Riot Control System - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The riot control system market size was valued at USD 12.90 billion in 2025, and is forecast to grow from USD 13.26 billion in 2026 to reach USD 17.14 billion by 2031, at a 5.27% CAGR during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is segmented by Product Type (Personal Protective Equipment and Offensive Equipment), End-User (Law Enforcement and Special Forces), Technology (Electronic and Sonic Weapons, Kinetic Impact Weapons, Chemical Agents, and Others), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Riot Control System Market Trends and Insights

Civil Unrest, Protests, and Large Public Gatherings

Protest frequency and intensity are prompting law enforcement agencies in the riot control system market to review crowd-management readiness more often, including their stock of munitions, protective equipment, and communication tools. ACLED recorded more than 173,900 protests and riots globally between mid-November 2024 and mid-November 2025, which represented a nearly 5% year-over-year increase. The organization also reported Gen-Z-led mass mobilizations in more than 70 countries during this period. In the US, Princeton Bridging Divides recorded nearly 20,000 demonstrations in 2025 and found that less-lethal weapons were used in 22% of protests with recorded police engagement. The same source described that deployment rate as almost 4 times the 2024 level. The market, therefore, benefits when suppliers can meet surge orders while supporting installed launcher platforms.

Modernization of Law-Enforcement and Public-Order Forces

Modernization programs create market demand that continues beyond the response to an individual public event, because public agencies commonly plan purchases around replacement schedules and standardized training. The US Customs and Border Protection awarded a less-lethal specialty munitions contract in April 2026 valued at up to USD 50 million. The contract covered 123 product types across 10 categories, indicating the breadth of equipment that agencies procure together. Such requirements commonly link equipment standardization with operator training, supply continuity, and fleet-level replacement planning. Suppliers with established frameworks can benefit after an agency selects a hardware platform. The riot control system industry also benefits when agencies replace compatible ammunition alongside related hardware.

Human-Rights, Liability, and Use-of-Force Exposure

Liability risk and human rights scrutiny can extend the time required for the procurement review of riot control systems, particularly when agencies need legal guidance before approving a new product or operating method. CIVICUS documented excessive force against protesters in at least 67 countries during 2025. This scrutiny can narrow the products that agencies approve, even when funding remains available. The Uppsala Conflict Data Program recorded 244,600 fatalities from organized violence in 2025, compared with 187,000 in 2024. This environment makes use-of-force incidents subject to immediate public, legal, and policy attention. The market is consequently moving toward higher-value systems that better document equipment use, even when volume growth is constrained.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Asia-Pacific Border-Security and Urban-Safety Procurement
• De-Escalation Mandates and Accountability Requirements
• Chemical, Environmental, and Export-Control Restrictions

Segment Analysis

Offensive equipment captured 69.74% of the riot control system market share in 2025, giving it the leading position within the category. This position reflects long-standing inventories of launchers, chemical rounds, kinetic projectiles, and directed-energy systems. Ammunition is a frequently replenished item within this category. That recurring requirement can temper the uneven timing of hardware orders. The April 2026 Customs and Border Protection contract covered hand-delivered pyrotechnic munitions, impact munitions, and other less-lethal products.

Personal protective equipment, including vests, helmets, gas masks, and shields, is forecast to grow at a 6.67% CAGR through 2031. Thus, it remains an essential complement to the riot control system market, even when agencies prioritize equipment for crowd management. It represents the remaining product share and can be required by safety and compliance rules. Safariland supplied its AMP-1X ballistic helmets to the Philadelphia Police SWAT Unit in January 2025. The helmets were certified under the FBI-DEA Ballistic Helmet Protocol 2024 V.2 and were 20% lighter than the earlier AMP-1TP model. Agencies that update launchers may also update protective equipment for the officers who use them.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Product Type
  • Personal Protective Equipment
    • Vests
    • Helmets
    • Gas Masks
    • Shields
  • Offensive Equipment
    • Area Denial
      • Anti-vehicle
      • Anti-personnel
    • Ammunition
      • Rubber Bullets
      • Wax Bullets
      • Plastic Bullets
      • Bean Bag Rounds
      • Sponge Grenade
    • Explosives
      • Flash Bang Grenades
      • Sting Grenades
    • Gases and Sprays
      • Water Cannons
      • Scent-based Weapons
      • Tear Gas
      • Pepper Spray
    • Directed Energy Weapons
    • Electroshock Weapons
    • Other Offensive Equipment
• By End-User
  • Law Enforcement
  • Special Forces
• By Technology
  • Electronic and Sonic Weapons
  • Kinetic Impact Weapons
  • Chemical Agents
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Rest of South America
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Middle East
      • Saudi Arabia
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Israel
      • Rest of Middle East
    • Africa
      • South Africa
      • Rest of Africa

Geography Analysis

North America held 29.01% of revenue in 2025, placing it at the center of the riot control system market. The region brings together major producers of less-lethal systems and federal, state, and municipal buyers. Federal agencies provide a steady base of framework procurement for tactical and public-safety equipment. Canada’s demand is more concentrated in municipal policing and use-of-force reform needs. The region’s agencies are also investing in acoustic hailing and body-worn camera integration. This procurement depth supports larger and more complex contracts than many other national markets.

Asia-Pacific is forecast to grow at a 6.09% CAGR through 2031 and is expected to increase its contribution to the riot control system market as public safety and border requirements evolve. Police modernization, border operations, and domestic procurement programs support the region. India has a large policing base, and state-level agencies can influence replacement cycles. China has domestic production capacity that reduces its reliance on Western suppliers. Genasys received a USD 2 million order from the Republic of Singapore Navy in February 2026 for LRAD 950NXT systems on USVs. The order shows the use of acoustic systems across naval and border-security applications.

Europe remains a major producer and buyer of specialized public-order systems in the riot control system market, although compliance requirements affect both product approvals and export processes. Regulatory compliance limits growth in Western Europe, while concerns about civil unrest support ongoing procurement. The market has demand across Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Russia. EU Regulation 2019/125 affects the export of riot control agents and can lengthen cross-border sales processes. South America, and the Middle East and Africa remain smaller but growing areas. Their demand is linked to event security, border protection, internal security, water-cannon vehicles, and acoustic warning systems.

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Safariland, LLC
• Combined Systems, Inc.
• EDGE Group PJSC
• Genasys, Inc.
• Pacem Solution International, LLC
• Rheinmetall AG
• Desert Wolf
• Etienne Lacroix Group
• NonLethal Technologies, Inc.
• FN HERSTAL (FN Browning Group)
• Katmerciler A.Ş.
• STREIT Group
• Byrna Technologies Inc.
• Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.
• Revelyst, Inc.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support