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How many rocket launches were there in 2023?

In 2023, there were 223 orbital launch attempts, and 211 succeeded. That is 37 more than 2022's 186. The United States led with 109, and SpaceX flew 98.

223

Launch attempts

211

Successful

By SpaceX

Carrying Starlink

A Falcon Heavy rocket lifting off in the distance above the Florida coast — NASA's Psyche spacecraft lifts off on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Launch Complex 39A on October 13, 2023. Photo: NASA/Kevin O'Connell.

2,952 payloads were carried into orbit. 12 launches failed. 2 Starship test flights are included in the total.

Launches by month

Orbital launch attempts each month of 2023.

By country

The biggest change from 2022 was the United States, up 31 to 109 launches.

United States109 (48.9%)
China67 (30.0%)
Russia19 (8.5%)
India7 (3.1%)
New Zealand7 (3.1%)
Japan3 (1.3%)
France3 (1.3%)
North Korea3 (1.3%)

By rocket

Falcon 991 (40.8%)
Chang Zheng 2D12 (5.4%)
Electron9 (4.0%)
Soyuz-2-1A9 (4.0%)
Gushenxing 17 (3.1%)
Chang Zheng 2C6 (2.7%)
Chang Zheng 4C6 (2.7%)
Kuaizhou-1A6 (2.7%)

Launches in every year since 1957.

Sources and method

GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0. Updated October 17, 2026. Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat).
Counts are one per launch, not per satellite, and include failures and Starship test flights.

How many rocket launches were there in 2023?

Launches by month

By country

By launch site

By rocket

Sources and method