Highest Gun Ownership in Southeast Asia, 2024

According to CEOWORLD Magazine’s 2024 rankings, Thailand stands out as the Southeast Asian country with the highest rate of gun ownership. The report, which covers 217 countries, provides a comprehensive look at firearm possession worldwide and highlights significant disparities in gun ownership across different regions.

Southeast Asia’s Gun Ownership Rates

• Thailand: With a rate of 15.1 guns per 100 people, Thailand has the highest gun ownership in Southeast Asia. This relatively high rate reflects a more widespread presence of firearms among its population.

• Cambodia: Cambodia follows with 4.5 guns per 100 people. While lower than Thailand, this rate indicates a notable level of civilian gun ownership.

• Philippines: The Philippines has a gun ownership rate of 3.6 guns per 100 people, positioning it third in the region.

• Laos: Laos reports 3 guns per 100 people, showing moderate civilian gun presence.

• Myanmar: Myanmar’s rate is 1.6 guns per 100 people, reflecting lower levels of civilian gun ownership.

• Viet Nam: With 1.6 guns per 100 people, Vietnam’s rate is similar to Myanmar’s, indicating relatively low gun ownership.

• Brunei Darussalam: Brunei Darussalam has a low gun ownership rate of 1.4 guns per 100 people.

• Malaysia: Malaysia has one of the lowest rates in the region, with just 0.3 guns per 100 people.

• Singapore: Singapore reports the lowest rate in the region with 0.3 guns per 100 people, reflecting its strict gun control laws.

• Timor-Leste: Timor-Leste also has a low rate of 0.3 guns per 100 people.

• Indonesia: Indonesia has the lowest rate in the region, with 0 guns per 100 people. While not completely banning civilian gun ownership, firearms are predominantly handled by the police, and obtaining one involves a rigorous background check.

Global Context

In the global context, the United States leads by a significant margin with 120.5 guns per 100 people, indicating a higher number of civilian guns than people. Conversely, countries like China, India, Japan, and Singapore enforce strict gun control measures, resulting in very low civilian gun ownership rates.

Taiwan and Indonesia also have extremely low gun ownership rates. While Indonesia does not have a complete ban on civilian guns, firearms are primarily handled by the police, and obtaining one requires a thorough background check.

Summary

The 2024 rankings from CEOWORLD Magazine underscore the wide variation in gun ownership rates across Southeast Asia. Thailand’s position as the country with the highest gun ownership in the region contrasts sharply with the significantly lower rates in Singapore, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia. This variation highlights the diverse approaches to firearm regulation and ownership within the region and provides insight into the broader global landscape of gun ownership.