Growth in Firearm Permits in Poland Continues in 2025

Data sourced from the official website of the National Police Headquarters.

* Individuals who were issued a decision under Article 155 of the Code of Administrative Procedure amending a previous decision regarding the number of firearms are not included. Nor are individuals who obtained a firearm permit for the same purpose issued after 2011 pursuant to Article 10 of the Act on Weapons and Ammunition.

The number of firearm permits in Poland had been growing at a steady pace. The sudden surge was triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Many of those who had previously considered applying for a permit received a strong wake-up call and decided to follow through on their plans. Interest in owning firearms also emerged among many people who had never before thought about installing a certified S1 gun safe at home or even visiting a shooting range. The events beyond Poland’s eastern border did not result in a temporary “anomaly,” but instead gave rise to a much stronger-than-ever trend that has now continued for yet another year. The market responded accordingly – new stores are opening, and more importantly, they are remaining in business and expanding their product offerings. The largest companies are developing major centers that combine a firearms gallery, retail store, and shooting range in one location. These are serious, long-term investments that would not have been made without clear market signals.

Since 2022, a steady increase in the number of firearm permits can be observed – higher than in the period prior to 2022.

Personal protection

• 2022→2023: +4 515 (+14.6%)
• 2023→2024: +8 427 (+23.8%)
• 2024→2025: +4 112 (+9.4%)

Protection of persons or property

• 2022→2023: +754 (+7 540%)
• 2023→2024: +781 (+102.2%)
• 2024→2025: +686 (+44.4%)

Collecting

• 2022→2023: +17 009 (+28.7%)
• 2023→2024: +17 459 (+22.9%)
• 2024→2025: +20 834 (+22.2%)

Sport shooting

• 2022→2023: +12 114 (+20.6%)
• 2023→2024: +13 740 (+19.4%)
• 2024→2025: +17 117 (+20.2%)

Hunting

• 2022→2023: +2 639 (+2.0%)
• 2023→2024: +2 709 (+2.0%)
• 2024→2025: +1 447 (+1.0%)

Souvenir / commemorative

• 2022 → 2023: +2 (+0.1%)
• 2023 → 2024: –13 (–0.8%)
• 2024 → 2025: –57 (–3.3%)

Historical reenactment

• 2022→2023: +7 (+7.4%)
• 2023→2024: +6 (+5.9%)
• 2024→2025: +1 (+0.9%)

Training

• 2022→2023: +182 (+16.8%)
• 2023→2024: +187 (+14.8%)
• 2024→2025: +230 (+15.9%)

Other

• 2022→2023: +10 (+5.9%)
• 2023→2024: +132 (+73.7%)
• 2024→2025: –12 (–3.9%)

According to data from the National Police Headquarters (KGP), a total of 44,358 new firearm permits were added in 2025. In absolute terms, the largest increase was recorded in collecting permits (+20,834, +22.2% compared to 2024). In percentage terms, however, the biggest growth was seen in permits for the protection of persons and property (+686, +44.4%). Although this category is not the largest overall, it has shown the strongest growth since 2023, when the amendment to the Act on Weapons and Ammunition came into force. The amendment simplified the procedure for professional soldiers to obtain this type of permit (as well as personal protection permits).

The average citizen looking to begin their journey in shooting sports is more likely to opt for a collecting permit or a sport shooting permit. The latter category also recorded significant growth: +17,117 (+20.2%). It is worth examining these two categories from a multi-year perspective. While both follow a similar overall trend, collecting permits have been increasing at a faster pace.

Since 2014, the largest group of permits has consistently been hunting permits. However, their growth has been considerably more moderate. Over the 12-year period analyzed, annual increases typically ranged between 1% and 3%. Interestingly, the lowest figures were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, hunting permits did not experience the dramatic surge seen in the other two major categories (sport and collecting).

As of 31 December 2025, a total of 1,037,778 firearm registrations had been completed. When compared with the total number of issued permits, this suggests that there are approximately 2.5 firearms per permit on average. Does this mean that each Polish firearm permit holder owns around that many firearms? Not necessarily. This conclusion would not fully reflect reality, as one individual may simultaneously hold several different types of permits.

The table allows us to extract figures illustrating the relative “level of armament” of specific groups:

1. Hunting purposes: 408,731 registrations (~40% of all registrations)
2. Collecting purposes: 295,881 registrations (~29% of all registrations)
3. Sport shooting purposes: 274,437 registrations (~26% of all registrations)

Although hunters can boast the largest overall “arsenal,” it is sport shooters and collectors who purchase more firearms – and significantly more. While 10,160 registrations were recorded within the hunting group in 2025, the two other groups accounted for a combined total of 93,226 registrations, representing approximately 87% of all registrations in the previous year.

A considerable share of hunters purchase firearms as practical tools tailored to specific types of hunting and may conclude their acquisitions with a set consisting, for example, of a shotgun, a rifle, and a combination firearm. Sport shooters and collectors, however, acquire firearms for entirely different reasons. They purchase a wider variety of types and in greater numbers – driven by passion, nostalgia, the pursuit of optimal competitive equipment, or simply the desire to acquire new releases. It can reasonably be argued that holders of these two types of permits constitute the driving force of the Polish firearms market, which continues to expand.

At this point, sport shooters and collectors may reasonably be treated as a single market group. First, it is possible to obtain a sport shooting permit with a collecting extension, combining the advantages of both solutions. Second, in practice, the market needs of these two groups overlap and, to a certain extent, fall within the same segment of the market. A widely recognized Glock may be purchased by both a collector and a sport shooter. Likewise, nothing prevents a sport shooter from acquiring a historic Mauser.

If we therefore consider them as one consumer group, they account for a combined total of 570,318 registrations – approximately 55% of the total. It may thus be concluded that more than half of all firearms in Poland are owned by individuals who acquired them for reasons of passion, sport, and recreation.

See also:

• Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The issue of legally owning firearms in Poland has, over the years, become surrounded by numerous myths and misconceptions. A significant portion of society is unaware that such a possibility even exists. Those who are aware of it often believe that obtaining a firearm permit involves numerous legal and financial barriers. The reality, however, is different, and the Polish shooting community continues to grow steadily. This is reflected not only in the increasing number of permits being issued, but also in the growing number of newly established firearms stores that continue to enjoy strong demand.