In mid-December 2024, Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, a 15-year-old girl, shot and killed two people at the Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin before turning the gun on herself. Many people in Rupnow’s community were shocked by the sudden onslaught of violence — despite the fact that Rupnow had clearly and outwardly shown an appreciation for the crimes committed by the Columbine shooters. This school shooting — one of just 83 that the United States saw in 2024 — represents a larger and troubling trend of widespread gun violence. In fact, reports from The Commonwealth Fund, which performs independent research to improve healthcare policy and practice, found that the U.S. has among the highest overall firearm mortality rates — even comparable to certain conflict zones. (Gun crime is a big problem in these towns across the U.S.)
While the increasing violence seen in the U.S. is troubling, our nation is certainly not the only one facing rising rates of gun violence. This is especially true following the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and uncertain political changes in various countries around the globe. Using data from the Small Arms Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the countries with the highest rates of deadly gun violence. Countries are ranked on the estimated number of violent gun deaths – excluding suicides – for every 100,000 people in 2021, the latest year of available data. According to the latest World Bank estimates, Only countries with populations of at least 10 million were considered.
Why You Need to Know About Gun Violence
The scale and impact of gun violence globally deserves more of our attention. Beyond the immediate human toll, high rates of gun violence cause immeasurable harm to communities and countries. The healthcare system strains under the burden of excess patients when hospitals become overwhelmed with gun shot victims. In high-crime areas, businesses may close early or shut altogether, which leads to economic decline. Unfortunately, in some areas around the world, the cycle of gun violence seems difficult to break. These patterns of violence reveal and reflect deeper challenges. Learning about where gun violence is the worst shows where — and potentially why — these patterns still exist.
Here are the countries with the highest rates of gun violence:
35. Burundi
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 1.9 per 100,000 people (total: 243)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 15.1%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 2.0 per 100 people (total: 238,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $259
- Population, 2022: 12,889,576
- Region: Eastern Africa
34. Egypt
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 2.0 per 100,000 people (total: 2,139)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 94.1%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 4.1 per 100 people (total: 3,931,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $4,295
- Population, 2022: 110,990,103
- Region: Northern Africa
33. Papua New Guinea
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 2.2 per 100,000 people (total: 218)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 16.0%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 1.0 per 100 people (total: 79,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $3,116
- Population, 2022: 10,142,619
- Region: Melanesia
32. Philippines
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 2.3 per 100,000 people (total: 2,639)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 38.1%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 3.6 per 100 people (total: 3,776,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $3,499
- Population, 2022: 115,559,009
- Region: South-Eastern Asia
31. Chile
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 2.6 per 100,000 people (total: 498)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 61.1%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 12.1 per 100 people (total: 2,220,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $15,355
- Population, 2022: 19,603,733
- Region: South America
30. Sudan
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 2.8 per 100,000 people (total: 1,277)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 28.2%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 6.6 per 100 people (total: 2,768,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $1,102
- Population, 2022: 46,874,204
- Region: Northern Africa
29. Turkey
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 2.9 per 100,000 people (total: 2,481)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 89.5%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 16.5 per 100 people (total: 13,249,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $10,675
- Population, 2022: 84,979,913
- Region: Western Asia
28. Argentina
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 3.0 per 100,000 people (total: 1,353)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 54.1%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 7.4 per 100 people (total: 3,256,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $13,651
- Population, 2022: 46,234,830
- Region: South America
27. Peru
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 3.4 per 100,000 people (total: 1,151)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 51.4%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 2.0 per 100 people (total: 633,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $7,126
- Population, 2022: 34,049,588
- Region: South America
26. South Africa
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 4.7 per 100,000 people (total: 2,786)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 9.6%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 9.7 per 100 people (total: 5,351,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $6,766
- Population, 2022: 59,893,885
- Region: Southern Africa
25. Ethiopia
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 5.3 per 100,000 people (total: 6,407)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 33.0%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 0.4 per 100 people (total: 377,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $1,028
- Population, 2022: 123,379,924
- Region: Eastern Africa
24. Burkina Faso
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 5.6 per 100,000 people (total: 1,230)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 39.3%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 0.9 per 100 people (total: 175,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $830
- Population, 2022: 22,673,762
- Region: Western Africa
23. Niger
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 6.0 per 100,000 people (total: 1,516)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 50.7%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 0.5 per 100 people (total: 117,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $585
- Population, 2022: 26,207,977
- Region: Western Africa
22. Haiti
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 6.0 per 100,000 people (total: 689)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 38.2%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 2.6 per 100 people (total: 291,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $1,748
- Population, 2022: 11,584,996
- Region: Caribbean
21. United States
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 6.7 per 100,000 people (total: 22,702)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 82.7%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 120.5 per 100 people (total: 393,347,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $76,330
- Population, 2022: 333,287,557
- Region: Northern America
20. Cote d’Ivoire
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 7.0 per 100,000 people (total: 1,922)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 52.0%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 4.4 per 100 people (total: 1,049,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $2,486
- Population, 2022: 28,160,542
- Region: Western Africa
19. Chad
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 7.1 per 100,000 people (total: 1,212)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 45.9%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 1.0 per 100 people (total: 151,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $717
- Population, 2022: 17,723,315
- Region: Middle Africa
18. Nigeria
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 7.6 per 100,000 people (total: 16,309)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 44.0%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 3.2 per 100 people (total: 6,154,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $2,163
- Population, 2022: 218,541,212
- Region: Western Africa
17. Dominican Republic
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 9.4 per 100,000 people (total: 1,041)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 61.2%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 7.4 per 100 people (total: 795,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $10,111
- Population, 2022: 11,228,821
- Region: Caribbean
16. Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 9.4 per 100,000 people (total: 9,015)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 42.2%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 1.2 per 100 people (total: 946,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $654
- Population, 2022: 99,010,212
- Region: Middle Africa
15. Somalia
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 9.9 per 100,000 people (total: 1,695)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 50.8%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 12.4 per 100 people (total: 1,145,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $592
- Population, 2022: 17,597,511
- Region: Eastern Africa
14. Iraq
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 10.6 per 100,000 people (total: 4,620)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 61.6%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 19.6 per 100 people (total: 7,588,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $5,937
- Population, 2022: 44,496,122
- Region: Western Asia
13. Mali
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 10.8 per 100,000 people (total: 2,366)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 50.5%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 1.1 per 100 people (total: 206,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $833
- Population, 2022: 22,593,590
- Region: Western Africa
12. Myanmar
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 11.1 per 100,000 people (total: 5,966)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 34.4%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 1.6 per 100 people (total: 877,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $1,149
- Population, 2022: 54,179,306
- Region: South-Eastern Asia
11. South Sudan
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 11.5 per 100,000 people (total: 1,239)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 35.9%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 9.6 per 100 people (total: 1,255,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: N/A
- Population, 2022: 10,913,164
- Region: Eastern Africa
10. Ecuador
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 11.8 per 100,000 people (total: 2,098)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 73.1%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 2.4 per 100 people (total: 402,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $6,391
- Population, 2022: 18,001,000
- Region: South America
9. Guatemala
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 15.3 per 100,000 people (total: 2,690)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 66.4%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 12.1 per 100 people (total: 2,062,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $5,473
- Population, 2022: 17,357,886
- Region: Central America
8. Syrian Arab Republic
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 17.9 per 100,000 people (total: 3,818)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 30.3%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 8.2 per 100 people (total: 1,547,000)
- GDP per capita, 2021: $421
- Population, 2022: 22,125,249
- Region: Western Asia
7. Brazil
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 18.7 per 100,000 people (total: 39,963)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 76.7%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 8.3 per 100 people (total: 17,510,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $8,918
- Population, 2022: 215,313,498
- Region: South America
6. Colombia
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 21.1 per 100,000 people (total: 10,848)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 58.3%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 10.1 per 100 people (total: 4,971,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $6,624
- Population, 2022: 51,874,024
- Region: South America
5. Mexico
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 22.4 per 100,000 people (total: 28,342)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 68.4%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 12.9 per 100 people (total: 16,809,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $11,497
- Population, 2022: 127,504,125
- Region: Central America
4. Venezuela
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 29.3 per 100,000 people (total: 8,255)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 78.5%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 18.5 per 100 people (total: 5,895,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: N/A
- Population, 2022: 28,301,696
- Region: South America
3. Yemen
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 30.5 per 100,000 people (total: 10,056)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 49.9%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 52.8 per 100 people (total: 14,859,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $650
- Population, 2022: 33,696,614
- Region: Western Asia
2. Honduras
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 32.7 per 100,000 people (total: 3,356)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 73.6%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 14.1 per 100 people (total: 1,171,000)
- GDP per capita, 2022: $3,040
- Population, 2022: 10,432,860
- Region: Central America
1. Afghanistan
- Violent deaths by firearm, 2021: 56.8 per 100,000 people (total: 22,776)
- Firearm deaths as a share of all violent deaths in 2021: 50.6%
- Civilian-owned firearms: Approx. 12.5 per 100 people (total: 4,270,000)
- GDP per capita, 2021: $356
- Population, 2022: 41,128,771
- Region: Southern Asia
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