The top gun owning states are not simply the states with the most people or the largest retail firearm markets. Texas, for example, appears in World Population Review’s 2026 table with 1,006,555 gun ownership licenses, the largest license count shown, but its household gun ownership rate is 45.7%, placing it outside the top 20 by percentage. This ranking focuses on the share of households that own guns, which is the better measure for comparing gun culture across states with very different populations.

The primary ranking below uses World Population Review’s 2026 gun ownership table, which lists each state’s percentage of households that own guns and 2022 gun ownership license counts. We also cross-check historical context with RAND’s Gun Ownership in America project, which estimates the average proportion of adults living in a household with a firearm from 2007 to 2016. The result is a practical list for readers comparing firearm ownership patterns, FFL market demand, firearms merchant account risk, and state-level credit card processing opportunities for gun stores.

Our Top 20 Gun Owning States

1. Montana — 66.3% household gun ownership

Montana ranks first in World Population Review’s 2026 table, with 66.3% of households owning guns and 36,678 gun ownership licenses listed for 2022. RAND’s long-run estimate also places Montana at the top tier, showing an average household firearm ownership rate of 64% from 2007 to 2016.

Montana’s lead is narrow but meaningful: it is only 0.1 percentage point above Wyoming in the World Population Review data. For firearm retailers and FFL eCommerce businesses, Montana represents a high-participation market where hunting, sport shooting, personal protection, and rural household ownership overlap, which is why firearms credit card processing and compliant FFL payment gateway planning matter for merchants serving the state.

2. Wyoming — 66.2% household gun ownership

Wyoming is nearly tied with Montana, at 66.2% household gun ownership in World Population Review’s 2026 table, and it shows 142,247 gun ownership licenses for 2022. The license count is almost four times Montana’s listed count despite a nearly identical ownership percentage, which illustrates why rate and license volume should be read separately.

RAND estimates Wyoming’s 2007–2016 average household firearm ownership at 59%, keeping it in the 50–59% band historically and just below its newer World Population Review figure. For gun shops, sporting goods dealers, and range operators, Wyoming’s market is small in population but unusually dense in firearm-owning households, a profile that can support local retail, ammunition sales, training services, and firearms-friendly credit card processing relationships.

3. Alaska — 64.5% household gun ownership

Alaska ranks third, with 64.5% of households owning guns and 28,237 gun ownership licenses listed in World Population Review’s 2026 data. RAND’s older average is 59%, matching Wyoming’s historical band and confirming that Alaska has been a high-ownership state across multiple measurement periods.

Alaska’s ownership rate fits its geography: remote communities, subsistence hunting, predator defense, and outdoor recreation all influence firearm demand. The state’s combination of high ownership and logistical complexity affects firearm retailers differently than lower-48 states; inventory, shipping rules, ammunition availability, and card-not-present payments for accessories can all shape how an FFL merchant account is structured.

4. Idaho — 60.1% household gun ownership

Idaho is the fourth state above the 60% mark in the World Population Review 2026 table, with 60.1% household gun ownership and 76,425 gun ownership licenses listed for 2022. RAND’s historical estimate for Idaho is 53%, which still puts it solidly inside the 50–59% ownership band.

The gap between RAND’s 53% average and World Population Review’s 60.1% figure shows why readers should pay attention to year, methodology, and definitions. Idaho is also a relevant state for FFL dealers evaluating firearms payment processing because a majority-household ownership environment can support recurring demand for ammunition, optics, parts, gunsmithing, and range-related transactions.

5. West Virginia — 58.5% household gun ownership

West Virginia ranks fifth, with 58.5% household gun ownership and 50,963 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 table. RAND’s 2007–2016 average is 58%, almost identical to the newer figure, making West Virginia one of the most consistent high-ownership states across the two data sources.

That consistency matters because some state rankings change when a source uses survey estimates, license records, or household proxies. West Virginia’s data suggests a stable firearm-owning culture rather than a one-year spike. For local gun stores, pawn shops with FFL licenses, and outdoor retailers, the state’s ownership profile supports steady demand while still requiring compliant high-risk credit card processing for firearms-related transactions.

6. Arkansas — 57.2% household gun ownership

Arkansas ranks sixth, with 57.2% of households owning guns and 133,981 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 data. RAND’s historical estimate is 50%, placing Arkansas at the bottom of the 50–59% band over the 2007–2016 period.

Arkansas is one of the first Southern states in the ranking, and World Population Review notes that the South has the highest regional share of gun owners, about 36% according to Pew Research Center data cited on the page. For merchants, Arkansas’ combination of rural households, hunting participation, and self-defense purchasing creates demand across brick-and-mortar sales, firearms training, accessories, and compliant gun-friendly payment processing.

7. Mississippi — 55.8% household gun ownership

Mississippi ranks seventh, at 55.8% household gun ownership with 80,712 gun ownership licenses listed for 2022. RAND’s 2007–2016 average is 50%, which is slightly lower than World Population Review’s newer figure but still indicates majority-level firearm presence in households.

Mississippi’s rank reinforces the broader Southern pattern in the data. The state’s firearm market is not defined only by new gun sales; it also includes ammunition, holsters, safes, concealed-carry training, cleaning supplies, and hunting equipment. Those adjacent categories can still be scrutinized by banks and processors when the merchant is an FFL dealer or clearly operates in the firearms vertical.

8. Alabama — 55.5% household gun ownership

Alabama appears eighth, with 55.5% household gun ownership and 194,920 gun ownership licenses in the World Population Review 2026 table. RAND lists Alabama’s historical average at 50%, again showing that Alabama has remained in the high-ownership group across multiple data windows.

Alabama’s license count is higher than several states above it on the percentage ranking, including Montana, Alaska, Idaho, West Virginia, and Mississippi. That makes Alabama important for firearm retail analysis because it combines a high household ownership rate with a sizable license base, a useful signal for FFL credit card processing demand, local gun store competition, and accessories markets.

9. South Dakota — 55.3% household gun ownership

South Dakota ranks ninth, with 55.3% household gun ownership and 64,666 gun ownership licenses listed by World Population Review for 2022. RAND’s historical average is 52%, keeping South Dakota near its current ranking tier even when measured across 2007–2016.

South Dakota’s high rate fits a broader Plains-state pattern that also includes North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. For retailers, that pattern matters because firearm demand often extends into seasonal hunting, ranch use, sport shooting, gun safes, and ammunition purchases. Payment providers reviewing a firearms merchant account will usually look beyond state culture and examine product mix, compliance controls, refund practices, and card-not-present volume.

10. North Dakota — 55.1% household gun ownership

North Dakota rounds out the top 10 at 55.1% household gun ownership, with 30,975 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 table. RAND’s 2007–2016 estimate is also 55%, one of the closest matches between the two sources.

The state’s high household ownership rate and comparatively modest license count reflect population size more than weak firearm demand. North Dakota is a reminder that a high percentage ranking does not automatically mean a large total addressable market for every firearms business. FFL dealers, eCommerce sellers, and ranges still need to evaluate customer density, shipping feasibility, and whether their credit card processing for firearms supports both in-person and online transactions.

11. Oklahoma — 54.7% household gun ownership

Oklahoma ranks eleventh, with 54.7% household gun ownership and 103,368 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 data. RAND’s historical estimate is 51%, placing the state consistently above the national middle.

Oklahoma’s position is notable because it sits between the top Plains and Southern states, both geographically and culturally. A firearms retailer serving Oklahoma may see demand across handguns for protection, hunting rifles, shotguns, accessories, and ammunition. From a payments standpoint, the same merchant may be categorized as high-risk because firearms sales are regulated, not because ownership is uncommon.

12. Kentucky — 54.6% household gun ownership

Kentucky ranks twelfth, almost tied with Oklahoma, at 54.6% household gun ownership and 108,833 gun ownership licenses in the World Population Review 2026 table. RAND’s 2007–2016 average for Kentucky is 49%, just below the 50% line but still well above lower-ownership coastal states.

Kentucky’s ranking reflects a market where firearm ownership is common but not as concentrated as Montana, Wyoming, or Alaska. Merchants in Kentucky may still need specialized firearms credit card processing if they sell guns, serialized parts, ammunition, or regulated accessories, because acquiring banks and payment processors evaluate the merchant category, transaction type, and compliance program rather than household ownership rate alone.

13. Louisiana — 53.1% household gun ownership

Louisiana ranks thirteenth, with 53.1% household gun ownership and 152,061 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 table. RAND estimates Louisiana’s 2007–2016 average at 48%, putting it slightly below the majority threshold historically but still in a high-ownership tier.

Louisiana’s license count is larger than every state ranked above it except Wyoming and Alabama, which shows why volume and percentage tell different stories. The state can support meaningful retail firearm activity even though its ownership percentage is lower than the Mountain West leaders. For FFL merchants, Louisiana’s market may involve both storefront transactions and online accessory sales that require reliable, policy-compliant credit card processing.

14. Tennessee — 51.6% household gun ownership

Tennessee ranks fourteenth, at 51.6% household gun ownership with 151,536 gun ownership licenses listed by World Population Review. RAND’s historical average for Tennessee is 46%, which is lower than the newer table but still places the state above many Midwestern, Western, and Northeastern states.

Tennessee is a useful example of a state where household ownership exceeds 50% while license volume is also significant. Firearms businesses in Tennessee may include FFL dealers, ranges, training companies, gunsmiths, ammunition sellers, and outdoor retailers. Many of those businesses search for firearm merchant services because mainstream processors may decline, restrict, or closely underwrite gun-related accounts.

15. Oregon — 50.8% household gun ownership

Oregon ranks fifteenth, with 50.8% household gun ownership and 97,474 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 table. RAND’s 2007–2016 average is 44%, which places Oregon below the majority threshold in the older data but still above neighboring California’s RAND estimate of 18%.

Oregon’s placement is significant because it is the first Pacific state in the top 20 and sits between very different regional ownership patterns. It has a much higher household ownership rate than California’s 28.3% in World Population Review’s table, while Washington appears lower at 42.1%. Merchants selling into Oregon should separate consumer demand analysis from payment acceptance risk, because FFL payment processing rules depend on processor policies and compliance controls.

16. Vermont — 50.5% household gun ownership

Vermont ranks sixteenth, with 50.5% household gun ownership and only 9,451 gun ownership licenses listed by World Population Review for 2022. RAND’s historical estimate is 46%, making Vermont a high-ownership outlier in the Northeast, a region World Population Review says has the lowest regional ownership level at about 16%.

Vermont’s low license count reflects its small population, not a weak household ownership culture. For market analysis, it is the opposite of a state like Texas: Vermont is high by percentage but small by absolute volume. Firearm merchants evaluating Vermont should consider shipping, local demand, seasonality, and whether their high-risk payment processor supports the exact product categories they sell.

17. South Carolina — 49.4% household gun ownership

South Carolina ranks seventeenth, with 49.4% household gun ownership and 119,205 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 data. RAND’s older estimate is 43%, so both sources place the state well above the lower-ownership Northeast and West Coast states.

South Carolina falls just under the 50% threshold, but its license count is larger than many states with higher ownership rates. That makes it relevant for retailers looking at actual customer volume rather than percentage alone. FFL dealers, online accessory sellers, and training businesses should also evaluate state demand alongside payment gateway rules, chargeback controls, and firearms compliance documentation.

18. Georgia — 49.2% household gun ownership

Georgia ranks eighteenth, with 49.2% household gun ownership and 304,124 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 table. RAND’s 2007–2016 estimate is 39%, which is lower than the newer table, but Georgia’s listed license count is one of the largest among the top 20 states.

Georgia’s license count exceeds every state ranked above it except none in the top 17; it is the first state in this list to cross 300,000 listed licenses. That scale matters for gun store credit card processing, because a larger market can mean more storefronts, more online accessory sellers, more card volume, and more underwriting variation across banks and processors.

19. Kansas — 48.9% household gun ownership

Kansas ranks nineteenth, with 48.9% household gun ownership and 69,850 gun ownership licenses in World Population Review’s 2026 table. RAND’s historical estimate is 43%, which keeps Kansas in the upper half of state firearm ownership even though it does not reach the majority mark in the current table.

Kansas sits in the same broad ownership corridor as South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Missouri. The state’s firearm market is likely shaped by rural households, hunting, sport shooting, and personal protection demand. For merchants, Kansas is another state where firearm ownership is common enough to support category-specific retail, while payment acceptance still requires a processor comfortable with FFL and firearms-related underwriting.

20. Missouri — 48.8% household gun ownership

Missouri closes the top 20, with 48.8% household gun ownership and 113,351 gun ownership licenses listed by World Population Review. RAND’s 2007–2016 average for Missouri is 48%, almost exactly aligned with the newer percentage.

Missouri’s position shows how tight the rankings become below the 50% mark: Kansas is only 0.1 percentage point higher, and Nevada follows at 47.3%. For FFL dealers and firearm-adjacent merchants, Missouri’s data signals a substantial ownership base, but processors will still review whether the business sells complete firearms, ammunition, accessories, training, gunsmithing, or other categories that affect firearms merchant account underwriting.

What the ranking says about U.S. gun ownership

The top of the list is dominated by smaller-population Western, Mountain, and rural states. Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Idaho, and West Virginia all exceed 58% household gun ownership in World Population Review’s 2026 table. Those five states also perform strongly in RAND’s historical estimates, which reduces the likelihood that their rankings are just a one-year artifact of licensing or survey methodology.

Large states do not automatically rank near the top by ownership percentage. Texas has 1,006,555 gun ownership licenses in the World Population Review data, far more than any top-20 state, yet its household ownership rate is 45.7%, ranking below North Carolina’s 45.8% and above Wisconsin’s 45.3%. Florida shows the same pattern: 518,725 listed licenses, but only 35.3% household gun ownership.

The lowest-ownership states are clustered in the Northeast and parts of the Pacific. World Population Review lists Massachusetts and New Jersey at 14.7%, Rhode Island at 14.8%, Hawaii at 14.9%, and New York at 19.9%. RAND’s historical estimates are even lower for some of those states, including 10% for Massachusetts, 8% for New Jersey, 11% for Rhode Island, and 8% for Hawaii.

For firearms businesses, these statistics should not be treated as a substitute for compliance research. A state with high household gun ownership can still have specific rules for permits, transfers, ammunition, online sales, waiting periods, or local ordinances. A state with lower household ownership can still have a large absolute number of customers because of population size. Payment planning is separate again: firearms credit card processing, FFL merchant accounts, and high-risk payment gateways are shaped by bank underwriting, card network rules, product category, transaction method, and documentation quality.

How to read gun ownership data before making business decisions

Start by distinguishing household ownership rate from license count. Montana’s 66.3% rate makes it the top gun-owning state by share of households, but Texas’ 1,006,555 listed licenses show that total market size can point in a different direction. A national FFL eCommerce business may care more about total transaction volume, while a local range or retail gun store may care more about household penetration within driving distance.

Next, compare sources by time period. World Population Review’s table is presented as 2026 and includes 2022 household ownership and license data. RAND’s Gun Ownership in America database estimates average household firearm ownership from 2007 to 2016 and explains that direct state-level measures exist only for a few years, so researchers often rely on modeled estimates and proxy measures. Agreement between sources, as in West Virginia, North Dakota, and Missouri, is more reassuring than a single high figure.

Finally, separate consumer demand from payment risk. Firearms, ammunition, gun parts, tactical accessories, gunsmithing, and FFL transfers may be treated differently by banks and processors even when they are legal. Merchants searching for firearm merchant services, gun store credit card processing, or a high-risk payment processor for firearms should be prepared to document licensing, product categories, fulfillment procedures, refund policies, age verification where relevant, and chargeback controls.