China vs United States: Cumulative number of people who have been to space
China
11 people
in 2021
United States
347 people
in 2021
China rank
3rd
United States rank
1st
Cumulative number of people who have been to space over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 347 people against 11 people in China, a difference of 336 people.
That makes United States's figure about 31.5 times China's.
Across all 61 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
China ranks 3rd and United States ranks 1st of 39 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 people | 13.67 people | 13.67 people | United States |
| 1970s | 0 people | 39.7 people | 39.7 people | United States |
| 1980s | 0 people | 91.8 people | 91.8 people | United States |
| 1990s | 0 people | 205.1 people | 205.1 people | United States |
| 2000s | 2.3 people | 282 people | 279.7 people | United States |
| 2010s | 9.4 people | 336.9 people | 327.5 people | United States |
| 2020s | 11 people | 347 people | 336 people | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher cumulative number of people who have been to space, China or United States?
- United States, at 347 people against 11 people in China as of 2021.
- What is the difference in cumulative number of people who have been to space between China and United States?
- 336 people, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 61 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2021.
- How do China and United States rank globally for cumulative number of people who have been to space?
- China ranks 3rd and United States ranks 1st of 39 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- CSIS Aerospace Security Project (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Cumulative number of people who have been to space. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.