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How many satellites does Japan have?
As of October 17, 2026, Japan owns 143 active satellites, 0.8% of the world's 17,101 and the 5th most of any country. The biggest single group is GRUS, with 12 satellites (8% of the total).
143
Active satellites
0.8%
Of the world total
5th
Rank among countries
4
Launches in 2025
What they do
Earth imaging accounts for 57 of Japan's active satellites (40%).
Where they orbit
Who operates them
The largest operators, and the largest families of satellites, owned by Japan.
By operator
By satellite family
Operator names are as written in GCAT, usually transliterated from the original language. Families group satellites by the first word of their name.
How the fleet has grown
At the end of 2005, Japan had 86 payloads in Earth orbit. By the end of 2025 it had 214.
Launches
Japan has made 145 orbital launch attempts since its first in 1966, and 4 of them in 2025. Its busiest year was 2017 with 7.
Sources and method
- GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0. Updated October 17, 2026. Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat).
- Active means GCAT lists the satellite as working or possibly still transmitting, a status GCAT says is often a guess. Ownership is by the owner's country, not the launch country.