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Taiwan — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Taiwan is 725,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Taiwan is 4.42 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Taiwan ranked at No. 631

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Taiwan ranked at No. 1062

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Taiwan are reported to have 5,067,5003 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Taiwan are reported to have 105,7244 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

Number of Homicides (any method)

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

In Taiwan, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

1994: 1.785

Number of Gun Homicides

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Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

In Taiwan, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is

1994: 0.156

Number of Suicides (any method)

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Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

In Taiwan, the annual rate of suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

1994: 6.887

Number of Gun Suicides

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Rate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 People

In Taiwan, the annual rate of firearm suicide per 100,000 population is

1994: 0.128

Number of Unintentional Gun Deaths

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Rate of Unintentional Gun Death per 100,000 People

In Taiwan, the annual rate of unintentional shooting death per 100,000 population is

1994: 0.119

Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

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Rate of Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 People

In Taiwan, the annual rate of unknown-cause shooting deaths per 100,000 population is

1994: 0.0410

ProductionGun Industry

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Small Arms Manufacture - World Ranking

In a classification of the world's small, medium and major firearm manufacturers, Taiwan is ranked 'medium'11

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Taiwan is reported to be US$26,287,73012 (2009)

Import Control

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Taiwan is reported to be US$9,243,41612 (2009)

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Transparency of Small Arms Transfers

In the most recent survey of state transparency when declaring firearm and ammunition exports, Taiwan was ranked number 43 among 49 major small arms exporting nations in 2011, with a score of 7.75 points of a possible total of 2513

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in Taiwan is categorised as restrictive14

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Taiwan, no civilians15 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Taiwan is not a Member State of the United Nations

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list16 Taiwan as a Participating State
Last Updated on 12 July 2011

Short References

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1301)Full Citation

6.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1297)Full Citation

7.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1302)Full Citation

8.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1298)Full Citation

9.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1299)Full Citation

10.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1300)Full Citation

11.

Small Arms Survey.2001.‘Ranking of World's Small Arms Producers (By Sales).’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q103)Full Citation

12.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

13.

Lazarevic, Jasna.2011.‘Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer 2011, covering major exporters.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5354)Full Citation

14.

Newton, George D and Franklin E Zimring.1969.‘Firearm Licensing: Permissive v Restrictive.’ Firearms & Violence in American Life: A Staff Report submitted to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence.Washington, DC:US Government Printing Office,1 January. (Q22)Full Citation

15.

Parker, Sarah.2011.‘Balancing Act: Regulation of Civilian Firearm Possession.’ Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,6 July. (Q5359)Full Citation

16.

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