Midwest Shines Brightest: These States Import Highest Value of Fireworks per Person

Fireworks have long been a Fourth of July tradition for millions of Americans, but the celebrations can also come with serious injuries and expensive medical bills for households. An estimated 13,029 people visited emergency departments for fireworks injuries in 2025, down 11.6% from 14,741 in 2024, according to a ValuePenguin analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) data.

Even with that decline, thousands of Americans suffered burns, eye injuries and other fireworks-related accidents. Still, ahead of the busy summer holiday season, some states continue to import large amounts of fireworks.

Key findings

South Dakota leads in fireworks imports per capita

South Dakota imported more fireworks per resident than any other state in 2025. The state brought in $11.4 million worth of fireworks, or $12.37 per resident, according to a ValuePenguin analysis of U.S. Census Bureau trade data. Missouri ranked close behind at $11.67 per resident, while Kansas finished third at $5.53.

The top of the fireworks import rankings leaned heavily toward Midwestern and Plains states. Alabama, Nebraska, Ohio and Wyoming all imported at least $3.90 worth of fireworks per resident, while Montana and North Dakota also landed in the top 10.

In many of these states, fireworks stands, roadside tents and large backyard celebrations remain a major part of the Fourth of July season. A few trends could help explain why some states import far more fireworks than others:

At the other end of the rankings, Massachusetts and Minnesota tied for the lowest fireworks imports per resident at just $0.01. North Carolina ranked just above them at $0.02 per resident, while Alaska and Colorado also landed near the bottom.

Those lower totals often reflect tighter state and local laws that restrict consumer fireworks sales. Minnesota, for example, bans most consumer fireworks, though residents can still legally buy novelty products like sparklers and smoke devices. States with stricter rules generally have fewer fireworks retailers and less demand for large import shipments — both during the summer holiday season and throughout the rest of the year.

Full rankings: States that import the highest/lowest value of fireworks per person

China dominates U.S. fireworks imports

China supplied nearly all fireworks imported into the U.S. in 2025. The U.S. imported $380 million worth of fireworks from China last year, accounting for 93.2% of all fireworks imports, according to a ValuePenguin analysis of U.S. Census Bureau trade data. Spain ranked a distant second, accounting for 3.2%, or $12.9 million worth, of firework imports.

That level of dependence didn’t happen overnight. The U.S. fireworks industry has relied heavily on Chinese manufacturing imports for decades. In fact, the American Pyrotechnics Association says that China still supplies most consumer and large professional displays in the U.S.

Tariffs on Chinese imports have made the situation more unpredictable for fireworks retailers in recent years. The National Fireworks Association warned that higher tariffs could increase costs, disrupt shipments and put pressure on inventory levels ahead of major holidays like the Fourth of July.

Countries that export the highest/lowest value of fireworks to the U.S.

The U.S. exported far fewer fireworks products than it imported last year, though a handful of states still accounted for most fireworks exports. Virginia led the country with 47.3% of U.S. fireworks exports, followed by South Dakota at 12.7% and Oklahoma at 8.5%. Florida and Texas also ranked among the top exporting states.

States that export the highest/lowest value of fireworks to other countries

Fireworks injuries fell in 2025 but remain elevated

Fireworks injuries declined by 11.6% in 2025 after a sharp increase the year before. But even with that improvement, fireworks injuries remained above the levels reported between 2021 and 2023. And for many families, even a relatively minor fireworks injury can turn costly once emergency room or urgent care visits enter the picture — especially for households without adequate health insurance coverage.

Several factors may have contributed to the decline in injuries last year, including growing awareness around fireworks safety, higher fireworks prices and families cutting back on discretionary spending. Tariffs and higher import costs have also put additional pressure on fireworks retailers in recent years, which could affect how much consumers buy and use during major holidays.

Nonetheless, thousands of Americans still end up in the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries every year.

Young people bear the brunt of fireworks injuries

Americans younger than 30 accounted for 63.0% of all fireworks-related injuries in 2025. Those ages 10 to 19 made up the largest share at 24.1%, followed by adults ages 20 to 29 at 21.7%. Children younger than 10 represented another 17.3% of injuries.

Young people face elevated fireworks injury risk because they’re more likely to handle sparklers and other consumer fireworks at close range — a danger many parents underestimate since sparklers can burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

CPSC recommends keeping children away from consumer fireworks, including sparklers, and leaving larger fireworks displays to trained professionals whenever possible. Adults should also avoid relighting malfunctioning fireworks or allowing children to pick up fireworks that may not have fully ignited.

Emergency room visits by age group

Tips for staying safe with fireworks

Fireworks remain a major part of many Fourth of July celebrations, but they also cause thousands of injuries and fires every year. Even smaller consumer fireworks can lead to severe burns, eye injuries and expensive property damage when people use them improperly.

Families planning backyard fireworks displays this summer can lower their risk of injury or fire by taking a few basic precautions. Safety experts say that preparation, supervision and distance all play a role in fireworks safety.

Many Americans are already worried about rising household expenses, and unexpected medical bills can make those financial pressures even harder to manage. Families traveling for holiday celebrations could face even higher costs if they need emergency treatment outside their insurance network after a serious fireworks injury. Yet if you take a few basic precautions before using fireworks, it could help you avoid both physical injuries and costly surprises this summer.

Methodology

ValuePenguin researchers utilized 2025 U.S. Census Bureau USA Trade Online data.

Researchers compared the value of imported fireworks in 2025 to the U.S. population in 2024 (the latest available, via the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey with one-year estimates). Analysts then ranked states from highest to lowest based on the per-capita value of imported fireworks.

Researchers also determined the countries that exported the highest value of fireworks imported to the U.S. and the states that exported the highest value of fireworks to other countries.

Separately, researchers analyzed Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data to show the number of people treated in emergency departments for fireworks injuries from 2016 through 2025.