emphasizing public safety and crime prevention through alternative means.
Here are the top 20 countries with the most firearms in civilian hands in the world.
| Rank | Country | Gun ownership per 100 people |
| 1. | United States | 120.5 |
| 2. | Yemen | 52.8 |
| 3. | New Caledonia | 42.5 |
| 4. | Montenegro | 39.1 |
| 5. | Serbia | 39.1 |
| 6. | Canada | 34.7 |
| 7. | Uruguay | 34.7 |
| 8. | Cyprus | 34 |
| 9. | Finland | 32.4 |
| 10. | Lebanon | 31.9 |
| 11. | Iceland | 31.7 |
| 12. | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 31.2 |
| 13. | Austria | 30 |
| 14. | Republic of Macedonia | 29.8 |
| 15. | Liechtenstein | 28.8 |
| 16. | Norway | 28.8 |
| 17. | Malta | 28.3 |
| 18. | Switzerland | 27.6 |
| 19. | New Zealand | 26.3 |
| 20. | Sweden | 23.1 |
