Cumulative number of objects launched into space in Japan
Japan: Cumulative number of objects launched into space was 384 objects in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative number of objects launched into space in Japan, 1970–2025
Source: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in objects.
Analysis
In 2025, cumulative number of objects launched into space in Japan stood at 384 objects. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.5% on the previous year and up 90.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative number of objects launched into space in Japan peaked at 384 objects in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1 objects, in 1970.
That places Japan 5th out of 50 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | objects | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1 objects | — |
| 1971 | 3 objects | +200.0% |
| 1972 | 4 objects | +33.3% |
| 1974 | 5 objects | +25.0% |
| 1975 | 7 objects | +40.0% |
| 1976 | 8 objects | +14.3% |
| 1977 | 12 objects | +50.0% |
| 1978 | 16 objects | +33.3% |
| 1979 | 18 objects | +12.5% |
| 1980 | 20 objects | +11.1% |
| 1981 | 23 objects | +15.0% |
| 1982 | 24 objects | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 27 objects | +12.5% |
| 1984 | 30 objects | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 32 objects | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 36 objects | +12.5% |
| 1987 | 39 objects | +8.3% |
| 1988 | 41 objects | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 45 objects | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 52 objects | +15.6% |
| 1991 | 54 objects | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 58 objects | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 59 objects | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 63 objects | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 67 objects | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 70 objects | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 77 objects | +10.0% |
| 1998 | 80 objects | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 81 objects | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 84 objects | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 88 objects | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 98 objects | +11.4% |
| 2003 | 105 objects | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 107 objects | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 112 objects | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 123 objects | +9.8% |
| 2007 | 129 objects | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 135 objects | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 147 objects | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 156 objects | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 160 objects | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 169 objects | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 174 objects | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 198 objects | +13.8% |
| 2015 | 202 objects | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 213 objects | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 229 objects | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 246 objects | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 267 objects | +8.5% |
| 2020 | 276 objects | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 300 objects | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 312 objects | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 328 objects | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 354 objects | +7.9% |
| 2025 | 384 objects | +8.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 384 objects is above the median for high income countries, which is 40 objects, 9.6× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Japan's 384 objects is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 29 objects, 13.2× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative number of objects launched into space in Japan 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 | +200.0% | 1 objects | 3 objects |
| 1977 | +50.0% | 8 objects | 12 objects |
| 1975 | +40.0% | 5 objects | 7 objects |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.22 objects | 1 objects | 18 objects | 9 |
| 1980s | 31.7 objects | 20 objects | 45 objects | 10 |
| 1990s | 66.1 objects | 52 objects | 81 objects | 10 |
| 2000s | 112.8 objects | 84 objects | 147 objects | 10 |
| 2010s | 201.4 objects | 156 objects | 267 objects | 10 |
| 2020s | 325.67 objects | 276 objects | 384 objects | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative number of objects launched into space in Japan?
- Cumulative number of objects launched into space in Japan was 384 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 384 objects in 2025.
- What is the lowest cumulative number of objects launched into space recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 objects in 1970.
- How does Japan rank for cumulative number of objects launched into space?
- Japan ranks 5th out of 50 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cumulative number of objects launched into space rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 90.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 55 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.