The number of orbital launches each year has climbed to record highs, reaching 324 in 2025. So far in 2026, 171 launches have reached orbit. The 2025 total is about 2.9 times the 113 flown in 2020, and 97% of that year's attempts successfully reached orbit. A "launch" here means an orbital launch attempt, counted whether it succeeded or failed, and excluding suborbital test flights.
A steep and recent climb
Launch activity has accelerated sharply over a short span. The world flew 113 orbital launches in 2020. By 2023 the annual total had passed 200 for the first time, and by 2025 it had reached 324, roughly 2.9 times higher in about half a decade. Two shifts explain most of it. Reusable rockets made getting to orbit cheaper and let a single rocket fly far more often, and the arrival of large satellite "mega-constellations" created steady, repeating demand for launches. A widening field of new countries and private companies has added to the total on top of that.
This year's pace
2026 is shaping up to be another busy year. 171 orbital launches have flown so far. By the same point in 2025, 156 launches had flown, so 2026 is running slightly ahead of last year's pace. For reference, 2025 finished the year at 324 launches in total.
Who is launching
Launches come from a broad mix of operators, but they are not spread evenly. SpaceX is the largest single launch provider by a wide margin: it flew 165 of 2025's 324 launches, about 51% of the global total. It reaches that cadence by reusing its Falcon 9 boosters and by launching its own Starlink internet satellites, which on their own call for dozens of flights every year.
The rest of the field is large and growing. Aside from the United States, China is the next-biggest launcher, with 93 orbital launches in 2025 from its state space corporation and a fast-expanding set of commercial startups. After SpaceX, the next-busiest were Rocket Lab (18) and Arianespace (7). Established providers like United Launch Alliance and Russia's Roscosmos fly much of the rest, alongside a lengthening list of newer entrants. The top launch nations for 2025 are broken down below.
Why the totals keep rising
The growth is broad, even if it is uneven. SpaceX accounts for a large share of the increase: of the 211 additional launches a year since 2020, about 140 come from SpaceX, driven mainly by its Starlink deployments. The rest of the world has grown as well, from 88 launches in 2020 to 159 in 2025, led by China's expanding commercial sector. One very high-cadence operator plus a broadening base of everyone else is what keeps pushing the annual record higher.
These figures update as new launches are logged. For the live running count, this year's schedule, and a full breakdown by rocket and operator, see the launch tracker.