Smile, You are on Camera

One billion surveillance cameras will be deployed globally by 2021, according to data compiled by IHS Markit. China’s installed base is expected to rise to over 560 million cameras by 2021, representing the largest share of surveillance devices installed globally. The US is rising to about 85 million cameras. When taking populations into account China will continue to have nearly the same ratio of cameras to citizens as the US.

In 2018, China had 350 million cameras installed for an estimated one camera for every 4.1 people. That compared to one for every 4.6 people in the US where 70 million cameras were installed. Taiwan was third in terms of penetration with one camera for every 5.5 citizens in 2018, followed by the UK and Ireland 1 to 6.5 and Singapore 1 to 7.1.