As of early May 2025, there are approximately 12,149 active satellites orbiting Earth in various orbits

. This number reflects a rapid increase over recent years, driven largely by large satellite constellations such as SpaceX's Starlink, which alone accounts for about 60-66% of active satellites

. To provide context on the growth:

• In mid-2024, there were about 10,000 active satellites

• By the end of 2023, estimates were around 9,115 active satellites

• Earlier years had significantly fewer satellites, for example, about 6,700 active at the start of 2023

In total, including inactive satellites, defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and debris, there are over 28,000 tracked objects in orbit

. The surge in satellite numbers is mainly due to commercial mega- constellations aiming to provide global internet coverage, with SpaceX's Starlink leading the count and plans to expand beyond 40,000 satellites in the long term

. Summary:

• Active satellites in orbit (May 2025): ~12,149

• Total tracked objects in orbit (including inactive): >28,000

• Majority owned by SpaceX's Starlink constellation (~60-66%)

This marks an unprecedented era of satellite deployment and space traffic, raising challenges for space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation.