Thailand's gun culture: why is civilian ownership so high

Thailand has an estimated 10 million firearms in civilian hands, the highest number in ASEAN, according to a Small Arms Survey data cited after a shooting at the School in Nonthaburi.

The estimate equates to roughly one gun for every seven people, or 15 firearms per 100 residents. Of the total, around 6.2 million guns were registered while an estimated 4.1 million - nearly 40 per cent - were outside the registration system.

The figures have again put Thailand's gun controls and the availability of illegal weapons under scrutiny.

Far more civilian guns than regional neighbours

Small Arms Survey estimates place the Philippines second in the region, with about 3.8 million civilian firearms, or 3.6 per 100 people. Cambodia was estimated to have 720,000 guns, or 4.5 per 100 people.

Laos and Malaysia each had about 220,000 civilian guns, equivalent to three and 0.7 per 100 people respectively. Indonesia, despite a population above 263 million, was estimated to have 82,000, while Singapore had 20,000, or 0.3 per 100 people.

The survey said Thailand had ASEAN's largest civilian gun stock. It cited estimates of 1,052,815 firearms held by the military and 230,000 held by law-enforcement agencies, meaning civilian guns outnumbered military weapons by around ten to one and police weapons by about 45 to one.

Only Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar were reported to have more civilian firearms than the combined totals held by their militaries and law-enforcement bodies.

Laws exist, but enforcement is questioned

Following the 2022 massacre at a childcare centre in Nong Bua Lamphu, TIME described Thailand as having a distinctive gun culture compared with other Asian countries.

Thai gun shops may sell firearms only in limited numbers under licences, and are restricted in the guns and ammunition they can sell each year. Applicants must be at least 20, state a reason such as self-defence, sport or hunting, and face document and import fees; purchases can take up to six months.

Aaron Karp, senior consultant to Small Arms Survey, told TIME that Thailand's laws were neither especially strict nor especially permissive. Their impact, he said, depended on how the public and officials viewed and followed them.

East Asia Forum cited a 2022 Gallup survey in which Thailand scored lowest in ASEAN on safety when walking alone at night, as well as experiences of theft or assault. It also reported Thailand had ASEAN's second-highest firearm death rate per 100,000 people, behind the Philippines.

Black-market supply remains a key concern

TIME also pointed to online black-market sales and weapons smuggled across the Myanmar and Cambodian borders. Paul Chambers, an academic specialising in Southeast Asian politics, said that guns remained relatively easy to obtain, particularly near those frontiers.

Weapons intended for police or military use had reached private hands, with experts citing cases involving sales by military, police and paramilitary personnel.

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8 August 2026

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