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Americans Own 30% of World's Guns

The world's largest arsenal works out to 90 firearms per 100 people

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 28, 2007 9:05 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Americans form the biggest gun-toting posse on Earth, Reuters reports, boasting a high 90 firearms per 100 noncombatants. Other countries lag behind on a per capita basis: Yemen takes second with 61 per 100 and Finland places a surprising third with 56 for every 100 civilians. Many poor countries, like Nigeria, rank low on the list despite their reputation for gun violence.

One analyst connects civilian gun ownership with wealth, warning that “we need to think about future demand in parts of the world where economic growth is giving people larger disposable income." One gun survey estimates that 650 million guns are owned in homes worldwide, 10 million higher than the last count. Only about 1 in 10 of those are thought to be registered.

Guns are seen on display during a news conference regarding the Groceries for Guns Exchange program May 3, 2007, in Philadelphia. The program, which claims to have collected 1,067 firearms, invites people to exchange firearms for groceries. Baltimore, Philadelphia and other cities in a bloodstained corridor along the East...
Guns are seen on display during a news conference regarding the "Groceries for Guns Exchange" program May 3, 2007, in Philadelphia. The program, which claims to have collected 1,067 firearms, invites...   (Associated Press)
Wesson handguns during the National Rifle Association convention Friday, April 13, 2007 in St. Louis. The 136th annual meeting of the NRA runs through Sunday and is expected to draw 60,000 visitors. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Wesson handguns during the National Rifle Association convention Friday, April 13, 2007 in St. Louis. The 136th annual meeting of the NRA runs through Sunday and is expected to draw 60,000 visitors....   (Associated Press)
Iraqis hold machine guns during a protest by displaced Sunnis in Baghdad's al-Adil neighborhood in this Dec. 10, 2006 file photo.
Iraqis hold machine guns during a protest by displaced Sunnis in Baghdad's al-Adil neighborhood in this Dec. 10, 2006 file photo.   (Associated Press)
Workers carry confiscated illegal and fake guns during a campaign to destroy illegal weapons in Xi'an, in north China's Shaanxi province Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007. Over 2000 illegal and fake guns and almost 5000 knives confiscated in recent years were destroyed during the campaign. (AP Photo/Color China Photo)
Workers carry confiscated illegal and fake guns during a campaign to destroy illegal weapons in Xi'an, in north China's Shaanxi province Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007. Over 2000 illegal and fake guns and almost...   (Associated Press)
An ATF official hold a gun taken from a Louisiana gun shop that sold weapons later linked to 125 homicides.
An ATF official hold a gun taken from a Louisiana gun shop that sold weapons later linked to 125 homicides.   (Associated Press)
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