Pennsylvania Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
1,229,129
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
169.3
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
557,415
45% of total
Year-over-Year
-12.7%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
557,415
Long Gun
262,090
Permit Checks
394,509
In 2022, Pennsylvania recorded 1,229,129 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 169.3 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 45% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 21%. Background checks decreased 12.7% 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 | 1,021,943 | — |
| 2019 | 987,886 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 1,452,921 | +47.1% |
| 2021 | 1,408,165 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 1,229,129 | -12.7% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
Pennsylvania State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
38,860
2023
Per 100K Residents
535
imprisonment rate
Admissions
12,297
2023
Releases
10,791
2023
Male Prisoners
36,735
95% of total
Female Prisoners
2,125
5% of total
Private Prisons
1.1%
of total prison pop
Pennsylvania Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 15.9% of Pennsylvania's population but 47.4% of the prison population (3.0x overrepresented). White residents are 67.6% of the population but 51.9% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
Pennsylvania had a total prison population of 38,860 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 535 per 100,000 residents. There were 12,297 new admissions and 10,791 releases. 1.1% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
Pennsylvania County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 10 counties in Pennsylvania.
Total Jail Population
12,744
2024
Avg Jail Rate
332
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
60,589
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,744 | 332 | 60,589 | N/A | 10 |
| 2023 | 22,138 | 334 | 115,133 | 60% | 35 |
| 2022 | 23,879 | 315 | 142,465 | 65% | 65 |
| 2021 | 23,419 | 307 | 122,364 | 71% | 59 |
| 2020 | 26,591 | 972 | 145,916 | 69% | 67 |
| 2019 | 24,279 | 313 | 182,627 | 65% | 67 |
| 2018 | 30,355 | 383 | 199,758 | 60% | 67 |
| 2017 | 31,489 | 389 | 203,579 | 61% | 67 |
| 2016 | 33,783 | 391 | 205,806 | 58% | 67 |
| 2015 | 36,602 | 401 | 204,878 | 58% | 67 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, Pennsylvania's 10 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 12,744 with an average county jail rate of 332 per 100,000 residents. A total of 60,589 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
Pennsylvania Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
11,877
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
4,698
40% of total
Suicide Deaths
7,104
60% of total
Rate per 100K
13.1
crude mortality rate
Accidental Deaths
12
2018–2024
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, Pennsylvania's 67 counties reported a combined 11,877 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 13.1 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 4,698 (40%) were homicides and 7,104 (60%) were suicides. There were 12 accidental firearm deaths. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.