The paper presents an estimate of the global baryon budget in the universe, based on available data and conservative uncertainty estimates. Most baryons today are in the form of ionized gas, with a mean density uncertain by a factor of about four. Stars and their remnants make up only about 17% of the baryons, while populations contributing most of the blue starlight comprise less than 5%. The formation of galaxies and stars is globally inefficient. The baryon density parameter, expressed as a fraction of the critical Einstein-de Sitter density, is estimated to be between 0.007 and 0.041, with a best guess of 0.021 at a Hubble constant of 70 km s⁻¹ Mpc⁻¹. This value agrees with predictions from light element production theory and measurements of intergalactic plasma density at redshift z ≈ 3, suggesting a possible complete survey of the major baryon states. The baryon budget at low redshift is analyzed, with stars and remnants in galaxies accounting for a small fraction of the total baryon mass. The mass-to-light ratio of spheroidal components is estimated to be around 6.5 ± 1.8, while that of disk components is around 1.5 ± 0.4. The baryon budget also includes atomic and molecular gas, with the ratio of molecular to atomic hydrogen being around 0.81. In clusters of galaxies, the baryon density is estimated to be around 0.028, with intracluster plasma contributing a significant portion. Baryons in groups of galaxies are also considered, with warm plasma in groups contributing around 0.003 h⁻³/². Cool low surface density clouds contribute additional baryons, detected via quasar absorption lines. The baryon budget at high redshift (z ≈ 3) is analyzed using quasar absorption line spectra, which indicate a significant amount of neutral hydrogen in damped Lyman-α absorbers. The baryon density parameter is estimated to be around 0.017–0.021, with a best guess of 0.021. The dominant baryonic mass component at this redshift is the Lyman-α forest gas, detected via trace neutral hydrogen in plasma. The density of this gas is estimated to be around 0.017–0.021, with a best guess of 0.021. The paper also discusses the implications of these findings for the overall baryon budget and the nature of dark matter.The paper presents an estimate of the global baryon budget in the universe, based on available data and conservative uncertainty estimates. Most baryons today are in the form of ionized gas, with a mean density uncertain by a factor of about four. Stars and their remnants make up only about 17% of the baryons, while populations contributing most of the blue starlight comprise less than 5%. The formation of galaxies and stars is globally inefficient. The baryon density parameter, expressed as a fraction of the critical Einstein-de Sitter density, is estimated to be between 0.007 and 0.041, with a best guess of 0.021 at a Hubble constant of 70 km s⁻¹ Mpc⁻¹. This value agrees with predictions from light element production theory and measurements of intergalactic plasma density at redshift z ≈ 3, suggesting a possible complete survey of the major baryon states. The baryon budget at low redshift is analyzed, with stars and remnants in galaxies accounting for a small fraction of the total baryon mass. The mass-to-light ratio of spheroidal components is estimated to be around 6.5 ± 1.8, while that of disk components is around 1.5 ± 0.4. The baryon budget also includes atomic and molecular gas, with the ratio of molecular to atomic hydrogen being around 0.81. In clusters of galaxies, the baryon density is estimated to be around 0.028, with intracluster plasma contributing a significant portion. Baryons in groups of galaxies are also considered, with warm plasma in groups contributing around 0.003 h⁻³/². Cool low surface density clouds contribute additional baryons, detected via quasar absorption lines. The baryon budget at high redshift (z ≈ 3) is analyzed using quasar absorption line spectra, which indicate a significant amount of neutral hydrogen in damped Lyman-α absorbers. The baryon density parameter is estimated to be around 0.017–0.021, with a best guess of 0.021. The dominant baryonic mass component at this redshift is the Lyman-α forest gas, detected via trace neutral hydrogen in plasma. The density of this gas is estimated to be around 0.017–0.021, with a best guess of 0.021. The paper also discusses the implications of these findings for the overall baryon budget and the nature of dark matter.