Gunshot Detection System Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Installation (Fixed Installation, Vehicle Mounted Installation, Portable Installation), By Application (Commercial, Military and Defense, Law Enforcement Agencies, Others), By Technology, By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 927.11 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	11.31%
Fastest Growing Segment	Commercial
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 1763.34 Million

Market Overview

The Global Gunshot Detection System Market will grow from USD 927.11 Million in 2025 to USD 1763.34 Million by 2031 at a 11.31% CAGR. Gunshot detection systems are specialized security solutions that utilize acoustic, optical, or sensor-based technologies to capture and analyze the unique signature of firearm discharges, instantly dispatching precise location data to law enforcement agencies. The expansion of this market is primarily driven by the critical need to accelerate emergency response times in high-density urban environments and the growing demand for automated situational awareness within smart city frameworks. These operational imperatives prioritize the immediate identification of active shooter events to minimize casualties and enhance public safety independent of civilian reporting.

However, market growth is faced with a significant challenge regarding data privacy and civil liberties, as the deployment of continuous audio surveillance in public spaces often triggers community resistance and legislative scrutiny. This ethical debate can delay procurement processes and limit widespread installation. To illustrate the extensive firearm density that underscores the necessity for such detection infrastructures, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, in 2025, the industry recorded over 14.6 million background checks for retail firearm sales, highlighting the substantial volume of weaponry in circulation that necessitates robust monitoring capabilities.

Key Market Drivers

The persistent threat of armed violence and mass casualty incidents acts as a primary catalyst for the deployment of acoustic and optical detection grids. Municipalities and law enforcement agencies are compelled to adopt these technologies to ensure rapid mobilization, utilizing the systems to bridge the critical time gap between firearm discharge and police dispatch. This operational necessity is driven by the sheer volume of lethal incidents that continue to plague communities, necessitating automated alerts that function independently of civilian reporting. Illustrating the extensive scale of this violence, according to The Trace, December 2024, in the 'Gun Violence by the Numbers in 2024' report, data from the Gun Violence Archive revealed that there were 16,576 firearm deaths recorded throughout the year, underscoring the critical demand for immediate identification solutions to mitigate loss of life.

Concurrently, the market is significantly bolstered by escalating security concerns within educational institutions and public venues. School administrators are increasingly moving beyond passive security measures, integrating gunshot detection with access control and video surveillance to create proactive defense ecosystems. This shift is heavily supported by federal grants designed to harden soft targets against active shooter threats. For instance, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, September 2024, in the '2024 COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program' announcement, the agency awarded approximately $73 million to improve security at schools through evidence-based safety programs and technology. Reflecting the financial growth resulting from these adoption trends, according to SoundThinking, November 2024, in the 'Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results', the company reported revenues of $26.3 million, representing a 10% increase year-over-year driven by expanded coverage areas.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The primary challenge hampering the growth of the Global Gunshot Detection System Market is the intense scrutiny regarding data privacy and civil liberties. As these systems utilize continuous audio surveillance to function, they frequently trigger significant ethical concerns about potential mass monitoring and the infringement of individual rights. This apprehension often manifests as community resistance and legislative opposition, which directly stalls procurement cycles. When public trust is compromised, municipal authorities face political pressure to reject or cancel contracts, thereby preventing the widespread installation of these security infrastructures despite their operational utility.

This friction between safety objectives and privacy rights creates a tangible barrier to market scalability. The impact of such public sentiment is evident in the broader security technology sector, where negative perception dictates market limits. According to the Security Industry Association, in 2024, 54% of security technology firms reported that the public perception of AI-driven surveillance technologies was actively limiting their further expansion into specific applications. This data highlights how the ethical debate surrounding surveillance capabilities directly translates into a commercial restraint, restricting vendors from capitalizing on the demand for automated situational awareness.

Key Market Trends

The market is fundamentally shifting from one-time hardware procurement to subscription-based service models (SaaS), enabling continuous software updates and cloud-based analytics without requiring costly infrastructure replacements. This transition allows vendors to offer "Detection as a Service," where municipalities pay a recurring fee for maintained coverage, ensuring access to the latest machine learning algorithms for improved accuracy. This model significantly enhances financial predictability and customer stickiness for providers. Highlighting the success of this recurring revenue strategy, according to SoundThinking, February 2025, in the 'SoundThinking, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results' press release, the company reported a revenue retention rate of 105%, underscoring the high value agencies place on ensuring uninterrupted access to real-time subscription services.

Concurrently, the integration of gunshot detection systems with autonomous Drone as First Responder (DFR) units is revolutionizing emergency mobilization by enabling immediate aerial verification of alerts. Instead of deploying patrol cars blindly to a triangulated location, systems now automatically dispatch drones to the scene to confirm the presence of a threat and provide live video feeds to command centers. This capability optimizes resource allocation by allowing agencies to dismiss false alarms or de-escalate minor incidents remotely. Illustrating the operational efficiency of this integrated approach, according to Police1, June 2025, in the '2025: The year drone as first responder programs went mainstream' article, aggregate data from DFR programs across the United States revealed that drones returned ground units to service in 25% of responses before they arrived on the scene, significantly preserving patrol availability for confirmed emergencies.

Segmental Insights

The Commercial segment is currently positioned as the fastest-growing category within the Global Gunshot Detection System Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by rising security concerns regarding active shooter incidents in public spaces, including educational institutions, corporate offices, and retail centers. Facility managers are prioritizing these installations to significantly improve emergency response times and ensure direct coordination with law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the increasing need to mitigate liability risks and fulfill duty-of-care obligations for staff and visitors is compelling private organizations to integrate gunshot detection into their broader physical security frameworks.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global gunshot detection system market due to significant investments in public safety and defense infrastructure. High rates of firearm incidents have prompted federal bodies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, to support the deployment of acoustic surveillance technologies across municipalities and educational facilities. The region benefits from the concentrated presence of key system manufacturers and widespread integration of security solutions into smart city frameworks. Consequently, strong legislative support and prioritized law enforcement funding continue to drive the extensive adoption of these detection systems throughout the United States.

Recent Developments

• In October 2024, SoundThinking, Inc. finalized a three-year agreement with the Ministry of Interior of Uruguay to significantly expand the coverage of its ShotSpotter gunshot detection system in Montevideo. This contract extension doubled the technology's operational footprint in the capital city by adding an additional 12 square kilometers, building upon a successful initial deployment that began in late 2023. The expansion was part of the government's comprehensive strategy to address gun violence and enhance public safety through data-driven intelligence. The deployment utilized the company's acoustic sensors to provide law enforcement with real-time alerts and precise location data for gunfire incidents.
• In September 2024, Shooter Detection Systems, a subsidiary of Alarm.com, announced the beta launch of its outdoor gunshot detection solution, SDS Perimeter. This new system was engineered to extend the company's established indoor detection capabilities to exterior areas, including parking structures and campus grounds. SDS Perimeter utilized an advanced combination of acoustic and infrared sensing technologies to accurately detect and verify gunshot activity, ensuring high reliability without dependence on visual surveillance or human verification. The product was introduced at the Global Security Exchange (GSX) to demonstrate its capacity for delivering comprehensive, layered coverage against active shooter threats.
• In August 2024, ZeroEyes announced a strategic partnership with Kognition, a leader in AI-powered cyber-physical security systems for smart buildings. This collaboration focused on integrating ZeroEyes' AI-based gun detection and intelligent situational awareness platform with Kognition's enterprise security software. The joint solution was developed to provide a proactive, multi-layered security approach for schools and corporate facilities by delivering real-time alerts and visual verification of potential gun threats. The integration aimed to seamlessly combine specialized weapon detection capabilities with broader autonomous safety monitoring, creating a unified and vigilant security infrastructure that operates efficiently without requiring additional personnel.
• In May 2024, Databuoy Corporation announced that its SHOTPOINT gunshot localization and detection product line had been awarded the SAFETY Act Designation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This prestigious designation as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology applied to the company's entire suite of indoor, outdoor, and vertical detection systems. The recognition followed a comprehensive evaluation process that assessed the technology's performance, real-world operational effectiveness, and quality control procedures. This certification underscored the system's reliability in precisely identifying and locating gunfire to support anti-terrorism efforts and affirmed its role in mitigating liability risks for deployed environments.

Key Market Players

• Malabar International LLC
• HYDRO Systems KG
• LANGA INDUSTRIAL S.A.
• JAS Hydraulic Co., Ltd.
• Chiarlone Officine S.r.l.
• TBD (Owen Holland) Limited
• CIMC Tianda Holdings Company Limited
• Mak Controls & Systems Pvt. Ltd.
• Tronair Inc.
• Semmco Limited

By Installation	By Application	By Region
Fixed Installation Vehicle Mounted Installation Portable Installation	Commercial Military and Defense Law Enforcement Agencies Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Gunshot Detection System Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Gunshot Detection System Market, By Installation:

• Fixed Installation
• Vehicle Mounted Installation
• Portable Installation

• Gunshot Detection System Market, By Application:

• Commercial
• Military and Defense
• Law Enforcement Agencies
• Others

• Gunshot Detection System Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE