National Police Headquarters data shows the number of licenses for firearms surged from a little over 10,000 in 2020 to almost 34,000 in 2022. In 2024, the permit number soared to an all-time record for the country — 43,400 permits. Poland remains one of the least armed countries in Europe.

Despite the increase, Poland still has the fewest weapons per capita of any EU country. The most recent numbers land the Gunshine State at 2.5 guns per 100,000 residents. Whereas Germany has 19.6 firearms per 100,000, Finland leads at 32.4.

The second most heavily armed nations within the bloc are Austria, Cyprus, and Malta. In Poland, most private firearms are registered in the context of hunting, sport shooting, and collecting, but since the late 1990s, also for personal protection.An Erosion of Protection with New Laws and More Need for Self-Defense.

One reason for the influx in applications was a decision in 2023 to ease firearm laws as part of a larger effort to shore up defenses. That change made it possible for more individuals to purchase guns for self-defense. Police issued a mere 154 self-defense licenses in 2022. By 2023, it had more than quadrupled to over 9,000.

However, there are heavy requirements applicants must meet before they are granted a license. They are also required to pass a medical examination, demonstrate responsible handling in a firearms test, and join an authorized shooting association. Such conditions are there to make sure that new gun owners possess the skill and knowledge required to handle guns safely.

A Shift in Public Attitudes
These questions have been significant to Poles, influenced by the current geopolitical climate. The invasion of Ukraine, for many Europeans, marked a breaking point: it showed that not everything is self-evident in the realm of security.

Shooting clubs from around the country say they are seeing a wave of new members — and many, they add, are not there to shoot recreationally but because they feel the need to protect themselves in an age of economic terror.

Europe and Poland are still a long way from Europe's gun ownership levels, but the culture change is in its infancy. The expansion in permits, however, points to a significant shift in attitudes with more Poles viewing guns as a legitimate form of self-defense in an increasingly unpredictable and insecure world.