Oklahoma Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
370,275
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
116.4
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
162,004
44% of total
Year-over-Year
-11.1%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
162,004
Long Gun
115,732
Permit Checks
26,835
In 2022, Oklahoma recorded 370,275 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 116.4 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 44% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 31%. Background checks decreased 11.1% 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 | 332,291 | — |
| 2019 | 360,043 | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 470,286 | +30.6% |
| 2021 | 416,514 | -11.4% |
| 2022 | 370,275 | -11.1% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
Oklahoma State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
22,283
2023
Per 100K Residents
700
imprisonment rate
Admissions
6,219
2023
Releases
6,431
2023
Male Prisoners
20,082
90% of total
Female Prisoners
2,201
10% of total
Private Prisons
12.3%
of total prison pop
Oklahoma Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 8.5% of Oklahoma's population but 27.7% of the prison population (3.3x overrepresented). White residents are 64.8% of the population but 49.6% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
Oklahoma had a total prison population of 22,283 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 700 per 100,000 residents. There were 6,219 new admissions and 6,431 releases. 12.3% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
Oklahoma County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 32 counties in Oklahoma.
Total Jail Population
5,633
2024
Avg Jail Rate
463
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
116,137
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,633 | 463 | 116,137 | N/A | 32 |
| 2023 | 10,489 | 585 | 200,270 | 76% | 77 |
| 2022 | 5,926 | 614 | 92,117 | 67% | 24 |
| 2021 | 10,107 | 560 | 179,464 | 70% | 70 |
| 2020 | 5,951 | 476 | 101,313 | 79% | 25 |
| 2019 | 11,424 | 587 | 208,677 | 66% | 77 |
| 2018 | 11,270 | 594 | 212,106 | 73% | 77 |
| 2017 | 12,409 | 619 | 234,203 | 73% | 77 |
| 2016 | 12,115 | 647 | 237,425 | 71% | 77 |
| 2015 | 12,236 | 635 | 237,678 | 69% | 77 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, Oklahoma's 32 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 5,633 with an average county jail rate of 463 per 100,000 residents. A total of 116,137 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
Oklahoma Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 77 counties in Oklahoma. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
5,062
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
1,449
29% of total
Suicide Deaths
3,589
71% of total
Rate per 100K
18.1
crude mortality rate
Accidental Deaths
14
2018–2024
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, Oklahoma's 77 counties reported a combined 5,062 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 18.1 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 1,449 (29%) were homicides and 3,589 (71%) were suicides. There were 14 accidental firearm deaths. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.