Georgia Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
601,407
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
112.1
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
247,937
41% of total
Year-over-Year
-25.5%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
247,937
Long Gun
124,555
Permit Checks
171,438
In 2022, Georgia recorded 601,407 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 112.1 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 41% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 21%. Background checks decreased 25.5% 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 | 549,532 | — |
| 2019 | 539,113 | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 904,035 | +67.7% |
| 2021 | 806,912 | -10.7% |
| 2022 | 601,407 | -25.5% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
Georgia State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
50,425
2023
Per 100K Residents
940
imprisonment rate
Admissions
14,779
2023
Releases
11,798
2023
Male Prisoners
46,760
93% of total
Female Prisoners
3,665
7% of total
Private Prisons
15.2%
of total prison pop
Georgia Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 39.0% of Georgia's population but 58.7% of the prison population (1.5x overrepresented). White residents are 45.1% of the population but 36.7% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
Georgia had a total prison population of 50,425 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 940 per 100,000 residents. There were 14,779 new admissions and 11,798 releases. 15.2% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
Georgia County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 145 counties in Georgia.
Total Jail Population
42,767
2024
Avg Jail Rate
839
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
483,451
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42,767 | 839 | 483,451 | N/A | 145 |
| 2023 | 40,380 | 869 | 484,611 | N/A | 152 |
| 2022 | 42,838 | 839 | 473,111 | 69% | 149 |
| 2021 | 35,792 | 784 | 459,675 | 64% | 149 |
| 2020 | 32,599 | 816 | 476,917 | 67% | 148 |
| 2019 | 40,299 | 871 | 531,094 | 65% | 158 |
| 2018 | 39,470 | 861 | 569,276 | 63% | 158 |
| 2017 | 40,558 | 842 | 580,360 | 64% | 158 |
| 2016 | 38,205 | 784 | 587,035 | 62% | 158 |
| 2015 | 38,706 | 788 | 594,477 | 63% | 158 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, Georgia's 145 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 42,767 with an average county jail rate of 839 per 100,000 residents. A total of 483,451 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
Georgia Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 159 counties in Georgia. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
12,779
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
5,578
44% of total
Suicide Deaths
7,084
55% of total
Rate per 100K
16.9
crude mortality rate
Accidental Deaths
24
2018–2024
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, Georgia's 159 counties reported a combined 12,779 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 16.9 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 5,578 (44%) were homicides and 7,084 (55%) were suicides. There were 24 accidental firearm deaths. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.