China vs Japan: Yearly number of objects launched into outer space
China
374
in 2025
Japan
30
in 2025
China rank
2nd
Japan rank
4th
Yearly number of objects launched into outer space over time
- China
- Japan
How they compare
China currently reports 374 against 30 in Japan, a difference of 344.
That makes China's figure about 12.5 times Japan's.
The two have swapped places 13 times across 50 shared years of data; in 1970 it was Japan ahead.
China ranks 2nd and Japan ranks 4th of 50 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 4 and Japan in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Japan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.5 | 1.83 | 0.3333 | Japan |
| 1980s | 2.12 | 2.62 | 0.5 | Japan |
| 1990s | 4.6 | 3.6 | 1 | China |
| 2000s | 8.4 | 6.6 | 1.8 | China |
| 2010s | 38.8 | 12 | 26.8 | China |
| 2020s | 202.5 | 19.5 | 183 | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher yearly number of objects launched into outer space, China or Japan?
- China, at 374 against 30 in Japan as of 2025.
- What is the difference in yearly number of objects launched into outer space between China and Japan?
- 344, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Japan?
- 50 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do China and Japan rank globally for yearly number of objects launched into outer space?
- China ranks 2nd and Japan ranks 4th of 50 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Yearly number of objects launched into outer space. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.