In 2022, the U.S. firearms industry generated $75 billion in economic output and supported 392,000 full-time jobs, yet its export volume of 1,461,431 firearms still contrasts sharply with a global reach worth $1.7 billion. The fiscal impact is just as specific, with $11.2 billion in federal tax revenue and $7.5 billion coming from state and local sources. Meanwhile, background checks hit 39.7 million in 2021, raising questions about how demand, sales, and manufacturing activity move together.
Key Takeaways
- Firearms industry economic output $75 billion in 2022
- Total GDP contribution $63 billion from industry
- Tax revenue generated $11.2 billion federally in 2022
- The industry supports 392,000 full-time jobs
- Firearms manufacturing employs 74,000 workers directly
- 106,900 jobs in firearms retail sector
- U.S. exported 1,461,431 firearms in 2022
- Firearms exports valued at $1.7 billion in 2022
- Top export destination Canada received 520,000 firearms in 2022
- In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 11,650,953 pistols
- In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 265,001 revolvers
- In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 7,720,384 rifles
- Firearm background checks reached 39.7 million in 2021
- Firearm background checks were 40 million in 2020
- Adjusted NICS checks for 2022 totaled 29.3 million
In 2022, the US firearms industry generated $75 billion output, supported 392,000 jobs, and exported $1.7 billion.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Impact17 stats
01
Firearms industry economic output $75 billion in 2022
02
Total GDP contribution $63 billion from industry
03
Tax revenue generated $11.2 billion federally in 2022
04
State and local tax revenue $7.5 billion
05
Hunting licenses support $2.5 billion industry revenue
06
Shooting sports economy $130 billion total impact
07
Firearms contribute 2.2% to manufacturing GDP
08
Ammunition market size $8.5 billion in 2023
09
Accessories market $5.2 billion annually
10
110 million gun owners drive $50B retail spend
11
Excise tax on firearms $250 million collected yearly
12
Industry R&D investment $1.2 billion annually
13
Multiplier effect creates $1.80output per $1 input
14
16 million hunters spend $26B yearly
15
Target shooting 50 million participants $12B spend
16
Firearms patents issued 5,000+ per decade
17
Global firearms market $32B, U.S. 60% share
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
In 2022 the firearms industry generated $75 billion in economic output and added $63 billion to GDP, which translated into $11.2 billion in federal tax revenue and a broader shooting sports impact of $130 billion, showing how strongly this sector drives economic activity.
02 · Category
Employment20 stats
01
The industry supports 392,000 full-time jobs
02
Firearms manufacturing employs 74,000 workers directly
03
106,900 jobs in firearms retail sector
04
Shooting range employment totals 42,900 jobs
05
Supplier industries support 168,100 jobs
06
Average wage in firearms manufacturing $62,500annually
07
Firearms industry paid $16.7 billion in wages 2022
08
1.1 million total jobs supported by industry ecosystem
09
Growth in FFL dealers to 80,000+ active licenses
10
Ammunition manufacturing employs 30,000 directly
11
Hunting-related jobs 300,000 nationwide
12
Firearms industry workforce grew 10% from 2018-2022
13
Top employer Smith & Wesson has 2,000+ employees
14
Sturm Ruger employs 1,900 workers
15
Vista Outdoor (ammo/firearms) 6,500 employees
16
Olin Corp (Winchester) 7,000 employees
17
Remington (pre-bankruptcy) employed 2,000
18
Industry labor income $19 billion in 2021
19
Female employment in industry rose to 20% in 2022
20
Veteran hiring in firearms sector 15% above average
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
In the Employment category, the firearm industry creates a wide job footprint with 392,000 full-time jobs overall, including 74,000 directly in firearms manufacturing and another 168,100 supported through supplier industries, showing that employment extends well beyond the factory floor.
03 · Category
Exports20 stats
01
U.S. exported 1,461,431 firearms in 2022
02
Firearms exports valued at $1.7 billion in 2022
03
Top export destination Canada received 520,000 firearms in 2022
04
Exports to Mexico totaled 15,000 firearms in 2022
05
Imports of firearms reached 5.1 million in 2022
06
Firearms import value $2.8 billion in 2022
07
Exports grew 15% from 2021 to 2022
08
Pistol exports 845,000 units in 2022
09
Rifle exports 570,000 in 2022
10
In 2021, exported 1,970,587 firearms
11
2020 exports 2,151,000 firearms amid domestic surge
12
Imports peaked at 5.2 million in 2020
13
Canada imports 40% of U.S. firearm exports
14
Exports to Europe totaled 200,000 firearms 2022
15
Ammunition exports $3.5 billion in 2022
16
U.S. share of global small arms exports 40%
17
Firearms trade deficit $1.1 billion in 2022
18
Imports from Turkey 1.2 million pistols 2022
19
Brazil imported 100,000 U.S. firearms 2022
20
Exports of shotguns 46,000 in 2022
Interpretation
Exports Interpretation
In 2022, U.S. firearm exports totaled 1,461,431 units valued at $1.7 billion, with Canada taking 520,000 of them, showing exports are both sizable and highly concentrated by destination.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production30 stats
01
In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 11,650,953 pistols
02
In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 265,001 revolvers
03
In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 7,720,384 rifles
04
In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 1,030,389 shotguns
05
In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 1,028,165 other firearms
06
In 2021, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 10,517,312 pistols
07
In 2021, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 281,677 revolvers
08
In 2021, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 7,463,372 rifles
09
In 2021, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 864,461 shotguns
10
In 2021, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 866,880 other firearms
11
In 2020, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 8,389,284 pistols
12
In 2020, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 308,984 revolvers
13
In 2020, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 7,924,625 rifles
14
In 2020, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 904,243 shotguns
15
In 2020, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 1,184,069 other firearms
16
In 2019, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 6,505,707 pistols
17
In 2019, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 317,125 revolvers
18
In 2019, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 7,200,380 rifles
19
In 2019, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 868,681 shotguns
20
In 2019, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 764,355 other firearms
21
In 2018, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 5,603,859 pistols
22
In 2018, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 323,135 revolvers
23
In 2018, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 5,809,686 rifles
24
In 2018, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 757,450 shotguns
25
In 2018, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 503,258 other firearms
26
In 2017, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 5,095,214 pistols
27
In 2017, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 347,116 revolvers
28
In 2017, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 5,857,862 rifles
29
In 2017, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 815,739 shotguns
30
In 2017, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 468,979 other firearms
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
In the Production category, U.S. manufacturers ramped up pistol output to 11,650,953 in 2022 from 10,517,312 in 2021, a notable rise alongside large overall production volumes of 7,720,384 rifles and 1,030,389 shotguns.
05 · Category
Sales24 stats
01
Firearm background checks reached 39.7 million in 2021
02
Firearm background checks were 40 million in 2020
03
Adjusted NICS checks for 2022 totaled 29.3 million
04
Firearm retail sales estimated at 21.5 million units in 2021
05
Handgun sales made up 54% of total sales in 2021
06
Long gun sales reached 11.8 million in 2021
07
Modern sporting rifle sales hit 2.7 million in 2021
08
Firearm sales surged 64% in March 2020 to 2.25 million
09
Total NICS checks from 1998-2022 exceed 500 million
10
2022 saw 1.4 million first-time buyers via NICS
11
Firearms industry generated $70 billion in economic activity in 2022
12
Pistol sales dominated with 8.4 million units in 2020
13
Semi-automatic pistol sales grew 30% year-over-year in 2021
14
Black Friday 2021 NICS checks hit 1 million+
15
Cyber Monday 2021 saw record 379,735 checks
16
Handguns accounted for 42% of 2022 sales
17
Rifle sales in 2022 estimated at 7.1 million
18
Shotgun sales 2022 around 1 million units
19
Online firearm sales grew 50% in 2020
20
U.S. firearms market revenue projected $19.5B in 2023
21
24 million firearms sold in 2020 peak year
22
Firearms industry retail sales $28.3 billion in 2020
23
Firearms manufacturing direct GDP contribution $8.5 billion in 2022
24
Supplier and distributor impact $15 billion in sales 2022
Interpretation
Sales Interpretation
For the Sales category, firearm retail sales totaled about 21.5 million units in 2021, with handguns driving the majority at 54 percent and long guns adding 11.8 million, showing how sales were concentrated in handguns that year.
report visual · Comparison
Firearms industry impact: jobs, wages, and economic output
Key figures show the industry’s scale across output, taxes, and workforce support.
Firearms industry economic output $75 billion in 2022$75 billion
Firearms industry paid $16.7 billion in wages 2022$16.7 billion
Tax revenue generated $11.2 billion federally in 2022$11.2 billion
The industry supports 392,000 full-time jobs392,000
Firearms manufacturing employs 74,000 workers directly74,000
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Firearm Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/firearm-industry-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Firearm Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/firearm-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Firearm Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/firearm-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
15 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level