In recent decades, gun violence has been far from a foreign topic. In countries like the U.S., where public shootings continue to be a chronic threat to safety, the conversation around guns is a contentious one. In addition to intentional, brutal slayings of multiple people, guns can and do kill people in other ways. Misfires, suicides, and domestic violence are all common. Easy access to guns of all types contribute to the problem.
Worldwide, issues with gun-related violence vary significantly. Not surprisingly, nations that prioritize strict gun control and avoid glamorizing the use of guns have lower rates of gun violence. Japan is one such country. This nation requires stringent background checks for any citizen seeking to purchase a gun. Additionally, gun owners are forced to undergo firearm training. Conversely, countries that face an assortment of challenges, like poverty and political unrest, see the highest rates of gun violence. These include Central American countries like Honduras and El Salvador.
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 It Matters?
High rates of civilian gun ownership are also common in many countries on this list. As of 2017, the latest year of available data from the Small Arms Survey, there were more than 30 civilian-owned firearms for every 100 people in several of the countries with the highest rates of deadly gun violence. In the U.S., which, along with Guatemala, Haiti, and Mexico, is one of only four countries where gun ownership is a constitutional right, there are an estimated 393.3 million civilian-owned firearms, making it the only country in the world with more guns than people.
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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