How many Terracotta Warriors are there in the Terracotta Army?

So far, nearly 8,000 life-size terracotta figures have been uncovered across the burial pits of Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum. The main military pits contain the majority: the largest Pit 1 holds over 6,000 warriors arranged in battle formation; Pit 2 contains more than 1,300 terracotta figures, while Pit 3, considered to be the command center, has 68 figures. Additionally, accessory pits of the mausoleum have yielded some special figures. Currently, the excavation of the Terracotta Army is still ongoing, and more terracotta figures are likely to be discovered in the future.
 

Pit 1, the largest of the three main pits, spans 230 meters (755 feet) in length and 62 meters (203 feet) in width, covering an area of 14,260 square meters (3.5 acres). So far, over 1,000 terracotta figures have been unearthed here. Based on the density of excavated figures, it is estimated that the pit contains approximately 6,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses, forming the main force of the Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 BC) army.

The eastern section features three rows of 68 infantry warriors each. The central part consists of 38 columns of chariots, infantry, and cavalry, while the northern and southern sides are each guarded by a flank line of 180 warriors. The western end is defended by rear guards.
 

Massive Military Formation in Pit 1

Pit 2 measures 124 meters (407 feet) long and 98 meters (322 feet) wide, with a total area of about 6,000 square meters (1.5 acres). To date, 224 terracotta warrior figures, 11 chariots, 96 horses, and numerous weapons have been excavated, including a high-ranking officer first discovered in 2024. It is estimated that the pit contains over 80 chariots, nearly 1,300 terracotta figures and horses, along with some bronze weapons.

The eastern area includes 172 standing and 160 kneeling archers; the southern section features a chariot array with 64 chariots; the central zone combines 19 chariots, 264 infantry warriors, and eight groups of cavalry warriors; and the northern part consists of a cavalry formation with 108 terracotta horses and 108 cavalry warriors, plus 6 chariots arranged in 11 lines. Up to now, excavation in Pit 2 is still ongoing.

Restoration Work in Pit 2

Terracotta Warriors in Pit 2

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Pit 3, the smallest of the three main pits, covers an area of 520 square meters (5,600 square feet). It has been fully excavated, yielding one chariot, four terracotta horses, and 68 terracotta warriors. Despite its size, Pit 3 is believed to have served as the command center for the entire Terracotta Army.
 

Terracotta Warriors in Pit 3

Located within the Lishan Garden, this pit yielded eight sleeve-clasping figures and four charioteer figures. Among the nine restored terracotta figures discovered so far, four are displayed in the front chamber of this pit, including two sleeve-clasping figures and two charioteers.

Civil Official Figures in Pit K0006

Terracotta Warriors in Pit K0007

During excavations conducted in 1999 and 2011, more than 30 acrobatics figures were unearthed from Pit K9901. Experts believe these may represent acrobatic performers who provided entertainment in the Qin imperial court, hence the name "Acrobatics Figures."
 

In 2000, 15 life-sized terracotta figures were unearthed from the Section II of Pit K0007, including seven kneeling figures and eight sitting figures. These figures were found alongside the bronze aquatic birds in this pit, along with small silver, bronze, and bone objects scattered around them, suggesting that the figures may have been musicians who used instruments to domesticate the birds through music.
 

Current excavations reveal that infantry warriors dominate in quantity. Nearly 7,000 such figures have been discovered, most stationed in Pit 1, where they constituted the main combat force of the Qin army. Among the accessory pits, the acrobatics figures lead in number, with more than 30 excavated so far.
 

Infantry Warriors in Pit 1

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At present, cavalry warriors rank as the scarcest among the three main pits. These figures, predominantly found in Pit 2, amount to just 116 in total. As for the accessory pits, the civil official figures are the least numerous, with only 8 unearthed to date.
 

There is no precise number of fully restored and exhibited terracotta figures, but available information indicates that over 2,000 restored figures are displayed. Among these, more than 1,000 are exhibited in Pit 1, and some representative terracotta warriors are on display in the exhibition hall next to Pit 2 for close viewing by visitors.

Further Reading:

• Exhibition of Archaeological Discoveries
• Discovery of Terracotta Army in 1974
• Best Time to Visit Terracotta Army
• Top 20 FAQs about Terracotta Army
• How to Get to Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an?
• How to Visit Terracotta Army - A Perfect One-Day Tour Plan