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Nearly 50,000 Civilian Weapons in Germany Listed as Missing or Stolen, Official Data Show

Police unions call for more resources to disrupt trafficking of stolen guns.

Overview

  • The National Weapons Register recorded 47,335 firearms as missing by December 31, 2025, including 38,277 logged as lost and 9,058 as stolen.
  • An additional 1,244 registered weapon parts were reported lost or stolen, bringing the combined total to 48,579 items no longer accounted for.
  • The tally has nearly doubled since early 2018, when 24,531 privately owned guns were recorded as missing.
  • About 5,011,020 legally owned firearms and 526,387 registered weapon parts are in private hands nationwide.
  • Police union officials warn stolen guns likely feed the black market and urge more funding, powers and specialists to target illegal arms trade, with no new government response reported.