Martin Placek
Research expert covering transportation and electronics
Space industry worldwide - statistics & facts
The global space economy, valued at around 423.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, includes a range of activities involved in the researching, exploring, and utilization of space. There are several ways the industry can be divided for analysis, all of which have some overlap. One such way is to distinguish between the utilization of space for communications purposes, and the research and exploration of space for scientific or commercial purposes. In 2018, communications activities (related primarily to consumer television) comprised around 26 percent of the total space economy. By 2040, this share is predicted to grow to over 50 percent as the use of satellite and other space-based technology for internet infrastructure come into use.
Crossing over, but distinct from the communications segment, is the satellite segment. Satellites are often used for commercial communications, but can also relate non-commercial purposes such as military use or scientific research. Global revenue from satellites totaled 271 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, with 95 new satellites launched in that year. In recent times, the number of satellite launches has declined from the industry’s peak between the mid-1960s and late 1970’s, when an average of 128 satellites were launched per year. In 2019, there were 2,514 satellites in orbit, of which 1,327 belong to the United States.
Another third way to divide the space industry for analysis is by contrasting private and government spending. In 2019, government spending comprised around 20 percent of the total global space economy, amounting to some 87 billion U.S. dollars. The United States government is the largest contributor, with NASA’s budget being over 22.5 billion dollars in 2020. Other major government players are the European Space Agency and China, however their combined spending in 2017 was only 10.7 billion dollars – just over half of NASA’s spending for the same period. Of NASA’s budget, around half is spent on space exploration, with the remainder being spent on a variety of scientific, educational, engineering and administrative functions. However, public opinion is that NASA should focus more on research, technological development and threat prevention than space exploration. In a 2018 survey, only 18 percent of U.S. adults believe that sending astronauts to Mars should be a top priority.
Crossing over, but distinct from the communications segment, is the satellite segment. Satellites are often used for commercial communications, but can also relate non-commercial purposes such as military use or scientific research. Global revenue from satellites totaled 271 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, with 95 new satellites launched in that year. In recent times, the number of satellite launches has declined from the industry’s peak between the mid-1960s and late 1970’s, when an average of 128 satellites were launched per year. In 2019, there were 2,514 satellites in orbit, of which 1,327 belong to the United States.
Another third way to divide the space industry for analysis is by contrasting private and government spending. In 2019, government spending comprised around 20 percent of the total global space economy, amounting to some 87 billion U.S. dollars. The United States government is the largest contributor, with NASA’s budget being over 22.5 billion dollars in 2020. Other major government players are the European Space Agency and China, however their combined spending in 2017 was only 10.7 billion dollars – just over half of NASA’s spending for the same period. Of NASA’s budget, around half is spent on space exploration, with the remainder being spent on a variety of scientific, educational, engineering and administrative functions. However, public opinion is that NASA should focus more on research, technological development and threat prevention than space exploration. In a 2018 survey, only 18 percent of U.S. adults believe that sending astronauts to Mars should be a top priority.
