It is almost impossible to be an existing American citizen without being aware of the ongoing discussion surrounding gun violence. High rates of gun-related incidents and deaths, including public shootings, has rendered gun violence a public health crisis. America is a culture that values guns and gun ownership, with many citizens pointing to the Second Amendment to validate their right to carry a weapon and use it how they see fit. Many citizens think restrictions on guns in any form goes against their constitutional right. But it is undeniable that gun violence has been a progressive problem in the United States, with school shootings and other mass shootings on the rise.
Unfortunately, America is notorious for its gun violence, but what about in the rest of the world? Countries worldwide span a vast range, from very low rates of gun violence to high levels related to crime and non-existing regulations. Gun violence worldwide is affected by cultural and economic factors. Areas that are known for exacerbated gun violence include the Middle East, as well as Central America and South America. These regions see a lot of civil conflict and organized crime units, two factors coinciding with escalating violence related to firearms.
24/7 Wall St. identified the countries with the highest rates of deadly gun violence by reviewing data from the Small Arms Survey. We ranked countries on the estimated number of violent gun deaths 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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