Orbital debris continues to grow as more satellites and rocket parts remain in space. See which countries top the list.
1/9Thousands of inactive satellites, rocket parts, and fragments now orbit Earth, creating a growing space debris problem. Data from Orbital Radar, as of August 3, 2026, shows which countries are linked to the highest number of tracked debris objects in space. (Image: AI-Generated)
2/9United States: The United States has 12,674 tracked debris objects, making it the world’s largest contributor to tracked orbital debris. Its decades of space activity have resulted in the highest number of catalogued debris objects. (Image: Canva)
3/9Russia: Russia ranks second with 1,301 tracked debris objects. Decades of space launches and ageing spacecraft have added to the debris population around Earth. (Image: Canva)
4/9China: China is close behind Russia with 1,247 tracked debris objects. The country’s expanding space programme has also increased the amount of tracked material in orbit. (Image: Canva)
5/9United Kingdom: The United Kingdom is linked to 720 tracked debris objects, placing it fourth on the list. (Image: Canva)
6/9Japan: Japan has 200 tracked debris objects in Earth’s orbit. The country has been active in satellite launches and space research for many years. (Image: Canva)
7/9France: France accounts for 117 tracked debris objects. It remains one of Europe’s major spacefaring nations. (Image: Canva)
8/9India: India has 108 tracked debris objects, according to the latest Orbital Radar data. The country has expanded its space activities in recent years while remaining among the smaller contributors in this list. (Image: Canva)
9/9Why space debris matters: Space debris can travel at very high speeds and poses a risk to satellites, spacecraft and future space missions. Space agencies around the world are working on better debris tracking, collision avoidance and technologies to remove debris from orbit. (Image: Canva)
