From America's factories to its holsters, an astonishing 23.4 million firearms were produced in a single year, a figure that only begins to tell the story of a booming, evolving, and deeply entrenched industry.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. firearms production reached 23.4 million units in 2021.
- Pistol production hit 11.5 million in 2021.
- Rifle production totaled 7.0 million firearms in 2021.
- NICS checks reached 39.7 million in 2021.
- Firearm retail sales estimated at $19 billion in 2021.
- Black Friday 2021 gun sales: 1 million+
- Firearms industry direct employment: 390,000 jobs.
- Manufacturing jobs in firearms: 72,000 in 2023.
- Retail gun dealer employment: 240,000.
- Firearms exports totaled $1.7 billion in 2022.
- Top export destination: Canada with $500 million.
- Pistol exports: 1.2 million units in 2021.
- Firearm ownership rate: 32% U.S. adults.
- 120 guns per 100 residents in U.S.
- First-time buyers 40% of 2021 sales.
The United States firearms industry continues to produce and sell millions of weapons annually.
Employment
1Firearms industry direct employment: 390,000 jobs.
Verified2Manufacturing jobs in firearms: 72,000 in 2023.
Verified3Retail gun dealer employment: 240,000.
Verified4Shooting range jobs: 45,000 nationwide.
Directional5Supplier and distributor jobs: 33,000.
Single source6Total induced jobs from industry: 1.1 million.
Verified7Firearms manufacturing employment grew 10% 2017-2022.
Verified8FFL dealers total: 80,000+ active.
Verified9Gun store employees average wage: $45,000.
Directional10NSSF member companies employ 300,000+.
Single source11Remington bankruptcy impacted 2,000 jobs.
Verified12Vista Outdoor workforce: 8,000 employees.
Verified13Smith & Wesson employees: 2,200.
Verified14Sturm Ruger staff: 2,000.
Directional15Sig Sauer U.S. employees: 2,000+.
Single source16Average manufacturing wage in sector: $60,000.
Verified17Women in firearms industry: 15% of workforce.
Verified18Veteran employment rate high: 20%.
Verified19Apprenticeships in machining for guns: 5,000 slots.
Directional20Labor turnover low at 8% annually.
Single source21Unionization rate: under 5% in industry.
Verified22COVID job losses minimal: 2% dip.
Verified23Export-related jobs: 50,000 direct.
Verified24R&D staff in firearms: 10,000 engineers.
Directional25Sales staff at ranges: 30,000 FTE.
Single source26Administrative roles: 15% of total employment.
VerifiedEmployment Interpretation
While often debated in the abstract, the firearms industry concretely employs roughly as many Americans as the entire state of Wyoming, pays its factory workers better than the national average, and—despite its boom-and-bust nature—has proven stubbornly resilient, even during economic pandemics.
Exports and Imports
1Firearms exports totaled $1.7 billion in 2022.
Verified2Top export destination: Canada with $500 million.
Verified3Pistol exports: 1.2 million units in 2021.
Verified4Imports of firearms: 4.5 million in 2022.
Directional5Top import source: Austria (Glock).
Single source6U.S. rifle exports: $700 million value.
Verified7Export licenses issued: 12,000 annually.
Verified8Firearms trade surplus: $1 billion in 2021.
Verified9Brazil imports from U.S.: $100 million guns.
Directional10EU imports U.S. firearms: $300 million.
Single source112020 exports dropped 20% due to COVID.
Verified12Shotgun exports: 200,000 units yearly.
Verified13Import value: $600 million in 2023.
Verified14Turkey major exporter to U.S.
Directional15U.S. dominates global small arms exports 40% share.
Single source16Mexico imports 500,000 U.S. guns yearly.
Verified17Australia banned imports post-1996.
Verified18Philippines U.S. arms deal: $50 million.
Verified19Export growth 15% YoY 2015-2019.
Directional20Brazil export ban impacts U.S. trade.
Single source21Canada-U.S. trade: 70% of exports.
Verified22ITAR regulations oversee 95% exports.
Verified23Civilian market imports rising 10%.
Verified24Czech Republic pistols imported 300,000.
Directional25U.S. shotgun exports to Europe: $150M.
Single source26Global arms trade U.S. share 39%.
Verified2728% of civilian-owned guns imported.
VerifiedExports and Imports Interpretation
While America remains the world's largest small arms supermarket with a healthy trade surplus, the receipts show our neighbors to the north are our best customers, our own shelves are increasingly stocked with foreign brands, and the shopping cart of global politics can quickly lead to some items being removed from the aisle.
Market Trends
1Firearm ownership rate: 32% U.S. adults.
Verified2120 guns per 100 residents in U.S.
Verified3First-time buyers 40% of 2021 sales.
Verified4Women buyers increased to 32% in 2023.
Directional5Youth shooting participation: 10 million.
Single source6Concealed carry permits: 22 million in 2023.
Verified7Home defense top reason for ownership 72%.
Verified8AR-15 ownership: 20 million rifles.
Verified9Suppressors registered: 3.5 million.
Directional10Hunting license holders: 15 million.
Single source11Target shooting most popular activity.
Verified12Urban ownership rising 15% post-2020.
Verified13Black ownership doubled to 24% since 2017.
Verified14Hispanic ownership: 20% of adults.
Directional15Gen Z buyers: 21% of new owners.
Single source16Smart gun interest low: 10%.
Verified17Ammo shortage impacted 70% buyers.
Verified18Range visits: 200 million annually.
Verified19Multi-gun owners: 40% of households.
Directional20Self-defense training demand up 25%.
Single source21Custom gun market: $2 billion.
Verified22Vintage firearms collectibles value up 12%.
Verified23Electric bike gun racks sales surge.
Verified24Red dot sights adoption: 50% handguns.
Directional253D printed gun kits: 10,000 sold online.
Single source26Ghost gun prevalence: 5% of traced firearms.
Verified27Modular firearms popularity: 30% sales.
VerifiedMarket Trends Interpretation
America is clearly arming itself with a purpose, moving beyond tradition into a culture where self-reliance, customization, and diverse personal defense are not just growing but becoming thoroughly mainstream.
Production and Manufacturing
1U.S. firearms production reached 23.4 million units in 2021.
Verified2Pistol production hit 11.5 million in 2021.
Verified3Rifle production totaled 7.0 million firearms in 2021.
Verified4Shotgun production was 1.2 million in 2021.
Directional5Other firearms production reached 3.7 million in 2021.
Single source6Firearms production in 2020 was 22.6 million units.
Verified72022 pistol production was 12.4 million.
Verified8U.S. manufacturers produced 8.3 million rifles in 2022.
Verified9Shotgun output in 2022 was 1.1 million.
Directional10Revolvers production was 474,000 in 2022.
Single source11Firearms production peaked at 27.5 million in 2016.
Verified122019 production totaled 20.4 million firearms.
Verified13Handgun production dominated with 13.7 million in 2020.
Verified14Long gun production was 9.1 million in 2020.
Directional15AR-15 style rifles production estimated at 2.5 million annually.
Single source162018 firearms production was 16.2 million.
Verified17Semi-automatic pistol production leads industry output.
Verified18U.S. frames/receivers produced: 24.3 million in 2021.
Verified192023 preliminary production data shows 16.8 million firearms.
Directional20Polymer frame pistols production surged 20% in 2021.
Single source21Ruger produced over 2 million firearms in 2022.
Verified22Smith & Wesson output: 1.8 million units in FY2023.
Verified23Glock Inc. U.S. production exceeds 1 million annually.
Verified24Remington Arms annual capacity pre-bankruptcy: 2 million.
Directional25Sig Sauer production: 1.2 million firearms in 2022.
Single source26Sturm, Ruger & Co. shipped 1.9 million in 2023.
Verified27Colt's Manufacturing output: 500,000 units yearly average.
Verified28Henry Repeating Arms produces 500,000 firearms annually.
Verified29Barrett Firearms production: 20,000 rifles per year.
Directional30Daniel Defense annual production: 100,000 AR-15s.
Single source31Total U.S. handgun production 2015-2021 averaged 10 million/year.
VerifiedProduction and Manufacturing Interpretation
America's enduring love affair with the handgun continues apace, producing enough pistols each year to ensure that, statistically speaking, someone somewhere is always having a very bad day.
Sales and Revenue
1NICS checks reached 39.7 million in 2021.
Verified2Firearm retail sales estimated at $19 billion in 2021.
Verified3Black Friday 2021 gun sales: 1 million+
Verified42020 saw 21.5 million NICS checks.
Directional5Handgun sales dominate 62% of market in 2022.
Single source6Modern sporting rifle sales: 25 million since 1990.
Verified7GunBroker.com sales volume: $1 billion+ annually.
Verified82022 NICS checks: 28.8 million.
Verified9Firearms industry revenue: $68 billion in 2023.
Directional10Ammo sales revenue: $10 billion in 2021.
Single source11Private sales estimated 40% of total transactions.
Verified12Cyber Monday 2022 gun sales record: 180,000.
Verified13Pistol sales 2021: 13 million estimated.
Verified14Rifle sales surged 50% during 2020 pandemic.
Directional15Sporting goods stores gun sales: $15 billion.
Single source16Online gun sales grew 30% YoY in 2022.
Verified17FFL dealer sales volume: 80% of retail market.
Verified18Holiday season 2023 NICS: 7 million checks.
Verified19Used gun market: $5 billion annually.
Directional20Suppressors sales: 500,000 units in 2022.
Single source21Optics and accessories sales: $4 billion.
Verified22Concealed carry weapon sales peak in 2021.
Verified23Gun show sales estimated $1-2 billion yearly.
Verified242023 projected sales: 20 million firearms.
Directional25Smith & Wesson revenue: $1.1 billion FY2023.
Single source26Vista Outdoor sales: $3 billion in 2023.
Verified27Sturm Ruger revenue: $700 million in 2023.
Verified28Firearms industry supports $70 billion economic output.
VerifiedSales and Revenue Interpretation
Despite the deafening political debate, the only thing louder than the arguments about guns is the unmistakable cha-ching of a uniquely American industry thriving, arming, and accessorizing itself to the tune of tens of billions annually.
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