Florida Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
1,474,730
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
87.4
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
753,761
51% of total
Year-over-Year
-13.8%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
753,761
Long Gun
293,950
Permit Checks
247,358
In 2022, Florida recorded 1,474,730 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 87.4 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 51% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 20%. Background checks decreased 13.8% compared to 2021.
NICS checks are conducted for firearm purchases, permits, and other transactions. A single check does not necessarily equal one firearm sale.
Background Checks by Year
| Year | Total Checks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,203,145 | — |
| 2019 | 1,195,539 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 1,912,204 | +59.9% |
| 2021 | 1,711,685 | -10.5% |
| 2022 | 1,474,730 | -13.8% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
Florida State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
87,207
2023
Per 100K Residents
517
imprisonment rate
Admissions
27,097
2023
Releases
25,288
2023
Male Prisoners
81,326
93% of total
Female Prisoners
5,881
7% of total
Private Prisons
13.3%
of total prison pop
Florida Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 17.1% of Florida's population but 47.6% of the prison population (2.8x overrepresented). White residents are 56.8% of the population but 39.0% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
Florida had a total prison population of 87,207 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 517 per 100,000 residents. There were 27,097 new admissions and 25,288 releases. 13.3% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
Florida County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 62 counties in Florida.
Total Jail Population
49,200
2024
Avg Jail Rate
569
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
511,809
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49,200 | 569 | 511,809 | N/A | 62 |
| 2023 | 53,357 | 595 | 551,116 | 83% | 64 |
| 2022 | 54,849 | 612 | 548,425 | 70% | 67 |
| 2021 | 56,738 | 652 | 525,809 | 73% | 67 |
| 2020 | 52,580 | 623 | 538,756 | 75% | 67 |
| 2019 | 53,683 | 642 | 619,080 | 73% | 67 |
| 2018 | 56,143 | 633 | 665,298 | 71% | 67 |
| 2017 | 54,201 | 615 | 656,632 | 72% | 67 |
| 2016 | 53,226 | 635 | 646,089 | 72% | 67 |
| 2015 | 54,589 | 615 | 661,349 | 72% | 67 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, Florida's 62 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 49,200 with an average county jail rate of 569 per 100,000 residents. A total of 511,809 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
Florida Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 67 counties in Florida. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
21,228
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
7,386
35% of total
Suicide Deaths
13,632
64% of total
Rate per 100K
13.7
crude mortality rate
Accidental Deaths
34
2018–2024
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, Florida's 67 counties reported a combined 21,228 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 13.7 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 7,386 (35%) were homicides and 13,632 (64%) were suicides. There were 34 accidental firearm deaths. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.