Cumulative number of objects launched into outer space in China
China: Cumulative number of objects launched into outer space was 1,759 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative number of objects launched into outer space in China, 1970–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 1,759 for cumulative number of objects launched into outer 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 outer space in China peaked at 1,759 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1, 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 outer space in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1 | — |
| 1971 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1974 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 1975 | 6 | +100.0% |
| 1976 | 8 | +33.3% |
| 1978 | 9 | +12.5% |
| 1981 | 12 | +33.3% |
| 1982 | 13 | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 14 | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 17 | +21.4% |
| 1985 | 18 | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 20 | +11.1% |
| 1987 | 22 | +10.0% |
| 1988 | 26 | +18.2% |
| 1990 | 32 | +23.1% |
| 1991 | 33 | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 35 | +6.1% |
| 1993 | 36 | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 41 | +13.9% |
| 1995 | 42 | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 45 | +7.1% |
| 1997 | 52 | +15.6% |
| 1998 | 62 | +19.2% |
| 1999 | 72 | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 78 | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 80 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 87 | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 96 | +10.3% |
| 2004 | 106 | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 113 | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 121 | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 131 | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 148 | +13.0% |
| 2009 | 156 | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 176 | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 196 | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 222 | +13.3% |
| 2013 | 241 | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 266 | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 304 | +14.3% |
| 2016 | 342 | +12.5% |
| 2017 | 373 | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 468 | +25.5% |
| 2019 | 544 | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 617 | +13.4% |
| 2021 | 727 | +17.8% |
| 2022 | 909 | +25.0% |
| 2023 | 1,119 | +23.1% |
| 2024 | 1,385 | +23.8% |
| 2025 | 1,759 | +27.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1,759 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18, 97.7× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- China's 1,759 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 29, 60.7× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative number of objects launched into outer 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 | 2 |
| 1975 | +100.0% | 3 | 6 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.83 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
| 1980s | 17.75 | 12 | 26 | 8 |
| 1990s | 45 | 32 | 72 | 10 |
| 2000s | 111.6 | 78 | 156 | 10 |
| 2010s | 313.2 | 176 | 544 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,086 | 617 | 1,759 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 15,677 compare
- 2 Russia 3,914 compare
- 4 United Kingdom 807 compare
- 5 Japan 384 compare
- 6 France 200 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 outer space in China?
- Cumulative number of objects launched into outer space in China was 1,759 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative number of objects launched into outer space recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1,759 in 2025.
- What is the lowest cumulative number of objects launched into outer space recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1970.
- How does China rank for cumulative number of objects launched into outer space?
- China ranks 3rd out of 50 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cumulative number of objects launched into outer 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Cumulative number of objects launched into outer 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).