Surveillance has become a topic of interest among netizens worldwide.
Surveillance devices aim to promote peace and order by monitoring traffic smoothly, making investigations easier and more accurate, and promoting the common good of citizens in general.
On the other hand, people are increasingly becoming concerned about where to put the line and start prioritizing the right to privacy.
Tune in until the end of the article to find several interesting information about CCTV.
Let us dive right in and see which country has the most eyes tracking people’s every movement, often without them knowing.
Which Country Has the Most CCTV in the World in 2025?
The country that has the most CCTV in the world is China.
Given the nation’s size, in terms of landmass and population, there is no doubt it topped the list.
According to a recent study from PreciseSecurity details, China has a total of 200 million CCTV cameras, and growing.
Its major cities and business hubs also lead the rankings for cities having the highest number of the same surveillance devices.
On the other hand, China comes just second to the United States in terms of CCTV count per capita.
The world’s second-biggest economy has 14.36 cameras installed per 100 people while the United States has 15.28 cameras per hundred.
Countries with the Highest CCTV Count
Some countries also invest high in their national security and surveillance departments.
Here is the list of the top countries with the highest CCTV cameras installed in the world:
- China – 200 million CCTV cameras
- United States – 50 million CCTV cameras
- United Kingdom – 5 million CCTV cameras
- Japan – close to 5 million CCTV cameras
- Vietnam – 2.6 million CCTV cameras
- France – 1.65 million CCTV cameras
- South Korea – 1.03 million CCTV cameras
- The Netherlands – 1 million CCTV cameras
Which Country Has the Most CCTV per Person?
Meanwhile, here are the countries that topped the list with the highest CCTV cameras installed per 100 people:
- United States – 15.28 devices in 100 people
- China – 14.36 devices in 100 people
- United Kingdom – 7.5 devices in 100 people
- Germany – 6.27 devices in 100 people
- The Netherlands – 5.8 devices in 100 people
- Australia – 4.0 devices in 100 people
- Japan – 2.72 devices in 100 people
- France – 2.46 devices in 100 people
- South Korea – 1.99 devices in 100 people
Cities with the Highest CCTV Camera Count in the World
The majority of the most monitored cities globally are located in the two biggest countries in terms of population, China and India.
Take a look at our list of the most surveilled cities and the number of CCTV cameras installed in each location per 1,000 people:
- Taiyuan (China) – 117 in 1,000 people
- Wuxi (China) – 90.5 in 1,000 people
- London (United Kingdom) – 73.3 in 1,000 people
- Indore (India) – 64.4 in 1,000 people
- Changsha (China) – 55.8 in 1,000 people
- Beijing (China) – 55.0 in 1,000 people
- Hangzhou (China) – 51.0 in 1,000 people
- Qingdao (China) – 45.6 in 1,000 people
- Kunming (China) – 44.0 in 1,000 people
- Xiamen (China) – 39.6 in 1,000 people
- Harbin (China) – 38.1 in 1,000 people
- Hyderabad (India) – 36.5 in 1,000 people
As observed, the world’s capital cities and major districts do not necessarily have the highest CCTV count per 1,000 inhabitants.
Among the capitals, only London from the United Kingdom and Beijing from China made the list.
All About CCTV Cameras
CCTV cameras are among the most helpful devices for promoting peace and order in today’s society. But what exactly are they?
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) are video surveillance devices that can transmit broadcasts and recordings in real-time to another connected display device, particularly a monitor, that is part of the closed-loop system.
This means that only devices directly part of this series of connected devices has the access to the information transmitted by a CCTV.
Contrary to the knowledge of many, these devices have already been in circulation since the late 1940s, albeit at a limited number and locations.
The primary purpose of CCTV installation is to detect and prevent activities related to crime and traffic.
But controversies arise as these devices are now used to track every movement of a population which could possibly overturn personal safety at one point.
Different Types of CCTV Cameras
CCTV cameras may look one of the same, but different types are serving different purposes and features.
- Analog CCTV – equipped with a traditional analog camera connected to a digital video recorder. The information generated from an analog CCTV is directly installed on a hard drive
- Digital CCTV – is an advanced version of the analog type connected to a network video recorder in replacement of the digital video recorder. This means surveillance can be transmitted, viewed, and monitored as long as there is an internet connection available
- Simple CCTV – composed of a simple camera and monitor connected directly to one another device for transmitting footages
- Grid-powered CCTV – these are devices powered by a grid, removing the reliance on a simple monitor for power
- Recording CCTV – this type allows users to record by either a digital video recorder or a network video recorder and install information on a hard drive. A recording CCTV is known as the most advanced among all CCTV types
Benefits of Installing a CCTV
Installing a CCTV camera comes with many benefits for countries, anchored in promoting peace and order among members of the population.
Accurate Sources of Information
CCTV cameras have become a reliable source of information when a crime happens.
Given the advancement of technology, these devices can now record events clearly and round the clock, making crime and accident investigations faster to solve as perpetrators are identified a spot on.
Faster Response to Disasters
Another benefit of installing CCTV involves disaster management.
These devices help local authorities assess the situation better during and after the disaster, which hastens rescue operations.
Instigates Fear Which Leads to Lesser Crimes
CCTV cameras make crime difficult to execute.
As more perpetrators are easily tracked down following a crime, fear of being involved or starting one has been on the rise today more than ever due to these surveillance cameras.
Conclusion
There you have it! China is the country which has the most CCTV in the world in 2025.
Many of the nation’s cities also topped the list with the highest number of these types of surveillance devices per 1,000 inhabitants.
Before visiting any country for travel, make sure to check out their CCTV statistics and review their local rules and regulations.
This is an important safety measure that can save you loads of trouble one day.
Sources
| CNBC | Paessler | Secure it Securities |
| Statista | AiThority | US News |
| Comparitech | Urban Company |
