Russia vs United States: Cumulative number of people who have been to space
Russia
124 people
in 2021
United States
347 people
in 2021
Russia rank
2nd
United States rank
1st
Cumulative number of people who have been to space over time
- Russia
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 347 people against 124 people in Russia, a difference of 223 people.
That makes United States's figure about 2.8 times Russia's.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 61 shared years of data; in 1961 it was United States ahead.
Russia ranks 2nd 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 | Russia | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.67 people | 13.67 people | 4 people | United States |
| 1970s | 33.6 people | 39.7 people | 6.1 people | United States |
| 1980s | 58.3 people | 91.8 people | 33.5 people | United States |
| 1990s | 80.2 people | 205.1 people | 124.9 people | United States |
| 2000s | 97.8 people | 282 people | 184.2 people | United States |
| 2010s | 116.6 people | 336.9 people | 220.3 people | United States |
| 2020s | 123.5 people | 347 people | 223.5 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, Russia or United States?
- United States, at 347 people against 124 people in Russia as of 2021.
- What is the difference in cumulative number of people who have been to space between Russia and United States?
- 223 people, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Russia and United States?
- 61 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2021.
- How do Russia and United States rank globally for cumulative number of people who have been to space?
- Russia ranks 2nd 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.