Civilians can legally own firearms in most countries where guns are legal, though the path to ownership varies enormously. Roughly 857 million firearms sit in civilian hands across more than 230 countries and territories, and only about two dozen nations ban private ownership outright. Three countries treat gun ownership as a constitutional right. Many others run structured licensing systems that produce high ownership rates. A third group technically permits ownership but imposes so many hurdles that legal guns are rare in daily life.
The Three Countries With a Constitutional Right
Only the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala embed the right to bear arms directly in their constitutions. A constitutional guarantee carries more weight than an ordinary statute because it cannot be repealed by a simple legislative vote, and any restricting law must survive heightened judicial review.
United States
The Second Amendment states that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”1Congress.gov. U.S. Constitution – Second Amendment In 2008, the Supreme Court confirmed in District of Columbia v. Heller that this protects an individual right to possess a firearm for traditionally lawful purposes such as self-defense in the home, independent of any connection to militia service.2Cornell Law Institute. U.S. Constitution – Second Amendment Federal law still restricts who can own firearms. Under 18 U.S.C. ยง 922(g), prohibited persons include anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, fugitives, unlawful users of controlled substances, anyone who has been involuntarily committed to a mental institution, individuals subject to certain domestic-violence restraining orders, and those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offenses.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts Outside those federal prohibitions, most of the country operates on a shall-issue basis for carry permits, meaning the government must approve an applicant who meets the statutory criteria.
Mexico
Article 10 of Mexico’s constitution grants inhabitants the right to possess arms in their homes for security and legitimate defense, with exceptions for weapons reserved for the armed forces. The practical reality is far more restrictive than the text suggests. The Federal Law of Firearms and Explosives limits handgun calibers to .380 or smaller (excluding several popular calibers such as 9mm and .357 magnum), caps rifles at .30 caliber, and restricts shotguns to 12-gauge or smaller. There is only one legal firearms retailer in the entire country, a military-operated store in Mexico City. Applicants must visit a military base to begin the process, and the military has up to 50 days to approve or reject the application. Every firearm must be registered with the Secretariat of National Defense within 30 days of purchase, and military police periodically inspect gun owners to verify proper storage.4Law Library of Congress. Mexico – Firearms Laws
Guatemala
Article 38 of Guatemala’s constitution recognizes the right to own firearms for personal defense in one’s place of residence and states that no one is obliged to surrender them except by order of a competent judge.5Constitute. Guatemala 1985 Constitution The Law on Arms and Ammunition requires registration with the Department of Arms and Ammunition Control and regulates the types of weapons civilians can possess. The government retains authority to set caliber limits, storage rules, and licensing conditions through ordinary law.
European Countries With Permissive Licensing
Several European countries maintain ownership rates that rival or exceed many U.S. states despite lacking a constitutional right to arms. Their licensing systems are structured but designed to approve qualified applicants rather than discourage them.
Switzerland
An estimated 27 to 28 firearms exist for every 100 Swiss residents, a rate rooted in the country’s centuries-old militia tradition. The Swiss Weapons Act divides firearms into three tiers. Manually operated rifles for hunting, blank-firing guns, and paintball markers fall into the “declaration” category, where buyer and seller simply complete a written contract and submit it to the cantonal weapons office within 30 days. Pistols, revolvers, and semi-automatic rifles with small magazines require an acquisition permit issued by the cantonal office after an application and identity verification. Banned weapons, including semi-automatic firearms with large-capacity magazines and fully automatic guns, can only be obtained by sport shooters or collectors who secure an exemption permit.6ch.ch. Owning a Weapon in Switzerland Swiss soldiers have traditionally stored their service rifles at home and, after completing military service, can apply to purchase the weapon, though automatic fire capability must be removed.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic amended its Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms to guarantee “the right to defend one’s own life or the life of another person with a weapon” under conditions set by law. The country uses a shall-issue licensing system in which police must grant a concealed-carry permit to any applicant who passes a proficiency exam (conducted only in Czech), clears a medical examination, and has no disqualifying criminal record. That makes it one of the most accessible environments for legal self-defense carry in Europe.
Austria
Austria’s tiered system offers relatively easy access to certain long guns while applying tighter controls to handguns. Category C firearms, which include most manually operated rifles and shotguns, can be purchased by any eligible person over 18 after a three-day background check, with no separate permit required. Registration is mandatory, and the owner must state a reason for the purchase, but the accepted reasons are broadly defined and include self-defense at home, hunting, sport shooting, and collecting. Category B firearms, covering handguns, repeating shotguns, and semi-automatic rifles, require a formal firearm license. Applicants must be at least 21, provide a recognized justification, and the license limits each holder to two handguns.
Finland
Finland has roughly 1.5 million licensed firearms among its 460,000 licence holders, driven largely by a deep hunting culture. Permits are issued by local police departments, and the country consistently ranks among the top ten for per-capita ownership.7Ministry of the Interior, Finland. Firearms
Other Countries With Significant Legal Ownership
Beyond Europe and North America, several countries operate substantial licensing regimes that produce sizable civilian arsenals. The regulatory approaches vary sharply.
Canada
Canadian firearms law is governed by the Firearms Act and Part III of the Criminal Code. Firearms fall into three classes: non-restricted (most ordinary rifles and shotguns), restricted (primarily handguns and certain semi-automatic rifles), and prohibited (converted automatics, sawed-off weapons, and similar categories).8Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Firearms Anyone who wants to possess a firearm must hold a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence, which requires passing a safety course, clearing a background check, and observing a waiting period. Restricted firearms must also be individually registered. Canada’s estimated ownership rate is around 35 firearms per 100 residents, placing it among the top five globally.
Israel
Israel’s licensing system ties closely to national service. A citizen or permanent resident who completed compulsory military service can apply for a personal firearm license starting at age 18. Someone who completed two years of national service must wait until 21, while a citizen who did neither cannot apply until age 27. Permanent residents without citizenship who have not served must wait until 45. Beyond age, applicants must demonstrate basic Hebrew proficiency, submit a health declaration from a physician, and complete both a theoretical exam and practical shooting test. Eligibility also depends on either living or working in a location designated by police, holding certain military or police ranks, or belonging to specific professional categories such as licensed tour guides, active farmers, or security officers.9Government of Israel. Firearm Licensing in Israel
Brazil
Brazil’s Disarmament Statute of 2003 sets one of the highest minimum ages in the world: you must be at least 25 to purchase a firearm, with exceptions for military and law enforcement. Applicants must declare a need for the weapon, present criminal clearance certificates from federal, state, military, and electoral courts, prove legal employment and a fixed residence, and pass both a technical competency test and a psychological evaluation.10United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Statute of Disarmament Penalties for violations are steep. Irregular ownership of a legal firearm carries one to three years of imprisonment, while possessing a restricted-use weapon without authorization brings three to six years. The statute has been politically contested, with successive administrations loosening and then tightening regulations by executive decree.
Pakistan and Yemen
Pakistan operates under the Arms Ordinance of 1965, which requires government-issued licenses for possessing, carrying, or selling any firearm. Penalties for unlicensed possession of a standard weapon can reach seven years of imprisonment, and possession of automatic weapons or cannons without a license carries a mandatory minimum of three to seven years depending on the offense.11Government of Pakistan. The Pakistan Arms Ordinance 1965 Yemen, which has the second-highest per-capita ownership rate on the planet, passed its Law on Carrying Firearms and their Trade in 1992, though enforcement has been limited by decades of political instability.
What It Typically Takes to Qualify
Rules change from one jurisdiction to the next, but most countries that allow civilian ownership share a core set of eligibility requirements.
Age
The minimum age for purchasing a firearm is almost universally 18 for long guns, with handguns and concealed-carry permits often requiring the applicant to be 21 or older. Brazil’s minimum of 25 for all firearms is an outlier.10United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Statute of Disarmament Israel’s system is more nuanced, tying age eligibility to military or national service history, with the minimum ranging from 18 to 45.9Government of Israel. Firearm Licensing in Israel
Criminal Record
Nearly every regulated country uses a centralized criminal records check to screen applicants. What disqualifies someone differs. Under U.S. federal law, prohibited categories include felony convictions, fugitive status, drug addiction, involuntary mental health commitment, dishonorable military discharge, and domestic violence convictions or restraining orders.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts Brazil requires clearance certificates from four separate court systems: federal, state, military, and electoral.10United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Statute of Disarmament In most European countries, any violent conviction or history of domestic abuse triggers a permanent or long-term ban.
Medical and Competency Screening
A growing number of countries require applicants to submit a health declaration or a certificate from a licensed physician confirming they do not have a condition that impairs judgment or impulse control. Brazil and Israel both mandate medical evaluations. The Czech Republic requires a medical exam as one of three core prerequisites alongside the criminal check and the proficiency exam. In the United States, federal law prohibits possession by anyone “adjudicated as a mental defective” or committed to a mental institution, though the screening happens through the background check rather than a separate medical evaluation.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts
A Stated Reason
Many countries outside the United States require applicants to explain why they want a firearm. Commonly accepted reasons include sport shooting, hunting with a valid license, collecting, and documented self-defense needs. In shall-issue systems like the Czech Republic and Austria, stating an accepted reason is essentially a formality because authorities must approve the application if the criteria are met. In may-issue systems, the licensing authority retains discretion to deny even a technically qualifying applicant based on its own assessment of whether the stated need is sufficient. This distinction is where the most meaningful difference in global gun access lies, because the same set of rules can produce very different outcomes depending on how much power the approving official has.
Non-Citizens
Foreign nationals face additional hurdles almost everywhere. In the United States, federal law generally prohibits anyone admitted on a nonimmigrant visa from possessing firearms or ammunition. Exceptions exist for those who have established state residency, entered without a visa through the Visa Waiver Program, or obtained a waiver from the ATF. A nonimmigrant without state residency can purchase a firearm only if the dealer arranges for it to be directly exported out of the country.12Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Firearms Questions and Answers In Switzerland, foreign nationals without a settlement permit need an acquisition permit even for weapons that Swiss citizens can buy with just a written contract.6ch.ch. Owning a Weapon in Switzerland
Ongoing Obligations After You’re Licensed
A license is not the end of the process. Most jurisdictions require firearms to be stored in a locked steel safe or heavy-duty cabinet with ammunition kept separately, and Mexico’s military police conduct periodic inspections to verify compliance.4Law Library of Congress. Mexico – Firearms Laws Licenses themselves are rarely permanent. Renewal cycles of three to ten years are common, and renewals typically require a fresh background check, updated medical documentation, and sometimes proof of continued activity such as an active shooting club membership or a valid hunting license. If an owner misses the renewal window, the license lapses and the firearms must be surrendered, transferred to another licensed person, or destroyed.
Countries Where Guns Are Banned or Nearly Banned
Roughly two dozen countries either prohibit civilian firearm ownership entirely or restrict it so severely that almost no one qualifies. Outright bans exist in North Korea, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Eritrea, along with several small island nations such as the Maldives, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands. A second tier including Japan, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam technically allows some civilian ownership but issues so few licenses that legal guns are essentially nonexistent in daily life.
Some countries have moved into the restrictive column after specific events. New Zealand, which previously had high ownership rates, banned military-style semi-automatic weapons and large-capacity magazines in 2019 following the Christchurch mosque shootings, and the government implemented a buyback program to compensate owners whose previously legal firearms were now prohibited.13Firearms Safety Authority New Zealand. 2019 Firearms Law Changes Legal landscapes can shift quickly in countries where gun ownership is treated as a privilege rather than a right.
Legal at Home Does Not Mean Legal Abroad
Being a lawful owner in your home country does not authorize you to carry a firearm across a border. Every international trip with a gun involves at least two separate legal systems, and violations can result in years of imprisonment abroad. U.S. residents leaving the country with a firearm must obtain an export license from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls or the Bureau of Industry and Security, or qualify for an exemption, and are generally advised to register the weapon on a CBP Certificate of Registration (Form 4457) before departure so they can bring it back without complications.14U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Permanently Exporting a Firearm
Within Europe, hunters and sport shooters can travel between EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland using a European Firearms Pass, but the pass does not override destination-country rules. The UN Firearms Protocol, adopted by parties worldwide, requires participating countries to issue import and export authorizations and to maintain firearm records for at least ten years to support tracing efforts.15United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Firearms Protocol Before any international trip with a firearm, check the laws of every country you will enter, including layover countries.