Annual number of objects launched into space in South Africa
South Africa: Annual number of objects launched into space was 1 objects in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Annual number of objects launched into space in South Africa, 1999–2023
Source: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in objects.
Analysis
In 2023, annual number of objects launched into space in South Africa stood at 1 objects. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 66.7% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of objects launched into space in South Africa peaked at 3 objects in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1 objects, in 1999.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 50 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Annual number of objects launched into space in South Africa, year by year
| Year | objects | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 objects | — |
| 2009 | 1 objects | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1 objects | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1 objects | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1 objects | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3 objects | +200.0% |
| 2023 | 1 objects | -66.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1 objects is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2 objects, 50% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1 objects | 1 objects | 1 objects | 1 |
| 2000s | 1 objects | 1 objects | 1 objects | 1 |
| 2010s | 1 objects | 1 objects | 1 objects | 3 |
| 2020s | 2 objects | 1 objects | 3 objects | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of objects launched into space in South Africa?
- Annual number of objects launched into space in South Africa was 1 objects in 2023, according to United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual number of objects launched into space recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3 objects in 2022.
- What is the lowest annual number of objects launched into space recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 objects in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for annual number of objects launched into space?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 50 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual number of objects launched into space rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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 Annual number of objects launched into space. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual number of satellites, probes, landers, crewed spacecrafts, and space station flight elements, launched into Earth orbit or beyond.