Guns and Hunting

The Most Guns in America Come From This Country

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: March 18, 2024 11:10 am

As the largest market for civilian firearms around the globe, it may come as no surprise that many of the biggest firearm manufacturers are located in the United States. The nation has the highest per capita rate of civilian gun ownership, with 120.5 out of 100 people carrying a weapon, and of some 857 million civilian-use firearms in the world, U.S. citizens own 393.3 million of them (46%).

Companies like Ruger  Co., Smith & Wesson, Winchester, and Colt are just some of the gun companies located in the United States. Yet, America’s $32.1 billion a year arms and ammunition industry may not be large enough to meet consumer demand. The U.S. imported over 6.8 million guns in 2020, up 71% from the previous year, and by far the most ever recorded. (Here is a look at the states where anyone can get a gun today.)

Handguns were the largest share of all U.S. imports of firearms in 2020 – nearly 60%. Shotguns were the second largest category, accounting for about 28% of all firearm imports, followed by rifles, which made up just under 13% of all imports. 

24/7 Wall St. was able to identify what countries the most guns in America come from by using data from the 2021 edition of Firearms Commerce in the United States, a report published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. We ranked countries by the total number of handguns, rifles, and shotguns imported into the United States in 2020. 

Although this list includes some Asian and South American countries, the vast majority of countries are in Europe. Many of the weapons that are familiar to American gun enthusiasts and sportsmen come from these nations, including Beretta, which is headquartered in Italy (No. 6 on the list); Glock, headquartered in Austria (No. 2), and Taurus, headquartered in Brazil (No. 3). (Here is a look at which Americans own the most guns, a ranking of all 50 states.)

The most guns in America come from this country.

32. France

Source: matthewleesdixon / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 1,042 (0.03% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 321 (0.04% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 62 (0.00% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, France imported 1,425 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.02 percent of all imported firearms.

31. Russia

Source: pedrosz / Flickr

• Handguns imported: None
• Rifles imported: 1,595 (0.18% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Russia imported 1,595 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.02 percent of all imported firearms.

30. Hungary

Source: AndreyKrav / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 1,154 (0.03% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 875 (0.10% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Hungary imported 2,029 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.03 percent of all imported firearms.

29. Georgia

Source: Marta_Kent / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 608 (0.02% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 1,500 (0.17% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Georgia imported 2,108 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.03 percent of all imported firearms.

28. Slovakia

Source: RossHelen / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 2,987 (0.07% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: None
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Slovakia imported 2,987 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.04 percent of all imported firearms.

27. Taiwan

Source: fenlio / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: None
• Rifles imported: 3,140 (0.36% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Taiwan imported 3,140 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.05 percent of all imported firearms.

26. Montenegro

Source: bluejayphoto / Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 3,639 (0.09% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: None
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Montenegro imported 3,639 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.09 percent of all imported firearms.

25. Slovenia

Source: pedrosz / Flickr

• Handguns imported: 4,902 (0.12% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: None
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Slovenia imported 4,902 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.07 percent of all imported firearms.

24. Poland

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• Handguns imported: 10,286 (0.26% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 8,291 (0.95% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Poland imported 18,577 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.27 percent of all imported firearms.

23. United Kingdom

Source: xavierarnau / E+ via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 65 (0.00% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 11,937 (1.36% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 8,492 (0.44% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, the United Kingdom imported 20,494 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.30 percent of all imported firearms.

22. Bulgaria

Source: Kisa_Markiza / Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 6,937 (0.17% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 13,733 (1.57% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 01 (0.00% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Bulgaria imported 20,671 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.30 percent of all imported firearms.

21. Switzerland

Source: AleksandarGeorgiev / E+ via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 17,943 (0.45% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 3,390 (0.39% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 35 (0.00% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Switzerland imported 21,368 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.31 percent of all imported firearms.

20. Belgium

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• Handguns imported: 14,120 (0.35% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 9,533 (1.09% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 212 (0.01% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Belgium imported 2,029 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.03 percent of all imported firearms.

19. Argentina

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• Handguns imported: 29,030 (0.72% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: None
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Argentina imported 29,030 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.42 percent of all imported firearms.

18. Portugal

Source: pedrosz / Flickr

• Handguns imported: None
• Rifles imported: 34,576 (3.95% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 72 (0.00% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Portugal imported 34,648 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.51 percent of all imported firearms.

17. Romania

Source: danieldiaconu / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 22,145 (0.55% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 15,911 (1.82% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Romania imported 38,056 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.55 percent of all imported firearms.

16. Finland

Source: Subodh Agnihotri / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 08 (0.00% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 46,506 (5.31% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 32 (0.00% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Finland imported 46,546 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.68 percent of all imported firearms.

15. Serbia

Source: SStajic / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 22,703 (0.56% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 24,096 (2.75% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Serbia imported 46,799 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.69 percent of all imported firearms.

14. Israel

Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 41,357 (1.03% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 7,839 (0.90% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 7,697 (0.40% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Israel imported 56,893 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.83 percent of all imported firearms.

13. Spain

Source: Eloi_Omella / E+ via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 960 (0.02% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 57,506 (6.57% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 515 (0.03% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Spain imported 58,981 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 0.86 percent of all imported firearms.

12. Japan

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• Handguns imported: None
• Rifles imported: 78,249 (8.94% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 620 (0.03% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Japan imported 78,869 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 1.15 percent of all imported firearms.

11. Philippines

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• Handguns imported: 113,399 (2.81% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 3,818 (0.44% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, the Philippines imported 117,217 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 2.81 percent of all imported firearms.

10. China

Source: HelloRF Zcool / Shutterstock.com

• Handguns imported: None
• Rifles imported: 12,000 (1.37% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 205,462 (10.67% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, China imported 217,462 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 3.18 percent of all imported firearms.

9. Canada

Source: con4tini / Flickr

• Handguns imported: 3,050 (0.08% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 232,395 (26.55% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 982 (0.05% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Canada imported 236,427 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 3.46 percent of all imported firearms.

8. Czech Republic

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• Handguns imported: 247,491 (6.14% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 28,418 (3.25% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 34 (0.00% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, the Czech Republic imported 275,943 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 4.04 percent of all imported firearms.

7. Germany

Source: bluejayphoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 274,799 (6.82% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 73,118 (8.35% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 2,374 (0.12% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Germany imported 350,291 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 5.13 percent of all imported firearms.

6. Italy

Source: stefanjurca / Flickr

• Handguns imported: 146,565 (3.64% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 48,705 (5.57% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 175,818 (9.13% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Italy imported 371,088 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 5.43 percent of all imported firearms.

5. Sweden

Source: scanrail / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 45 (0.00% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 1,680 (0.19% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 430,062 (22.34% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Sweden imported 431,787 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 6.32 percent of all imported firearms.

4. Croatia

Source: xbrchx / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 521,932 (12.95% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: None
• Shotguns imported: None

In 2020, Croatia imported 521,932 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 7.64 percent of all imported firearms.

3. Brazil

Source: marchello74 / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 849,700 (21.08% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 120,864 (13.81% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 46,066 (2.39% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Brazil imported 1,016,630 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 14.88 percent of all imported firearms.

2. Austria

Source: Patryk_Kosmider / iStock via Getty Images

• Handguns imported: 1,279,123 (31.73% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 5,632 (0.64% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 30 (0.00% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Austria imported 1,284,785 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 18.81 percent of all imported firearms.

1. Turkey

Source: pedrosz / Flickr

• Handguns imported: 415,180 (10.30% of all imported handguns)
• Rifles imported: 29,450 (3.37% of all imported rifles)
• Shotguns imported: 1,045,621 (54.32% of all imported shotguns)

In 2020, Turkey imported 1,490,251 firearms into the United States. These figures comprised 21.81 percent of all imported firearms.