Find Gun Policy Facts

Armed violence prevention, gun control laws and the small arms trade:

Research supported by

Go To ..

Afghanistan — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

expand all collapse all

StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

Compare
Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Afghanistan is 1,000,0001 2

Compare
Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Afghanistan is 4.41 firearms per 100 people

Compare
Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Afghanistan ranked at No. 463

Compare
Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, Afghanistan ranked at No. 1061

Government Guns

Compare
Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Afghanistan are reported to have 52,0004 firearms

Compare
Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Afghanistan are reported to have 70,0005 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

Compare
Homicides (any method)

In Afghanistan, annual homicides by any means total

2008: 7126

Compare
Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Afghanistan, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2008: 2.46
2004: 3.407

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Regulation of Firearm Exports

Compare
Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Afghanistan is reported to be US$6,6838 (2009)

Regulation of Firearm Imports

Compare
Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Afghanistan is reported to be US$64,016,6508 (2011)

Compare
Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Afghanistan is reported to be US$1509

MeasuresGun Regulation

Gun Owner Licensing

Compare
Firearm Safety Training

In Afghanistan, an understanding of firearm safety and the law, tested in a theoretical and/or practical training course is required10 for a firearm licence

Carrying Guns

Compare
Carrying Guns Openly in Public

In Afghanistan, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is allowed, subject to a valid permit10

Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

Compare
Surrendered in Gun Amnesty

In Afghanistan, the number of firearms and/or rounds of ammunition voluntarily surrendered for destruction in recent arms amnesty and collection programmes is reported to be 131,81111 (2003)

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Afghanistan voted to begin12 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

Compare
United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed13 by Afghanistan

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Afghanistan committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects14

Compare
UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Afghanistan has yet to submit a national report15 16 on its implementation of the UNPoA

Compare
UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Afghanistan, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated16

Compare
UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Afghanistan, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated16

Compare
UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Afghanistan submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent16

Compare
UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated16 by Afghanistan to other UN Member States

Compare
UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided16 to Afghanistan by other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Afghanistan has not declared17 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Afghanistan has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194618

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list19 Afghanistan as a Participating State

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms - Annexe online.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

2.

Ki-moon, Ban.2011.‘Observations and Recommendations.’ United Nations Security Council.New York:UNGA,5 April. (Q5987)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

5.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2011.‘Homicide in 207 Countries - Afghanistan.’ Global Study on Homicide 2011: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,6 October. (Q6226)Full Citation

7.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘South Asia, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3815)Full Citation

8.

Marsh, Nicholas.2013.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,14 February. (Q16)Full Citation

9.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

10.

United Nations.1999.‘Analysis of Country Responses.’ United Nations International Study on Firearm Regulation.Vienna:UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division,30 August. (Q1)Full Citation

11.

Karp, Aaron.2009.‘Summary of Disarmament Outcomes in 45 DDR Programmes.’ Small Arms Survey 2009: Shadows of War.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,9 July. (Q2941)Full Citation

12.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

13.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

14.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

15.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

16.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

17.

UNODA.2011.‘National Reports on Small Arms Exports.’ United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - The Global Reported Arms Trade.New York:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,21 October. (Q14)Full Citation

18.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

19.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation