how many satellites are orbiting earth

As of 2025, there are approximately 14,900 total satellites orbiting Earth. Out of these, about 11,000 to 12,000 are active and functioning, while the remaining 3,000 to 4,000 are inactive or defunct satellites, often considered space debris. This represents a significant increase in the number of satellites compared to previous years. The large majority of active satellites are concentrated in low Earth orbit, with many belonging to large commercial constellations like SpaceX's Starlink, which alone accounts for around 7,400 active satellites, making up over 60% of the active satellite population. Experts estimate that the total number of active satellites could potentially rise to around 100,000 before reaching a capacity limit due to orbital congestion concerns.