The U.S. is Dominating the Global Space Race 🛰️

What We’re Showing

The annual number of objects launched into space over the past five years, based on data from the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (accessed via Our World in Data).

America’s Space Boom

The U.S. has launched the most space objects annually for many decades, but not to the degree seen over the past five years. For example, in the year 2000, the U.S. accounted for 56 of 121 objects launched, translating to a share of 46%. In 2023, it accounted for 2,166 of 2,664, objects launched, resulting in a dominant 82% share.

Cumulative Data Offers Another Perspective

The U.S. has 9,632 objects registered in space, meaning 22% of its total space objects were launched in 2023 alone.

America’s massive ramp-up in recent years has helped it become the global leader in registered space objects as of 2020, finally surpassing Russia (which reigned from 1974 to 2019).