China vs United Kingdom: Cumulative number of objects launched into space
China
1,759 objects
in 2025
United Kingdom
807 objects
in 2025
China rank
3rd
United Kingdom rank
4th
Cumulative number of objects launched into space over time
- China
- United Kingdom
How they compare
China currently reports 1,759 objects against 807 objects in United Kingdom, a difference of 952 objects.
That makes China's figure about 2.2 times United Kingdom's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 34 shared years of data; in 1970 it was United Kingdom ahead.
China ranks 3rd and United Kingdom ranks 4th of 50 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 5 and United Kingdom in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United Kingdom | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2 objects | 8.67 objects | 6.67 objects | United Kingdom |
| 1980s | 18.33 objects | 17.67 objects | 0.6667 objects | China |
| 1990s | 48 objects | 28.8 objects | 19.2 objects | China |
| 2000s | 114.57 objects | 41.43 objects | 73.14 objects | China |
| 2010s | 313.2 objects | 77.7 objects | 235.5 objects | China |
| 2020s | 1,086 objects | 620 objects | 466 objects | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher cumulative number of objects launched into space, China or United Kingdom?
- China, at 1,759 objects against 807 objects in United Kingdom as of 2025.
- What is the difference in cumulative number of objects launched into space between China and United Kingdom?
- 952 objects, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United Kingdom?
- 34 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do China and United Kingdom rank globally for cumulative number of objects launched into space?
- China ranks 3rd and United Kingdom ranks 4th of 50 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Cumulative number of objects launched into space. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Cumulative number of satellites, probes, landers, crewed spacecrafts, and space station flight elements, launched into Earth orbit or beyond.