BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand has an estimated 10 million private firearms – more than any other ASEAN nation. Nearly 4.1 million are unregistered.
According to the Small Arms Survey, Thailand has about 15 civilian firearms per 100 people. That’s roughly one gun for every seven people.
Nearly 40 percent of guns not registered
Around 6.2 million firearms are believed to be registered. Another 4.1 million sit outside any registration system.
The numbers put Thailand far ahead of its neighbours in private gun ownership.
Thailand leads private ownership in ASEAN
The Philippines comes second with an estimated 3.8 million civilian firearms – a density of 3.6 per 100 people. Cambodia has 720,000 guns, or 4.5 per 100.
Laos and Malaysia each have around 220,000 firearms. Indonesia, with a population of over 263 million, is estimated to have just 82,000 civilian guns. Singapore has 20,000 – 0.3 per 100 residents.
Private arsenals dwarf military and police
Thailand’s armed forces own 1,052,815 firearms. Law enforcement has around 230,000. That means the civilian stockpile is about ten times larger than the military’s and 45 times larger than the police’s.
Only Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar report that private gun numbers exceed the combined holdings of military and security forces.
Buying a gun is regulated, can take months
Gun dealers in Thailand may sell firearms only with a licence and in limited quantities. Annual restrictions apply to both weapons and ammunition. Applicants must be at least 20 years old and provide a reason such as self-defence, sport or hunting.
Fees apply for documents and imports. According to the article, buying a firearm can take up to six months. Aaron Karp of the Small Arms Survey describes Thai laws as neither particularly strict nor particularly lenient. He said their effectiveness depends on how the public and authorities perceive and follow the rules.
Black market and border smuggling remain worries
After the 2022 massacre at a daycare centre in Nong Bua Lamphu, TIME described Thailand as a country with a pronounced gun culture. The magazine pointed to black market sales and weapons smuggled across the borders with Myanmar and Cambodia.
Paul Chambers, a Southeast Asia politics scholar, said firearms remain relatively easy to obtain, especially in border areas. Experts also cited cases where weapons intended for police or military ended up in private hands through members of the military, police or paramilitary units. Gun controls and the availability of illegal weapons are back under scrutiny.
Thailand ranks low on safety, high on gun deaths
A 2022 Gallup survey cited by the East Asia Forum found Thailand scored worst in ASEAN for the perceived safety of walking alone at night. The survey also covered experiences with theft or assault.
According to the East Asia Forum, Thailand has the second-highest rate of firearm deaths per 100,000 people in ASEAN – behind only the Philippines.