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Saudi Arabia — Gun Facts, Figures and the LawStockpilesGun NumbersCivilian GunsBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Number of Privately Owned FirearmsRate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 PopulationNumber of Privately Owned Firearms - World RankingIn a 2007 comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Saudi Arabia ranked at No. 163 Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World RankingIn a 2007 comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, Saudi Arabia ranked at No. 72 Government GunsBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.ImpactsDeath and InjuryTotal Number of Gun DeathsBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Rate of All Gun Deaths per 100,000 PeopleTotal Number of Male Gun DeathsRate of Male Gun Death per 100,000 PeopleTotal Number of Female Gun DeathsHomicides (any method)Blue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Gun HomicidesBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 PeopleMale Gun Homicide VictimsFemale Gun Homicide VictimsSuicides (any method)Blue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Suicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Suicide Victims (any method)Gun SuicidesBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Rate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 PeopleMale Gun Suicide VictimsFemale Gun Suicide VictimsUnintentional Gun DeathsBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Rate of Unintentional Gun Death per 100,000 PeopleUnintentional Male Gun DeathsRate of Unintentional Male Gun Death per 100,000 PeopleUnintentional Female Gun DeathsGun Deaths from Undetermined CauseBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Male Gun Deaths from Undetermined CauseFemale Gun Deaths from Undetermined CauseProductionGun IndustryRegulation of Firearm MakersIn Saudi Arabia, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence9 Small Arms Manufacture - World RankingIn a classification of the world's small, medium and major firearm manufacturers, Saudi Arabia was ranked 'small'10 Home-made GunsIn Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of illicit craft, or 'home-made' firearm manufacture is reported to be moderate11 TransfersGun Trade and TraffickingRegulation of Arms BrokersIn Saudi Arabia, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are specifically regulated by law17 End User CertificatesCustoms regulations in Saudi Arabia do not include12 certification of the intended end user of any small arms or ammunition transfer, and/or a written declaration of its intended end use Transparency of Small Arms TransfersChartIn its annual Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer, the Small Arms Survey compares public reporting among major arms exporting nations on a scale from strong to weak (25 to zero). In recent years, Saudi Arabia scored 2020: 0.50 2019: 0.5018 2018: 0.5019 2016: 0.0020 2014: 0.0021 2013: 0.0022 2012: 2.7523 2011: 3.2524 2010: 7.2525 2009: 8.7526 2008: 7.2527 2007: 7.5028 2006: 5.5029 2005: 5.5030 2004: 8.5031 MeasuresGun RegulationFirearm Regulation - Guiding PolicyLaw Regulates Civilian Access to FirearmsIn Saudi Arabia, civilian possession of guns is regulated by law32 Restricted Firearms and AmmunitionLaw Regulates Automatic WeaponsIn Saudi Arabia, civilian possession of automatic weapons is regulated by law32 Law Regulates HandgunsIn Saudi Arabia, civilian possession of handguns is regulated by law32 Law Regulates Long GunsIn Saudi Arabia, civilian possession of rifles and shotguns is regulated by law32 Gun Ownership and PossessionGun Owner Background ChecksAn applicant for a firearm licence in Saudi Arabia must pass a background check which considers undefined32 records Firearm RegistrationCivilian Gun RegistrationIn Saudi Arabia, the law requires35 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register Gun Manufacturer Record KeepingIn Saudi Arabia, licensed gun makers are required9 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority State-Owned Firearm RecordsIn Saudi Arabia, State agencies are required36 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control Storage and Transport of Guns and AmmunitionFirearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - GovernmentGovernment regulations in Saudi Arabia include36 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by state entities Carrying GunsLaw Regulates Firearms in PublicIn Saudi Arabia, carrying a gun in a public place is regulated by law32 MeasuresInternational ControlsRegional AgreementsLeague of Arab StatesAs a member of the League of Arab States, Saudi Arabia adopted the Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material in January 200237 United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal JusticeThe UNCCPCJ, a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council mandated to promote action to prevent national and transnational crime, lists38 Saudi Arabia as an elected member Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and DevelopmentThe Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, a diplomatic initiative aimed at addressing the interrelations between armed violence and development, was not signed39 by Saudi Arabia. Arms Trade TreatyThe Arms Trade Treaty has not been signed40 by Saudi Arabia United Nations Firearms ProtocolThe United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has been signed and ratified41 by Saudi Arabia United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoAUNPoA CommitmentOn 21 July 2001, Saudi Arabia 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 Aspects42 UNPoA Implementation Monitor ScoreUNPoA National ReportingUNPoA National Point of ContactUNPoA National Coordinating BodyUNPoA Civil Society Involvement and SupportUNPoA International Assistance – DonorFunds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated48 by Saudi Arabia to other UN Member States United Nations Small Arms RegisterAccording to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Saudi Arabia has not declared50 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports. United Nations MembershipIn the UN List of Member States, Saudi Arabia has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194551 Wassenaar ArrangementThe Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list52 Saudi Arabia as a Participating State BackgroundSustainable Development Goal ProfileAbout SDG 16The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals set by the United Nations to be implemented by all member states by 2030. Adopted in 2015, they outline a vision of development in which peace and security are an integral part.
SDG 16,53 which seeks to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” includes targets and indicators focused on reducing violence (Target 16.1) and the proliferation of illicit arms (Target 16.4). The indicators – or measurement criteria – of these targets include the number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1), the number of conflict-related deaths (Indicator 16.1.2), and the number of illicit firearms collected and traced (Indicator 16.4.2).
In light of these targets and indicators, GunPolicy.org provides granular national data pertaining to homicides, gun homicides, conflict deaths, disarmament efforts, and marking and tracing. Homicides (any method)Gun HomicidesRate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 PeopleMale Gun Homicide VictimsFemale Gun Homicide VictimsConflict DeathsFor a profile of conflict in Saudi Arabia, select the Link icon to open an external web page from the UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia at Uppsala University DisarmamentAuthorities in Saudi Arabia are known to have15 implemented voluntary firearm surrender schemes, and/or weapon seizure programmes in order to reduce the number of illicit firearms in circulation Firearms Surrendered and SeizedIn Saudi Arabia, the number of firearms voluntarily surrendered, bought back or seized by authorities is reported to be 2017: 13,72354 Small Arms DestroyedIn Saudi Arabia, the number of firearms destroyed following amnesty, collection and seizure programmes is reported to be 2016: 13,72355 Destruction and Disposal PolicyIn Saudi Arabia, it is state policy36 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market Global Peace IndexTo see where Saudi Arabia ranks, select the Link icon to open an external web page at the Global Peace Index, and then click on Saudi Arabia on the map or in the "Select Country" menu on the right of the web page |
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