North Carolina Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
612,695
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
92.9
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
22,109
4% of total
Year-over-Year
-21.6%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
22,109
Long Gun
172,574
Permit Checks
352,593
In 2022, North Carolina recorded 612,695 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 92.9 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 4% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 28%. Background checks decreased 21.6% 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 | 529,916 | — |
| 2019 | 530,365 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 890,284 | +67.9% |
| 2021 | 781,733 | -12.2% |
| 2022 | 612,695 | -21.6% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
North Carolina State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
30,685
2023
Per 100K Residents
465
imprisonment rate
Admissions
15,356
2023
Releases
14,168
2023
Male Prisoners
28,174
92% of total
Female Prisoners
2,511
8% of total
Private Prisons
0.1%
of total prison pop
North Carolina Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 25.2% of North Carolina's population but 49.9% of the prison population (2.0x overrepresented). White residents are 56.8% of the population but 41.0% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
North Carolina had a total prison population of 30,685 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 465 per 100,000 residents. There were 15,356 new admissions and 14,168 releases. 0.1% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
North Carolina County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 93 counties in North Carolina.
Total Jail Population
19,379
2024
Avg Jail Rate
382
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
340,263
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19,379 | 382 | 340,263 | N/A | 93 |
| 2023 | 18,855 | 374 | 342,206 | 98% | 98 |
| 2022 | 18,315 | 359 | 337,446 | 84% | 98 |
| 2021 | 17,954 | 366 | 326,666 | 87% | 96 |
| 2020 | 10,968 | 319 | 216,999 | 87% | 46 |
| 2019 | 19,903 | 405 | 375,965 | 81% | 100 |
| 2018 | 20,192 | 399 | 400,849 | 82% | 100 |
| 2017 | 19,607 | 378 | 414,097 | 82% | 100 |
| 2016 | 18,842 | 360 | 406,899 | 79% | 100 |
| 2015 | 18,171 | 349 | 388,252 | 78% | 100 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, North Carolina's 93 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 19,379 with an average county jail rate of 382 per 100,000 residents. A total of 340,263 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
North Carolina Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 100 counties in North Carolina. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
11,264
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
4,723
42% of total
Suicide Deaths
6,446
57% of total
Rate per 100K
15.1
crude mortality rate
Accidental Deaths
61
2018–2024
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, North Carolina's 100 counties reported a combined 11,264 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 15.1 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 4,723 (42%) were homicides and 6,446 (57%) were suicides. There were 61 accidental firearm deaths. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.