# the maximum number of documents in an elasticsearch index and difference about stats and count
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/the-maximum-number-of-documents-in-an-elasticsearch-index-and-difference-about-stats-and-count/361328
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [June 12, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/the-maximum-number-of-documents-in-an-elasticsearch-index-and-difference-about-stats-and-count/361328 "2024-06-12T13:40:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Vincenzo\_Picarelli](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Vincenzo_Picarelli)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/the-maximum-number-of-documents-in-an-elasticsearch-index-and-difference-about-stats-and-count/361328/1 "2024-06-12T13:40:57Z")
I have an index in elasticsearch with only 1 primary shards e 0 replica.
When I do GET /index/\_count, the result is 100,815.
When I do GET /index/\_stats, the result is 64,893,983. Each doc has nested fields.
My question is: what number do I have to consider for the limit Number of documents in the index can't exceed [2147483519]?
In case of the second one number, do you suggest to increase the number of primary shards? I have only one pc.
Thank you
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### Author:  [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/the-maximum-number-of-documents-in-an-elasticsearch-index-and-difference-about-stats-and-count/361328/2 "2024-06-12T14:02:24Z")
Yes, I believe you need to include nested documents in the count. In order to increase the number of primary shards you will need to either use the [split index API](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/8.14/indices-split-index.html) to create a new index based on the existing one or reindex into a new index.
Not that the limit is per shard and not index (as stated in your title).