Special Report

The Guns Americans Have Bought Every Year Since 1986

Samuel Stebbins

Published: January 4, 2024 1:32 pm

As a result of the United States having one of the least restrictive firearms laws in the world, they are the largest civilian market for firearms globally and consumer demand is continually growing. Not only do Americans purchase the most firearms, but the United States is also the top gun producer in the world. Over 250 million new firearms were manufactured in, or imported to, the U.S. between 1986 and 2019 – and according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, over half of them hit the market in the last 10 years. 

There are now an estimated 434 million civilian-owned guns in the United States, or about 1.7 for every American adult, according to the Firearm Industry Trade Association, with millions of new firearms increasing yearly. Starting in 2012, more than 10 million new guns were made in or imported to the United States each year. The number of new guns peaked at 16.3 million in 2016. Meanwhile, the number of new guns on the market never exceeded 10 million between 1986 and 2012 and was below 5 million for most of those years. (Here is a look at the most popular guns of all time.)

24/7 Wall St. identified the number of new guns that were either manufactured domestically or shipped to the U.S. each year since 1986, the earliest year of available data by using data from the ATF’s 2021 report Firearms Commerce in the United States. American-made guns that were sold overseas are not included in the totals. 

Gun manufacturing data reveals how American preferences have evolved in recent decades. In most years from 1986 to 2009, rifles dominated domestic firearm production. However, that changed in 2010, when pistols – not including revolvers – overtook rifles in domestic production and have held the top spot nearly every year since. (Here is a look at the most powerful handguns.)

Here is the amount of firearms Americans purchased every year since 1986

See below for our detailed methodology.

1986

Source: blackwaterimages / E+ via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 3,524,486 – the fewest in 34 years (19.9% imported, 80.1% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (31.9% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Rifles (38.4% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Revolvers (48.1% of all exported firearms)

1987

Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,335,131 – 30th most in 34 years (24.5% imported, 75.5% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (28.3% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Rifles (38.9% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Revolvers (46.7% of all exported firearms)

1988

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• New guns on the market: 4,982,963 – 21st most in 34 years (25.6% imported, 74.4% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (28.9% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (48.7% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Revolvers (38.6% of all exported firearms)

1989

Source: Bob Riha Jr / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 5,164,892 – 18th most in 34 years (19.5% imported, 80.5% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (31.9% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (43.7% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Revolvers (29.3% of all exported firearms)

1990

Source: JamesYetMingAu-Photography / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,442,152 – 28th most in 34 years (19.0% imported, 81.0% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (34.6% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (53.2% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Revolvers (29.5% of all exported firearms)

1991

Source: Mishella / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 3,882,598 – 33rd most in 34 years (18.6% imported, 81.4% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (38.7% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Rifles (43.2% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Shotguns (29.4% of all exported firearms)

1992

Gun Crazy American (CC BY 2.0) by William Garrett

• New guns on the market: 6,618,755 – 15th most in 34 years (43.0% imported, 57.0% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (40.0% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Rifles (50.0% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Shotguns (29.5% of all exported firearms)

1993

C-93 cropped (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Mike Johnstown

• New guns on the market: 7,667,754 – 12th most in 34 years (39.7% imported, 60.3% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (41.4% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Rifles (52.3% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Shotguns (39.8% of all exported firearms)

1994

Source: Scott Barbour / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 6,649,646 – 14th most in 34 years (28.3% imported, 71.7% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (38.7% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (48.7% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Shotguns (36.2% of all exported firearms)

1995

Source: arinahabich / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,995,525 – 20th most in 34 years (22.1% imported, 77.9% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (32.7% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (64.0% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Revolvers (31.0% of all exported firearms)

1996

Source: guruXOOX / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,404,020 – 29th most in 34 years (20.0% imported, 80.0% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (37.0% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (55.6% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Shotguns (29.3% of all exported firearms)

1997

Source: UltraONEs / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,257,838 – 31st most in 34 years (22.1% imported, 77.9% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (34.8% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (50.5% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Shotguns (31.4% of all exported firearms)

1998

Source: bagi1998 / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,510,056 – 27th most in 34 years (22.2% imported, 77.8% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (41.4% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (53.2% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Shotguns (44.1% of all exported firearms)

1999

Source: BostjanT / E+ via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,719,228 – 24th most in 34 years (18.9% imported, 81.1% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (38.8% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Shotguns (43.2% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Shotguns (30.6% of all exported firearms)

2000

Source: Getty Images / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,717,696 – 25th most in 34 years (23.2% imported, 76.8% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (41.7% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (42.5% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (28.8% of all exported firearms)

2001

Source: Vadimborkin / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,126,940 – 32nd most in 34 years (33.1% imported, 66.9% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (43.8% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (52.0% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (29.4% of all exported firearms)

2002

Source: William B. Plowman / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,845,376 – 23rd most in 34 years (33.6% imported, 66.4% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (45.0% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (45.5% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (40.2% of all exported firearms)

2003

Source: Chris Livingston / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,632,994 – 26th most in 34 years (31.7% imported, 68.3% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (43.2% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (43.0% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (44.1% of all exported firearms)

2004

Source: Jeff Swensen / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 4,869,964 – 22nd most in 34 years (39.2% imported, 60.8% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (42.8% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (43.9% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (44.6% of all exported firearms)

2005

Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 5,153,487 – 19th most in 34 years (40.9% imported, 59.1% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (44.2% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (41.7% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (47.3% of all exported firearms)

2006

Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 5,718,325 – 17th most in 34 years (42.5% imported, 57.5% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (41.0% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (47.9% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (39.4% of all exported firearms)

2007

Source: Pierdelune / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 6,461,824 – 16th most in 34 years (42.5% imported, 57.5% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (41.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (50.5% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (39.4% of all exported firearms)

2008

Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 6,876,842 – 13th most in 34 years (37.9% imported, 62.1% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (38.6% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (56.3% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (45.8% of all exported firearms)

2009

Daisy with FN SCAR 16s (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Mitch Barrie

• New guns on the market: 8,968,180 – 10th most in 34 years (40.2% imported, 59.8% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (40.5% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (60.6% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (31.4% of all exported firearms)

2010

Source: RichLegg / E+ via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 8,057,210 – 11th most in 34 years (35.2% imported, 64.8% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (41.4% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (62.8% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (33.1% of all exported firearms)

2011

Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 9,497,402 – 9th most in 34 years (34.2% imported, 65.8% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (39.7% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (53.0% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (40.8% of all exported firearms)

2012

Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 13,135,646 – 3rd most in 34 years (36.9% imported, 63.1% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (40.7% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (54.2% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (44.6% of all exported firearms)

2013

Source: jfmdesign / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 15,991,210 – 2nd most in 34 years (34.6% imported, 65.4% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (41.0% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (55.9% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (42.6% of all exported firearms)

2014

Source: guruXOOX / iStock via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 12,254,962 – 7th most in 34 years (29.6% imported, 70.4% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (40.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (60.3% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (49.4% of all exported firearms)

2015

Source: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 12,945,416 – 4th most in 34 years (30.4% imported, 69.6% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Rifles (39.4% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (62.8% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Rifles (46.5% of all exported firearms)

2016

Source: Erich Schlegel / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 16,258,394 – the most in 34 years (31.6% imported, 68.4% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (41.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (71.5% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (45.8% of all exported firearms)

2017

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• New guns on the market: 12,331,748 – 6th most in 34 years (36.4% imported, 63.6% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (44.3% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (73.2% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (56.4% of all exported firearms)

2018

Source: U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. C.T. Michael

• New guns on the market: 12,804,242 – 5th most in 34 years (33.6% imported, 66.4% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (42.9% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (68.3% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (60.1% of all exported firearms)

2019

Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• New guns on the market: 10,681,126 – 8th most in 34 years (37.3% imported, 62.7% U.S. made)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type: Pistols (43.4% of all U.S.-made firearms)
• Most popular foreign-made firearm type in America: Handguns (65.1% of all imported firearms)
• Most popular U.S.-made firearm type abroad: Pistols (43.7% of all exported firearms)

Methodology

To identify the number of new guns in the U.S. every year since 1986, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the ATF’s 2021 report Firearms Commerce in the United States. Years are listed in chronological order but ranked by the number of new guns that were either manufactured in or shipped to, the U.S. each year since 1986, the earliest year of available data. The number of American-made guns that were sold overseas was then deducted from that total. 

Total firearm manufacturing tallies include miscellaneous firearms, such as pistol grip firearms, starter guns, and firearm frames and receivers. Firearms produced for the U.S. military are not included, but firearms purchased by domestic law enforcement agencies are. 

We also considered the most popular firearm types each year that were manufactured domestically, imported to the U.S., or exported from the U.S. It is important to note that for firearms manufactured domestically – including those that end up being exported – firearms are broken into four specific categories: pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles. Meanwhile, for imported firearms, there are only three specific categories: handguns, shotguns, and rifles, as pistols and revolvers are not distinguished.