The firearms industry generated $73.1 billion in total economic activity in 2022 and supported 389,000 full-time jobs across manufacturing and retail. It also paid $7.8 billion in wages to that workforce. Ownership, production, and background checks move on different timelines, from 21.5 million active concealed carry permits to monthly NICS checks that reached 2.29 million in late 2022.
Key Takeaways
- The firearms industry generated $73.1 billion in total economic activity in 2022
- U.S. firearms exports in 2022 totaled $1.245 million units valued at $7.1 billion
- 32% of American adults own firearms per 2023 Gallup poll
- In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 15,469,000 handguns, marking a significant portion of total production
- December 2022 NICS background checks totaled 2,288,307, the highest monthly figure ever
US firearms industry statistics show strong demand for sales, production, and ongoing market growth.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Impact24 stats
01
The firearms industry generated $73.1 billion in total economic activity in 2022
02
Firearms industry supported 389,000 full-time jobs in 2022 across manufacturing and retail
03
U.S. firearms manufacturing contributed $8.5 billion to GDP in 2022
04
Retail sales of firearms and ammunition reached $28 billion in 2022
05
Shooting sports industry economic output: $126 billion including ranges and accessories in 2022
06
Firearms wholesalers employed 12,000 workers contributing $1.2 billion in wages 2022
07
Federal, state, local tax revenue from firearms industry: $13.2 billion in 2022
08
Manufacturing sector of firearms: 71,000 jobs with $4.5 billion wages in 2022
09
Retail firearms dealers: 270,000 establishments supporting 320,000 jobs in 2022
10
Ammunition manufacturing economic impact: $15 billion in output 2022
11
Hunting-related economic activity from firearms: $30 billion annually average
12
Firearms industry paid $7.8 billion in wages to 389,000 employees in 2022
13
Shooting range construction and operations: 10,000 ranges contributing $2.5 billion GDP 2022
14
Excise taxes collected on firearms and ammo: $1.3 billion in FY2022
15
Firearms retail sales tax revenue to states: $5.6 billion in 2022
16
Industry multiplier effect: every $1in firearms output generates $2.70 in economy 2022
17
Target shooting supports 8,400 businesses with $11.7 billion impact 2022
18
Firearms industry exports value: $7.1 billion in merchandise 2022
19
50 states each benefit from firearms economic activity averaging $1.5 billion per state 2022
20
Accessories and parts market: $6.8 billion in sales 2022
21
Firearms manufacturing establishments: 5,800 firms employing thousands 2022
22
Total supplier impact: 1,200 companies supplying $12 billion to industry 2022
23
Induced economic activity from employee spending: $20 billion in 2022
24
Firearms industry GDP contribution growth 12% from 2021 to 2022
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Exports and Trade25 stats
01
U.S. firearms exports in 2022 totaled $1.245 million units valued at $7.1 billion
02
Top export destination for U.S. firearms 2022: Canada with 28% of exports
03
U.S. firearms imports in 2022: 1.2 million units primarily handguns from Europe
04
Handgun exports from U.S. 2021: 1,040,000 units to 100+ countries
05
Rifle exports value 2022: $3.2 billion of total $7.1 billion firearms exports
06
U.S. shotgun exports 2022: 320,000 units mainly to Europe and Canada
07
Firearms trade surplus 2022: $6.5 billion after imports subtracted
08
Mexico received 5% of U.S. firearms exports in 2022 valued at $350 million
09
Imports of pistols to U.S. 2020: 950,000 units from Austria and Brazil
10
U.S. firearms export growth 15% from 2021 to 2022 reaching record highs
11
Australia imported $50 million in U.S. firearms 2022 despite restrictions
12
Total U.S. arms exports including firearms: $20.9 billion in FY2022
13
Brazil exported 400,000 pistols to U.S. in 2021, top import source
14
U.S. revolver exports 2022: 45,000 units niche market
15
EU countries imported 25% of U.S. firearms exports 2022
16
Import value of firearms to U.S. 2022: $600 million
17
Philippines top Asian market for U.S. firearms exports 2022: $200 million
18
U.S. rifle imports 2022: 250,000 units mostly sporting rifles
19
Export licenses issued by State Dept for firearms: 12,000 in 2022
20
Turkey firearms imports to U.S. 2022: 150,000 shotguns
21
U.S. firearms exports to UAE 2022: $450 million military and civilian
22
Decline in U.S. shotgun imports 2022: 10% from 2021 levels
23
Saudi Arabia firearms imports from U.S. 2022: $300 million
24
Total commercial firearms imports 2019: 1.1 million units
25
U.S. exports of ammunition alongside firearms: $2.5 billion 2022
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Ownership and Usage Trends22 stats
01
32% of American adults own firearms per 2023 Gallup poll
02
44% of U.S. households have firearms in 2021 Pew survey
03
81 million Americans participated in shooting activities 2022
04
Target shooting most popular with 52 million participants annually
05
Hunting firearms usage: 16.5 million hunters in 2022 season
06
Female gun ownership rose to 32% of women in 2021
07
40 million new shooters since 2007 per NSSF
08
Concealed carry permits: 21.5 million active nationwide 2022
09
Black gun ownership doubled to 24% from 2016 per 2021 Gallup
10
Urban ownership 19%, suburban 30%, rural 46% per Pew 2021
11
Self-defense cited by 72% of owners as reason per 2021 Pew
12
11,000 shooting ranges operate in U.S. serving 100 million visits yearly
13
Youth shooting participation: 3 million under 18 annually
14
Handguns preferred by 48% of owners, rifles 32%, shotguns 20% per Gallup 2023
15
States with constitutional carry: 27 states covering 42% population 2023
16
Veteran ownership 58% per 2021 data
17
First-time buyers 40% of 2020 sales per NSSF survey
18
Women first-time buyers 40% in 2021 up from 28%
19
AR-15 style rifles owned by 19.8 million Americans 2022
20
Safe storage practiced by 65% of owners per 2021 RAND study
21
Ownership highest in South 45% vs Northeast 20% per Pew
22
5 million women hold concealed carry permits 2022
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, U.S. firearms manufacturers produced 15,469,000 handguns, marking a significant portion of total production
02
In 2021, total U.S. commercial firearms production reached 23,471,000 units including pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns
03
U.S. pistol production in 2020 hit a record 11,152,000 units amid heightened demand
04
In 2019, rifles accounted for 7,953,000 units of the 13,885,000 total firearms produced commercially in the U.S.
05
Shotgun production in the U.S. totaled 1,962,000 units in 2022, down from previous peaks
06
Revolvers manufactured in the U.S. numbered 368,000 in 2022, representing a niche segment
07
In 2022, firearms production for export reached 1,245,000 units from U.S. manufacturers
08
Total U.S. firearms production in 2016 surged to 13,404,000 units driven by election-year demand
09
Handguns dominated 2022 production with 78% of total commercial output at over 15 million units
10
Rifle production in 2021 reached 8,464,000 units, a record high for the category
11
U.S. manufacturers produced 2,426,000 shotguns in 2021 amid sporting demand
12
In 2018, total firearms production was 11,124,000 units with pistols leading at 6,338,000
13
Export production of rifles from U.S. in 2022 was 712,000 units
14
2020 saw 1,142,000 revolvers produced domestically, up sharply from prior years
15
Firearms frames and receivers produced for sale in 2022 totaled 1,057,000 units
16
In 2023 preliminary data shows U.S. handgun production exceeding 10 million units in first half
17
Long gun production in 2022 was 5,135,000 units including rifles and shotguns
18
U.S. production of semi-automatic pistols reached 12.5 million in 2021
19
In 2017, total production was 12,151,000 with rifles at 5,954,000 units
20
Shotgun production peaked at 2.9 million in 2017 before declining
21
2022 handgun export production was 533,000 units from U.S. firms
22
Domestic rifle production in 2019 was 7,641,000 excluding exports
23
U.S. revolver production in 2021 was 443,000 units
24
Total 2020 production hit 22.3 million adjusted for estimates
25
Frames/receivers for pistols in 2022 production: 850,000 units
26
2015 saw 9.6 million firearms produced commercially
27
Long gun production in 2020 exceeded 10 million units
28
Pistol production in 2016 was 5,503,000 units
29
Export shotguns from U.S. in 2021: 112,000 units
30
Total commercial production 2022: 20,996,000 firearms
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Sales and Background Checks27 stats
01
December 2022 NICS background checks totaled 2,288,307, the highest monthly figure ever
02
Annual NICS checks in 2021 reached 39,196,254 including permit checks
03
Handgun background checks via NICS in 2022: 14,343,000
04
2023 year-to-date NICS checks through October: 25,635,000
05
Long gun NICS checks in 2020 peaked at 15,634,000 amid pandemic
06
January 2021 saw 4,957,392 NICS checks, record for any month
07
Total NICS checks since 1998 exceed 500 million as of 2023
08
2022 handgun purchase percentage of NICS: 59% of total checks
09
NICS checks for rifles in 2021: 10,200,000 approximate
10
Permit/license NICS checks in 2022: 7,205,000
11
Private sale exemptions not captured in NICS but estimated 20-40% of transfers
12
November 2022 NICS checks: 2,299,986 driven by elections
13
Total 2019 NICS checks: 28,345,000
14
Handgun checks December 2020: 2,120,000
15
NICS denials in 2022: 1,102 total with 98% felons/mental health
16
2023 March NICS checks: 2,131,000
17
Long gun checks 2023 YTD: 8,450,000 through October
18
NICS checks excluding permits 2022: 20,891,000
19
2018 NICS total: 26,240,000 checks
20
Multiple handgun sales reported via NICS 2022: over 1 million instances
21
NICS checks for other firearms 2021: 1,500,000
22
Peak daily NICS checks June 2022: over 100,000 per day average
23
State with most NICS checks 2022: Texas with 1,750,000
24
California NICS checks 2022: 1,620,000
25
Florida NICS 2022: 1,450,000 checks
26
NICS checks rose 50% from 2019 to 2020 totaling 39.7 million
27
2022 NICS checks topped 29 million excluding permits
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Us Firearms Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-firearms-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Us Firearms Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/us-firearms-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Us Firearms Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-firearms-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
12 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level