Africa's satellites: 69 launched by 18 countries, with ownership concentrated in a few
Space in Africa says seven countries own 47 of them; North Africa leads, and most are for Earth observation.
By Marcus Adeyemi · 8dLAGOS, Nigeria, Oct. 23, 2026 - Seven African countries own 47 of the 69 satellites the continent has launched, according to an analysis published by Space in Africa. A separate tally by Space Hubs Africa also counts 69 satellites, launched by 18 countries.
By that tally, North Africa leads with 30 satellites across five countries, followed by East Africa with 13 across seven countries and Southern Africa with 13 across two. West Africa has nine across three countries, and two Pan-African satellites have been launched. About 64% are for Earth observation, and the most recent launch was Algeria's AlSat-3B on 30 January 2026.
Impact Insight. Counting who operates which satellite is the base data for tracking orbital traffic and collision risk. The link to planetary defense is indirect: more countries running satellites means more objects to follow in low orbit, and more nations with a stake in keeping near-Earth space safe.
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