Cumulative number of objects launched into space in China
China: Cumulative number of objects launched into space was 1,759 objects in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative number of objects launched into space in China, 1970–2025
Source: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in objects.
Analysis
China recorded 1,759 objects for cumulative number of objects launched into space in 2025. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 27.0% on the previous year and up 478.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative number of objects launched into space in China peaked at 1,759 objects in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1 objects, in 1970.
China ranks 3rd of 50 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative number of objects launched into space in China, year by year
| Year | objects | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1 objects | — |
| 1971 | 2 objects | +100.0% |
| 1974 | 3 objects | +50.0% |
| 1975 | 6 objects | +100.0% |
| 1976 | 8 objects | +33.3% |
| 1978 | 9 objects | +12.5% |
| 1981 | 12 objects | +33.3% |
| 1982 | 13 objects | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 14 objects | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 17 objects | +21.4% |
| 1985 | 18 objects | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 20 objects | +11.1% |
| 1987 | 22 objects | +10.0% |
| 1988 | 26 objects | +18.2% |
| 1990 | 32 objects | +23.1% |
| 1991 | 33 objects | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 35 objects | +6.1% |
| 1993 | 36 objects | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 41 objects | +13.9% |
| 1995 | 42 objects | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 45 objects | +7.1% |
| 1997 | 52 objects | +15.6% |
| 1998 | 62 objects | +19.2% |
| 1999 | 72 objects | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 78 objects | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 80 objects | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 87 objects | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 96 objects | +10.3% |
| 2004 | 106 objects | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 113 objects | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 121 objects | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 131 objects | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 148 objects | +13.0% |
| 2009 | 156 objects | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 176 objects | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 196 objects | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 222 objects | +13.3% |
| 2013 | 241 objects | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 266 objects | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 304 objects | +14.3% |
| 2016 | 342 objects | +12.5% |
| 2017 | 373 objects | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 468 objects | +25.5% |
| 2019 | 544 objects | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 617 objects | +13.4% |
| 2021 | 727 objects | +17.8% |
| 2022 | 909 objects | +25.0% |
| 2023 | 1,119 objects | +23.1% |
| 2024 | 1,385 objects | +23.8% |
| 2025 | 1,759 objects | +27.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1,759 objects is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18 objects, 97.7× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- China's 1,759 objects is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 29 objects, 60.7× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative number of objects launched into space in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +100.0% | 1 objects | 2 objects |
| 1975 | +100.0% | 3 objects | 6 objects |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.83 objects | 1 objects | 9 objects | 6 |
| 1980s | 17.75 objects | 12 objects | 26 objects | 8 |
| 1990s | 45 objects | 32 objects | 72 objects | 10 |
| 2000s | 111.6 objects | 78 objects | 156 objects | 10 |
| 2010s | 313.2 objects | 176 objects | 544 objects | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,086 objects | 617 objects | 1,759 objects | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 15,677 objects compare
- 2 Russia 3,914 objects compare
- 4 United Kingdom 807 objects compare
- 5 Japan 384 objects compare
- 6 France 200 objects compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative number of objects launched into space in China?
- Cumulative number of objects launched into space in China was 1,759 objects in 2025, according to United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative number of objects launched into space recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1,759 objects in 2025.
- What is the lowest cumulative number of objects launched into space recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 objects in 1970.
- How does China rank for cumulative number of objects launched into space?
- China ranks 3rd out of 50 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cumulative number of objects launched into space rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 478.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cumulative number of objects launched into space. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cumulative number of satellites, probes, landers, crewed spacecrafts, and space station flight elements, launched into Earth orbit or beyond.