Annual number of objects launched into space in United States
United States: Annual number of objects launched into space was 3,708 objects in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3,708 objects
Change on year
up 64.0%
World rank
1st
of 50 countries
All-time high
3,708 objects
in 2025
All-time low
7 objects
in 1958
Years of data
68
1958–2025
Annual number of objects launched into space in United States, 1958–2025
Source: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in objects.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual number of objects launched into space in United States is 3,708 objects, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 68 years on record.
The figure is up 64.0% on the previous year and up 3,431.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of objects launched into space in United States peaked at 3,708 objects in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7 objects, in 1958.
That places United States 1st 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.
Annual number of objects launched into space in United States, year by year
| Year | objects | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 7 objects | — |
| 1959 | 11 objects | +57.1% |
| 1960 | 17 objects | +54.5% |
| 1961 | 31 objects | +82.4% |
| 1962 | 55 objects | +77.4% |
| 1963 | 54 objects | -1.8% |
| 1964 | 71 objects | +31.5% |
| 1965 | 94 objects | +32.4% |
| 1966 | 99 objects | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 85 objects | -14.1% |
| 1968 | 61 objects | -28.2% |
| 1969 | 62 objects | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 31 objects | -50.0% |
| 1971 | 46 objects | +48.4% |
| 1972 | 37 objects | -19.6% |
| 1973 | 28 objects | -24.3% |
| 1974 | 19 objects | -32.1% |
| 1975 | 30 objects | +57.9% |
| 1976 | 26 objects | -13.3% |
| 1977 | 24 objects | -7.7% |
| 1978 | 35 objects | +45.8% |
| 1979 | 19 objects | -45.7% |
| 1980 | 16 objects | -15.8% |
| 1981 | 20 objects | +25.0% |
| 1982 | 20 objects | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 26 objects | +30.0% |
| 1984 | 31 objects | +19.2% |
| 1985 | 30 objects | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 11 objects | -63.3% |
| 1987 | 10 objects | -9.1% |
| 1988 | 19 objects | +90.0% |
| 1989 | 25 objects | +31.6% |
| 1990 | 44 objects | +76.0% |
| 1991 | 32 objects | -27.3% |
| 1992 | 28 objects | -12.5% |
| 1993 | 31 objects | +10.7% |
| 1994 | 35 objects | +12.9% |
| 1995 | 40 objects | +14.3% |
| 1996 | 41 objects | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 88 objects | +114.6% |
| 1998 | 91 objects | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 80 objects | -12.1% |
| 2000 | 56 objects | -30.0% |
| 2001 | 34 objects | -39.3% |
| 2002 | 33 objects | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 28 objects | -15.2% |
| 2004 | 21 objects | -25.0% |
| 2005 | 21 objects | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 36 objects | +71.4% |
| 2007 | 46 objects | +27.8% |
| 2008 | 25 objects | -45.7% |
| 2009 | 38 objects | +52.0% |
| 2010 | 36 objects | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 30 objects | -16.7% |
| 2012 | 34 objects | +13.3% |
| 2013 | 80 objects | +135.3% |
| 2014 | 96 objects | +20.0% |
| 2015 | 105 objects | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 105 objects | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 286 objects | +172.4% |
| 2018 | 191 objects | -33.2% |
| 2019 | 362 objects | +89.5% |
| 2020 | 984 objects | +171.8% |
| 2021 | 1,232 objects | +25.2% |
| 2022 | 1,936 objects | +57.1% |
| 2023 | 2,233 objects | +15.3% |
| 2024 | 2,261 objects | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 3,708 objects | +64.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3,708 objects is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.5 objects, 674.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9 objects | 7 objects | 11 objects | 2 |
| 1960s | 62.9 objects | 17 objects | 99 objects | 10 |
| 1970s | 29.5 objects | 19 objects | 46 objects | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.8 objects | 10 objects | 31 objects | 10 |
| 1990s | 51 objects | 28 objects | 91 objects | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.8 objects | 21 objects | 56 objects | 10 |
| 2010s | 132.5 objects | 30 objects | 362 objects | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,059 objects | 984 objects | 3,708 objects | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of objects launched into space in United States?
- Annual number of objects launched into space in United States was 3,708 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 annual number of objects launched into space recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3,708 objects in 2025.
- What is the lowest annual number of objects launched into space recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 7 objects in 1958.
- How does United States rank for annual number of objects launched into space?
- United States ranks 1st out of 50 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual number of objects launched into space rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,431.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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 — 68 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.