How Many Cameras Are Watching You Right Now?

The answer depends on where you live. We analyzed camera density from our database of 498,500+ surveillance records across 183 countries to find out.

By the numbers

France has the highest density in our dataset: 60,983 speed cameras across a country of 67 million people. That’s nearly one camera per 1,100 people.

Estonia punches far above its weight: 6,116 cameras for a population of 1.3 million. That’s one camera per 213 people, making it one of the most surveilled countries per capita in Europe.

Italy has 12,120 mapped cameras. Spain has 10,080. Poland has 9,205.

The United States has the largest absolute count at 271,352 cameras in our database, but the real number is estimated at over 100 million. Our data captures what’s in public records and community mapping, not private installations.

Types matter more than counts

A city with 100 CCTV cameras is very different from a city with 100 ALPR readers.

CCTV records video. ALPR reads and logs every license plate, creating a searchable database of your movements. Facial recognition identifies you personally. Cell-site simulators intercept your communications.

The surveillance intensity of a location isn’t just about camera count. It’s about what those cameras do.

That’s why Sentinel tracks 10 different camera types, not just one number.

Check your area

Open Sentinel and search your address. The map shows every camera we know about within view. Toggle between camera types to see what’s watching versus what’s tracking versus what’s identifying.

The number might surprise you. For most people in US metro areas, there are 30-50 cameras within 1 kilometer. In London, that number is easily 100+.

The cameras don’t go away. But now you can see them.