The United States has sent the most people to space, with more than 340 astronauts, far ahead of any other nation. Russia and the former Soviet Union rank second with over 130 cosmonauts, and China is a fast-rising third. In total more than 40 countries have sent at least one person into space.
Introduction
An astronaut is generally counted as someone who has crossed the widely used boundary of space at 100 kilometers altitude, or in the American definition at about 80 kilometers. Nationality is usually assigned by the country of citizenship, though many people have flown aboard vehicles built by another nation. That is why the list of countries with astronauts is longer than the short list of countries that can actually launch humans on their own.
Only three nations have independently launched humans into orbit: the United States, Russia as successor to the Soviet Union, and China. Everyone else has reached space by flying on American, Soviet, Russian or, more recently, commercial spacecraft. This guide ranks countries by the number of their citizens who have flown.
Countries Ranked by Number of Astronauts
The two space giants
- United States: More than 340 astronauts, the most of any country by a wide margin. NASA's Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs flew hundreds of people, and commercial spacecraft have since added more. The United States has sent more people to space than the rest of the world combined in some tallies.
- Russia and the USSR: More than 130 cosmonauts, second only to the United States. The Soviet Union opened the space age by launching Yuri Gagarin, the first human in orbit, in 1961, and Russia has flown crews continuously ever since.
Rising and established programs
- China: A growing corps of taikonauts, the third nation to launch humans independently since its first crewed flight in 2003. China now maintains its own Tiangong space station with a permanent crew presence.
- Germany: More than a dozen astronauts, the most of any European country, flying on Soviet, American and European Space Agency missions.
- Japan: Around a dozen astronauts, a core partner on the International Space Station with a strong record of long-duration flights.
- France: Roughly ten astronauts, long the leading spacefaring nation within Europe alongside Germany.
- Canada: Around a dozen astronauts, known for contributing the Canadarm robotic arms to the Shuttle and the space station.
- Italy: Several astronauts, including some record-setting long-duration station crew members.
The counts for smaller programs are approximate and grow as new missions fly. The clear takeaway is the enormous lead held by the United States, a direct result of decades of large crewed programs from Apollo through the Space Shuttle and now commercial flights.
Why the United States Leads
The American lead comes from the sheer scale and length of its human spaceflight effort. The Space Shuttle alone flew 135 missions, most carrying five to seven crew members, which added up quickly. The Apollo program sent 24 astronauts to the Moon, 12 of whom walked on its surface, and all 12 people who have walked on the Moon were American.
More recently, commercial vehicles have expanded access, carrying not only professional astronauts but also private citizens and international partners. Russia's total, while smaller, reflects an equally long and continuous history that began with the very first human spaceflight. China's numbers are climbing fast as it operates its own station, and it is likely to move up the ranking in the coming years.
Common Questions
Which country has sent the most people to space?
The United States, with more than 340 astronauts. Its total reflects the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs plus recent commercial flights, and it leads every other nation by a wide margin.
Which countries can launch humans on their own?
Only three: the United States, Russia as successor to the Soviet Union, and China. Astronauts from other nations have reached space by flying aboard these countries' spacecraft.
Who was the first person in space?
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who orbited the Earth on 12 April 1961. His flight opened the human space age and gave the Soviet Union an early lead that the United States later overtook.