World Space Week: Which countries have sent people to space?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that at least 746 people from 52 countries have travelled to space, counting both professional astronauts and paying tourists. The piece was published on October 5, 2026, for World Space Week, the UN-observed period from October 4 to 10 that highlights the role of space technology and exploration. The article places today’s space travel record in a broader historical context, noting the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, Yuri Gagarin’s first human spaceflight in 1961, and the entry into force of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967.

According to the report, the United States and the Soviet Union/Russia remain the dominant contributors of human spaceflight, with China also among the leading spacefaring nations that have launched people on their own rockets. Al Jazeera also says some astronauts hold dual nationality or flew for countries that no longer exist, which affects how the totals are counted. The article explains that there is no single global boundary for space, though the Karman line is often used as the benchmark.

The report says women remain a minority among space travellers, with 112 women, or about 15 percent of the total. It notes that commercial spaceflight has helped increase participation in recent years. Al Jazeera also highlights how age ranges have widened, from teenager Oliver Daemen to 90-year-old Ed Dwight, reflecting the growing role of private space companies and tourist flights.

The article frames these figures as part of a wider shift in human spaceflight, with NASA’s Artemis program, India’s planned Gaganyaan mission and China’s lunar ambitions all signaling continued competition and expansion in the field.