Less Lethal Ammunition Market Report 2026

Less Lethal Ammunition Market Overview

• Less Lethal Ammunition market size has reached to $1.11 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $1.43 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% • Growth Driver: Budget Boosts Ignite Growth In The Less Lethal Ammunition Market • Market Trend: Advancing Less-Lethal Solutions In Self-Defense • North America was the largest region in 2025.

What Is Covered Under Less Lethal Ammunition Market?

Less lethal ammunition refers to specialized projectiles or rounds designed by law enforcement, military, and security personnel to hinder or subdue individuals without causing fatal injuries. It is intended to provide an intermediate level of force between verbal commands and the use of lethal force, offering an alternative to traditional firearms ammunition. The main types of less lethal ammunition are rubber bullets, bean bag rounds, plastic bullets, and paintballs. Rubber bullets refer to a type of non-lethal ammunition that is designed to be used by law enforcement or military personnel for crowd control and riot situations and is intended to incapacitate or disperse individuals without causing fatal injuries. They are used in several weapon types, such as shotguns, launchers, and others used in applications including military, law enforcement, and others.

What Is The Less Lethal Ammunition Market Growth Forecast?

The less lethal ammunition market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.43 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to development of next-generation kinetic impact rounds enhancing accuracy and safety profiles, rising global emphasis on de-escalation and minimal-force policies boosting demand for less lethal alternatives, increasing procurement of taser xrep rounds as integrated electrical incapacitation tools gain traction, growth in smart and sensor-enabled less lethal systems expanding market capabilities, expanding adoption of non-lethal solutions by private security forces supporting long-term market growth. Major trends in the forecast period include increased adoption of non-lethal weapons in urban policing, development of environmentally friendly ammunition, enhanced accuracy and range of less lethal projectiles, integration with wearable law enforcement technology, focus on training and safety protocols for end users.

Global Less Lethal Ammunition Market Segmentation

1) By Type: Rubber Bullets, Bean Bag Rounds, Plastic Bullets, Paintballs 2) By Weapon Type: Shotguns, Launchers, Other Weapon Types 3) By Application: Military, Law Enforcement, Other Applications Subsegments: 1) By Rubber Bullets: Solid Rubber Bullets, Rubber Coated Steel Bullets 2) By Bean Bag Rounds: Standard Bean Bag Rounds, Specialty Bean Bag Rounds 3) By Plastic Bullets: Solid Plastic Bullets, Hollow Plastic Bullets 4) By Paintballs: Standard Paintballs, Specialty Paintballs

What Is Driver Of The Less Lethal Ammunition Market?

Growing budget allocation for military and law enforcement sectors is expected to propel the growth of the less lethal ammunition market going forward. Budget allocation for military and law enforcement sectors refers to the process by which a government allocates financial resources to fund the operations, activities, and equipment of its military and law enforcement agencies. The budget allocation for military and law enforcement is useful for the expansion of less-lethal ammunition, facilitating the development and deployment of advanced technologies to enhance security forces' capabilities and mitigate concerns about lethal force. For instance, in April 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based research institute, Global military spending totaled $2,443 billion in 2023, marking a 6.8% increase in real terms compared to 2022. Therefore, growing budget allocation for military and law enforcement sectors is driving the growth of the less lethal ammunition industry.

Key Players In The Global Less Lethal Ammunition Market

Major companies operating in the less lethal ammunition market are Rheinmetall AG, ALS Technologies, Axon Enterprise Inc., Remington Arms, Smith & Wesson, SIG Sauer, FN Herstal, Heckler & Koch, Companhia Brasileira De Cartuchos (CBC), Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC, Safariland, Glock Ges.m.b.H, Beretta, ISPRA Ltd., Combined Systems Inc., Savage Arms, Byrna Technologies Inc., Security Equipment Corporation, Federal Ammunition, PepperBall Technologies Inc., Lrad Corporation, Sage Control Ordnance Inc., Nonlethal Technologies Inc., Mace Security International Inc., Benelli, Lightfield Ammunition Corporation, Security Devices International Inc.

Global Less Lethal Ammunition Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the less-lethal ammunition market are focused on developing innovative products such as shotguns to increase their profitability in the market. Less-lethal shotgun ammunition refers to specialized shotgun rounds designed to incapacitate or deter threats without causing fatal injuries. For instance, in September 2023, Byrna Technologies, a US-based defense products manufacturer, launched Byrna LE. Byrna LE Launcher is a more powerful handheld gun with patented pull-pierce technology and increased shot capacity. Accompanying it is a fin-tailed 12-gauge shotgun shell for enhanced self-defense options, allowing users to switch between less-lethal and standard rounds. Byrna aims to mitigate gun-related casualties by promoting the use of these alternatives, citing real-world successes in stopping carjackings, thwarting muggings, and preventing home invasions.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Less Lethal Ammunition Market? EDGE Group Acquires Majority Stake in Condor Non-Lethal Technologies to Boost Global Market Presence

In May 2024, EDGE Group, a United Arab Emirates-based defense contractor company, acquired 51% of Condor Non-Lethal Technologies for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition aims to enhance EDGE's capabilities in non-lethal technologies and expand its global market share in defence, public, and homeland security sectors. It also seeks to drive innovation and growth in key markets such as the USA. Condor Non-Lethal Technologies is a Brazil-based chemical manufacturing company that specializes in providing less lethal ammunition.

Regional Insights

North America was the largest region in the less lethal ammunition market in 2025. The regions covered in this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in this market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

What Defines the Less Lethal Ammunition Market?

The less lethal ammunition market consists of sales of rubber buckshot, soft polymer rounds, wax bullets, sponge grenades, ring airfoil projectiles and taser xrep rounds. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Less Lethal Ammunition Market Report 2026?

The less lethal ammunition market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides market statistics, including industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the market share, detailed market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the less lethal ammunition industry. The market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future state of the industry.