Think of the 29 million background checks processed in 2022 as the drumbeat of a colossal economic engine, one where U.S. firearms manufacturers are producing millions of units annually to arm a nation where tens of millions of citizens participate in the shooting sports.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 15,469,000 handguns, marking a significant portion of total production
- In 2021, total U.S. commercial firearms production reached 23,471,000 units including pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns
- U.S. pistol production in 2020 hit a record 11,152,000 units amid heightened demand
- December 2022 NICS background checks totaled 2,288,307, the highest monthly figure ever
- Annual NICS checks in 2021 reached 39,196,254 including permit checks
- Handgun background checks via NICS in 2022: 14,343,000
- The firearms industry generated $73.1 billion in total economic activity in 2022
- Firearms industry supported 389,000 full-time jobs in 2022 across manufacturing and retail
- U.S. firearms manufacturing contributed $8.5 billion to GDP in 2022
- U.S. firearms exports in 2022 totaled $1.245 million units valued at $7.1 billion
- Top export destination for U.S. firearms 2022: Canada with 28% of exports
- U.S. firearms imports in 2022: 1.2 million units primarily handguns from Europe
- 32% of American adults own firearms per 2023 Gallup poll
- 44% of U.S. households have firearms in 2021 Pew survey
- 81 million Americans participated in shooting activities 2022
The U.S. firearms industry is a multi-billion dollar economic force with sustained high production and ownership.
Economic Impact
- The firearms industry generated $73.1 billion in total economic activity in 2022
- Firearms industry supported 389,000 full-time jobs in 2022 across manufacturing and retail
- U.S. firearms manufacturing contributed $8.5 billion to GDP in 2022
- Retail sales of firearms and ammunition reached $28 billion in 2022
- Shooting sports industry economic output: $126 billion including ranges and accessories in 2022
- Firearms wholesalers employed 12,000 workers contributing $1.2 billion in wages 2022
- Federal, state, local tax revenue from firearms industry: $13.2 billion in 2022
- Manufacturing sector of firearms: 71,000 jobs with $4.5 billion wages in 2022
- Retail firearms dealers: 270,000 establishments supporting 320,000 jobs in 2022
- Ammunition manufacturing economic impact: $15 billion in output 2022
- Hunting-related economic activity from firearms: $30 billion annually average
- Firearms industry paid $7.8 billion in wages to 389,000 employees in 2022
- Shooting range construction and operations: 10,000 ranges contributing $2.5 billion GDP 2022
- Excise taxes collected on firearms and ammo: $1.3 billion in FY2022
- Firearms retail sales tax revenue to states: $5.6 billion in 2022
- Industry multiplier effect: every $1 in firearms output generates $2.70 in economy 2022
- Target shooting supports 8,400 businesses with $11.7 billion impact 2022
- Firearms industry exports value: $7.1 billion in merchandise 2022
- 50 states each benefit from firearms economic activity averaging $1.5 billion per state 2022
- Accessories and parts market: $6.8 billion in sales 2022
- Firearms manufacturing establishments: 5,800 firms employing thousands 2022
- Total supplier impact: 1,200 companies supplying $12 billion to industry 2022
- Induced economic activity from employee spending: $20 billion in 2022
- Firearms industry GDP contribution growth 12% from 2021 to 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
It seems America has decided that the safest investment is one you can actually fire, as the firearms industry's $73 billion economic impact, 389,000 jobs, and hefty tax contributions prove it’s a loaded sector in more ways than one.
Exports and Trade
- U.S. firearms exports in 2022 totaled $1.245 million units valued at $7.1 billion
- Top export destination for U.S. firearms 2022: Canada with 28% of exports
- U.S. firearms imports in 2022: 1.2 million units primarily handguns from Europe
- Handgun exports from U.S. 2021: 1,040,000 units to 100+ countries
- Rifle exports value 2022: $3.2 billion of total $7.1 billion firearms exports
- U.S. shotgun exports 2022: 320,000 units mainly to Europe and Canada
- Firearms trade surplus 2022: $6.5 billion after imports subtracted
- Mexico received 5% of U.S. firearms exports in 2022 valued at $350 million
- Imports of pistols to U.S. 2020: 950,000 units from Austria and Brazil
- U.S. firearms export growth 15% from 2021 to 2022 reaching record highs
- Australia imported $50 million in U.S. firearms 2022 despite restrictions
- Total U.S. arms exports including firearms: $20.9 billion in FY2022
- Brazil exported 400,000 pistols to U.S. in 2021, top import source
- U.S. revolver exports 2022: 45,000 units niche market
- EU countries imported 25% of U.S. firearms exports 2022
- Import value of firearms to U.S. 2022: $600 million
- Philippines top Asian market for U.S. firearms exports 2022: $200 million
- U.S. rifle imports 2022: 250,000 units mostly sporting rifles
- Export licenses issued by State Dept for firearms: 12,000 in 2022
- Turkey firearms imports to U.S. 2022: 150,000 shotguns
- U.S. firearms exports to UAE 2022: $450 million military and civilian
- Decline in U.S. shotgun imports 2022: 10% from 2021 levels
- Saudi Arabia firearms imports from U.S. 2022: $300 million
- Total commercial firearms imports 2019: 1.1 million units
- U.S. exports of ammunition alongside firearms: $2.5 billion 2022
Exports and Trade Interpretation
While America's domestic gun debate rages, it's quietly running a booming global export business that sent over a million handguns abroad and netted a $6.5 billion surplus, proving that when it comes to firearms, the world's biggest arms dealer also likes to shop local—with a side of Austrian and Brazilian pistols.
Ownership and Usage Trends
- 32% of American adults own firearms per 2023 Gallup poll
- 44% of U.S. households have firearms in 2021 Pew survey
- 81 million Americans participated in shooting activities 2022
- Target shooting most popular with 52 million participants annually
- Hunting firearms usage: 16.5 million hunters in 2022 season
- Female gun ownership rose to 32% of women in 2021
- 40 million new shooters since 2007 per NSSF
- Concealed carry permits: 21.5 million active nationwide 2022
- Black gun ownership doubled to 24% from 2016 per 2021 Gallup
- Urban ownership 19%, suburban 30%, rural 46% per Pew 2021
- Self-defense cited by 72% of owners as reason per 2021 Pew
- 11,000 shooting ranges operate in U.S. serving 100 million visits yearly
- Youth shooting participation: 3 million under 18 annually
- Handguns preferred by 48% of owners, rifles 32%, shotguns 20% per Gallup 2023
- States with constitutional carry: 27 states covering 42% population 2023
- Veteran ownership 58% per 2021 data
- First-time buyers 40% of 2020 sales per NSSF survey
- Women first-time buyers 40% in 2021 up from 28%
- AR-15 style rifles owned by 19.8 million Americans 2022
- Safe storage practiced by 65% of owners per 2021 RAND study
- Ownership highest in South 45% vs Northeast 20% per Pew
- 5 million women hold concealed carry permits 2022
Ownership and Usage Trends Interpretation
The statistics paint a picture of an America where millions have not only embraced the Second Amendment but have woven shooting sports into the national fabric, with a growing and increasingly diverse chorus of citizens quietly citing self-defense as their primary refrain.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 15,469,000 handguns, marking a significant portion of total production
- In 2021, total U.S. commercial firearms production reached 23,471,000 units including pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns
- U.S. pistol production in 2020 hit a record 11,152,000 units amid heightened demand
- In 2019, rifles accounted for 7,953,000 units of the 13,885,000 total firearms produced commercially in the U.S.
- Shotgun production in the U.S. totaled 1,962,000 units in 2022, down from previous peaks
- Revolvers manufactured in the U.S. numbered 368,000 in 2022, representing a niche segment
- In 2022, firearms production for export reached 1,245,000 units from U.S. manufacturers
- Total U.S. firearms production in 2016 surged to 13,404,000 units driven by election-year demand
- Handguns dominated 2022 production with 78% of total commercial output at over 15 million units
- Rifle production in 2021 reached 8,464,000 units, a record high for the category
- U.S. manufacturers produced 2,426,000 shotguns in 2021 amid sporting demand
- In 2018, total firearms production was 11,124,000 units with pistols leading at 6,338,000
- Export production of rifles from U.S. in 2022 was 712,000 units
- 2020 saw 1,142,000 revolvers produced domestically, up sharply from prior years
- Firearms frames and receivers produced for sale in 2022 totaled 1,057,000 units
- In 2023 preliminary data shows U.S. handgun production exceeding 10 million units in first half
- Long gun production in 2022 was 5,135,000 units including rifles and shotguns
- U.S. production of semi-automatic pistols reached 12.5 million in 2021
- In 2017, total production was 12,151,000 with rifles at 5,954,000 units
- Shotgun production peaked at 2.9 million in 2017 before declining
- 2022 handgun export production was 533,000 units from U.S. firms
- Domestic rifle production in 2019 was 7,641,000 excluding exports
- U.S. revolver production in 2021 was 443,000 units
- Total 2020 production hit 22.3 million adjusted for estimates
- Frames/receivers for pistols in 2022 production: 850,000 units
- 2015 saw 9.6 million firearms produced commercially
- Long gun production in 2020 exceeded 10 million units
- Pistol production in 2016 was 5,503,000 units
- Export shotguns from U.S. in 2021: 112,000 units
- Total commercial production 2022: 20,996,000 firearms
Production Statistics Interpretation
While Americans were busy debating the Second Amendment, U.S. firearms manufacturers were busy with a far more literal interpretation, producing handguns at a rate so prolific you'd think the right to bear arms came with a subscription service.
Sales and Background Checks
- December 2022 NICS background checks totaled 2,288,307, the highest monthly figure ever
- Annual NICS checks in 2021 reached 39,196,254 including permit checks
- Handgun background checks via NICS in 2022: 14,343,000
- 2023 year-to-date NICS checks through October: 25,635,000
- Long gun NICS checks in 2020 peaked at 15,634,000 amid pandemic
- January 2021 saw 4,957,392 NICS checks, record for any month
- Total NICS checks since 1998 exceed 500 million as of 2023
- 2022 handgun purchase percentage of NICS: 59% of total checks
- NICS checks for rifles in 2021: 10,200,000 approximate
- Permit/license NICS checks in 2022: 7,205,000
- Private sale exemptions not captured in NICS but estimated 20-40% of transfers
- November 2022 NICS checks: 2,299,986 driven by elections
- Total 2019 NICS checks: 28,345,000
- Handgun checks December 2020: 2,120,000
- NICS denials in 2022: 1,102 total with 98% felons/mental health
- 2023 March NICS checks: 2,131,000
- Long gun checks 2023 YTD: 8,450,000 through October
- NICS checks excluding permits 2022: 20,891,000
- 2018 NICS total: 26,240,000 checks
- Multiple handgun sales reported via NICS 2022: over 1 million instances
- NICS checks for other firearms 2021: 1,500,000
- Peak daily NICS checks June 2022: over 100,000 per day average
- State with most NICS checks 2022: Texas with 1,750,000
- California NICS checks 2022: 1,620,000
- Florida NICS 2022: 1,450,000 checks
- NICS checks rose 50% from 2019 to 2020 totaling 39.7 million
- 2022 NICS checks topped 29 million excluding permits
Sales and Background Checks Interpretation
While the debate over gun rights rages on, the nation's background check system is quietly, relentlessly, and to record-breaking levels, processing America's profound and complicated relationship with firearms.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ATFatf.govVisit source
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- Reference 3FBIfbi.govVisit source
- Reference 4FWSfws.govVisit source
- Reference 5STATEstate.govVisit source
- Reference 6BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 7DSCAdsca.milVisit source
- Reference 8PMDDTCpmddtc.state.govVisit source
- Reference 9NEWSnews.gallup.comVisit source
- Reference 10PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 11USCONCEALEDCARRYusconcealedcarry.comVisit source
- Reference 12RANDrand.orgVisit source