How strict are gun laws in Afghanistan?
Restrictive
Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Afghanistan is one of 87 countries classified “Restrictive” for civilian gun ownership — 43% of the 202 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)
Source
- Last checked
- 17 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Read directly from the source’s own table, without interpretation.
Nearby countries
- Pakistan
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Tajikistan
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Uzbekistan
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Kyrgyzstan
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Turkmenistan
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Iran
- Restrictive Firearms are issued at the authority's discretion with restricted reasons, fitting the restrictive category.
Other laws in Afghanistan
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Every law in Afghanistan → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.