How does NATO rank for cumulative number of objects launched into space?

NATO ranks 2nd out of 2 groups with data for 1991.

Is cumulative number of objects launched into space rising or falling in NATO?

Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this NATO 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.

Cumulative number of objects launched into space in NATO

Name: Cumulative number of objects launched into space in NATO
Creator: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

NATO: Cumulative number of objects launched into space was 5 objects in 1991. ▲ Rising

Latest (1991)

5 objects

Rank

2nd

of 2 groups

All-time high

5 objects

in 1991

All-time low

1 objects

in 1970

Years of data

1970–1991

Cumulative number of objects launched into space in NATO, 1970–1991

Source: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in objects.

Analysis

NATO recorded 5 objects for cumulative number of objects launched into space in 1991. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is up 25.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, cumulative number of objects launched into space in NATO peaked at 5 objects in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1 objects, in 1970.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1970s	2 objects	1 objects	3 objects	3
1980s	4 objects	4 objects	4 objects	1
1990s	5 objects	5 objects	5 objects	1

Countries ranked near NATO

1 United States 15,677 objects compare
2 Russia 3,914 objects compare
3 China 1,759 objects compare
4 United Kingdom 807 objects compare
5 Japan 384 objects compare

See the full ranking of 52 places →

More reference data data for NATO

Annual number of objects launched into space 1 objects (1991)

All data for NATO →

Frequently asked questions

What is cumulative number of objects launched into space in NATO?: Cumulative number of objects launched into space in NATO was 5 objects in 1991, 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 NATO?: The highest recorded value was 5 objects in 1991.
What is the lowest cumulative number of objects launched into space recorded in NATO?: The lowest recorded value was 1 objects in 1970.
How does NATO rank for cumulative number of objects launched into space?: NATO ranks 2nd out of 2 groups with data for 1991.
Is cumulative number of objects launched into space rising or falling in NATO?: Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this NATO 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 — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Cumulative number of objects launched into space
Unit: objects
Source: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 52 places, 979 data points, 1957–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Cumulative number of satellites, probes, landers, crewed spacecrafts, and space station flight elements, launched into Earth orbit or beyond.