A method for automatically ascertaining the number of persons and/or objects staying in a gate (10; 50; 70), said method having the following steps: Weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) in the floor detect weight data of persons and/or objects moving within the gate (10; 50; 70); value and according to the dynamics of the weight data, and/or according to the number of detected centers of gravity, and/or according to the position of the weight sensor (18,20,22,24) which has detected the weight data, and/or according to the weight sensor ( 18, 20, 22, 24) Check the sequence of weight data to ascertain the number of persons and/or objects.