The debate over firearms has been a hot topic in recent weeks. The organization Small Arms Survey—which in early June offered a course on preventing and responding to the diversion of weapons in partnership with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs—conducts various studies on the issue of weapons worldwide, including a ranking of the countries with the highest number of civilian firearms in the world. In Latin America, which country tops the list?

ANSWER

Uruguay. With 34.66 guns per 100 inhabitants, this River Plate nation tops the ranking of Latin American countries by a wide margin (nearly doubling the number of guns in the region’s second-highest country, Venezuela) and tying with Canada. It is, however, far behind the United States, where there are more than 120 guns per 100 inhabitants.

Chile ranks in the middle of the list, with just over 12 guns per 100 residents.

Source: Small Arms Survey