diff --git a/ast/node.go b/ast/node.go
index 198efa59..fbb9ae82 100644
--- a/ast/node.go
+++ b/ast/node.go
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ type BuiltinNode struct {
 	Arguments []Node // Arguments of the builtin function.
 	Throws    bool   // If true then accessing a field or array index can throw an error. Used by optimizer.
 	Map       Node   // Used by optimizer to fold filter() and map() builtins.
+	Threshold *int   // Used by optimizer for count() early termination.
 }
 
 // PredicateNode represents a predicate.
diff --git a/compiler/compiler.go b/compiler/compiler.go
index 951385cd..ed8942c9 100644
--- a/compiler/compiler.go
+++ b/compiler/compiler.go
@@ -937,6 +937,7 @@ func (c *compiler) BuiltinNode(node *ast.BuiltinNode) {
 		c.compile(node.Arguments[0])
 		c.derefInNeeded(node.Arguments[0])
 		c.emit(OpBegin)
+		var loopBreak int
 		c.emitLoop(func() {
 			if len(node.Arguments) == 2 {
 				c.compile(node.Arguments[1])
@@ -945,9 +946,25 @@ func (c *compiler) BuiltinNode(node *ast.BuiltinNode) {
 			}
 			c.emitCond(func() {
 				c.emit(OpIncrementCount)
+				// Early termination if threshold is set
+				if node.Threshold != nil {
+					c.emit(OpGetCount)
+					c.emit(OpInt, *node.Threshold)
+					c.emit(OpMoreOrEqual)
+					loopBreak = c.emit(OpJumpIfTrue, placeholder)
+					c.emit(OpPop)
+				}
 			})
 		})
 		c.emit(OpGetCount)
+		if node.Threshold != nil {
+			end := c.emit(OpJump, placeholder)
+			c.patchJump(loopBreak)
+			// Early exit path: pop the bool comparison result, push count
+			c.emit(OpPop)
+			c.emit(OpGetCount)
+			c.patchJump(end)
+		}
 		c.emit(OpEnd)
 		return
 
diff --git a/optimizer/count_threshold.go b/optimizer/count_threshold.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d045760b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/optimizer/count_threshold.go
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package optimizer
+
+import (
+	. "github.com/expr-lang/expr/ast"
+)
+
+// countThreshold optimizes count comparisons by setting a threshold for early termination.
+// The threshold allows the count loop to exit early once enough matches are found.
+// Patterns:
+//   - count(arr, pred) > N  → threshold = N + 1 (exit proves > N is true)
+//   - count(arr, pred) >= N → threshold = N (exit proves >= N is true)
+//   - count(arr, pred) < N  → threshold = N (exit proves < N is false)
+//   - count(arr, pred) <= N → threshold = N + 1 (exit proves <= N is false)
+type countThreshold struct{}
+
+func (*countThreshold) Visit(node *Node) {
+	binary, ok := (*node).(*BinaryNode)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	count, ok := binary.Left.(*BuiltinNode)
+	if !ok || count.Name != "count" || len(count.Arguments) != 2 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	integer, ok := binary.Right.(*IntegerNode)
+	if !ok || integer.Value < 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	var threshold int
+	switch binary.Operator {
+	case ">":
+		threshold = integer.Value + 1
+	case ">=":
+		threshold = integer.Value
+	case "<":
+		threshold = integer.Value
+	case "<=":
+		threshold = integer.Value + 1
+	default:
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Skip if threshold is 0 or 1 (handled by count_any optimizer)
+	if threshold <= 1 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Set threshold on the count node for early termination
+	// The original comparison remains unchanged
+	count.Threshold = &threshold
+}
diff --git a/optimizer/count_threshold_test.go b/optimizer/count_threshold_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3bac6fc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/optimizer/count_threshold_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+package optimizer_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/expr-lang/expr"
+	. "github.com/expr-lang/expr/ast"
+	"github.com/expr-lang/expr/internal/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/expr-lang/expr/internal/testify/require"
+	"github.com/expr-lang/expr/optimizer"
+	"github.com/expr-lang/expr/parser"
+	"github.com/expr-lang/expr/vm"
+)
+
+func TestOptimize_count_threshold_gt(t *testing.T) {
+	tree, err := parser.Parse(`count(items, .active) > 100`)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	err = optimizer.Optimize(&tree.Node, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Operator should remain >, but count should have threshold set
+	binary, ok := tree.Node.(*BinaryNode)
+	require.True(t, ok, "expected BinaryNode, got %T", tree.Node)
+	assert.Equal(t, ">", binary.Operator)
+
+	count, ok := binary.Left.(*BuiltinNode)
+	require.True(t, ok, "expected BuiltinNode, got %T", binary.Left)
+	assert.Equal(t, "count", count.Name)
+	require.NotNil(t, count.Threshold)
+	assert.Equal(t, 101, *count.Threshold) // threshold = N + 1 for > operator
+}
+
+func TestOptimize_count_threshold_gte(t *testing.T) {
+	tree, err := parser.Parse(`count(items, .active) >= 50`)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	err = optimizer.Optimize(&tree.Node, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Operator should remain >=, but count should have threshold set
+	binary, ok := tree.Node.(*BinaryNode)
+	require.True(t, ok, "expected BinaryNode, got %T", tree.Node)
+	assert.Equal(t, ">=", binary.Operator)
+
+	count, ok := binary.Left.(*BuiltinNode)
+	require.True(t, ok, "expected BuiltinNode, got %T", binary.Left)
+	assert.Equal(t, "count", count.Name)
+	require.NotNil(t, count.Threshold)
+	assert.Equal(t, 50, *count.Threshold) // threshold = N for >= operator
+}
+
+func TestOptimize_count_threshold_lt(t *testing.T) {
+	tree, err := parser.Parse(`count(items, .active) < 100`)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	err = optimizer.Optimize(&tree.Node, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Operator should remain <, but count should have threshold set
+	binary, ok := tree.Node.(*BinaryNode)
+	require.True(t, ok, "expected BinaryNode, got %T", tree.Node)
+	assert.Equal(t, "<", binary.Operator)
+
+	count, ok := binary.Left.(*BuiltinNode)
+	require.True(t, ok, "expected BuiltinNode, got %T", binary.Left)
+	assert.Equal(t, "count", count.Name)
+	require.NotNil(t, count.Threshold)
+	assert.Equal(t, 100, *count.Threshold) // threshold = N for < operator
+}
+
+func TestOptimize_count_threshold_lte(t *testing.T) {
+	tree, err := parser.Parse(`count(items, .active) <= 50`)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	err = optimizer.Optimize(&tree.Node, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Operator should remain <=, but count should have threshold set
+	binary, ok := tree.Node.(*BinaryNode)
+	require.True(t, ok, "expected BinaryNode, got %T", tree.Node)
+	assert.Equal(t, "<=", binary.Operator)
+
+	count, ok := binary.Left.(*BuiltinNode)
+	require.True(t, ok, "expected BuiltinNode, got %T", binary.Left)
+	assert.Equal(t, "count", count.Name)
+	require.NotNil(t, count.Threshold)
+	assert.Equal(t, 51, *count.Threshold) // threshold = N + 1 for <= operator
+}
+
+func TestOptimize_count_threshold_correctness(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		expr string
+		want bool
+	}{
+		// count > N (threshold = N + 1)
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) > 50`, true},   // 100 matches > 50
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) > 100`, false}, // 100 matches not > 100
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) > 99`, true},   // 100 matches > 99
+		{`count(1..100, # > 0) > 50`, true},       // 100 matches > 50
+		{`count(1..100, # > 0) > 100`, false},     // 100 matches not > 100
+
+		// count >= N (threshold = N)
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) >= 100`, true},  // 100 matches >= 100
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) >= 101`, false}, // 100 matches not >= 101
+		{`count(1..100, # > 0) >= 50`, true},       // 100 matches >= 50
+		{`count(1..100, # > 0) >= 100`, true},      // 100 matches >= 100
+
+		// count < N (threshold = N)
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) < 101`, true},  // 100 matches < 101
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) < 100`, false}, // 100 matches not < 100
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) < 50`, false},  // 100 matches not < 50
+		{`count(1..100, # > 0) < 101`, true},      // 100 matches < 101
+		{`count(1..100, # > 0) < 100`, false},     // 100 matches not < 100
+
+		// count <= N (threshold = N + 1)
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) <= 100`, true},  // 100 matches <= 100
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) <= 99`, false},  // 100 matches not <= 99
+		{`count(1..1000, # <= 100) <= 50`, false},  // 100 matches not <= 50
+		{`count(1..100, # > 0) <= 100`, true},      // 100 matches <= 100
+		{`count(1..100, # > 0) <= 99`, false},      // 100 matches not <= 99
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.expr, func(t *testing.T) {
+			program, err := expr.Compile(tt.expr)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			output, err := expr.Run(program, nil)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, output)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOptimize_count_threshold_no_optimization(t *testing.T) {
+	// These should NOT get a threshold (handled by count_any or not optimizable)
+	tests := []struct {
+		code      string
+		threshold bool
+	}{
+		{`count(items, .active) > 0`, false},   // handled by count_any
+		{`count(items, .active) >= 1`, false},  // handled by count_any
+		{`count(items, .active) < 1`, false},   // threshold = 1, skipped
+		{`count(items, .active) <= 0`, false},  // threshold = 1, skipped
+		{`count(items, .active) == 10`, false}, // not supported
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.code, func(t *testing.T) {
+			tree, err := parser.Parse(tt.code)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			err = optimizer.Optimize(&tree.Node, nil)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			// Check if count has threshold set
+			var count *BuiltinNode
+			if binary, ok := tree.Node.(*BinaryNode); ok {
+				count, _ = binary.Left.(*BuiltinNode)
+			} else if builtin, ok := tree.Node.(*BuiltinNode); ok {
+				count = builtin
+			}
+
+			if count != nil && count.Name == "count" {
+				if tt.threshold {
+					assert.NotNil(t, count.Threshold, "expected threshold to be set")
+				} else {
+					assert.Nil(t, count.Threshold, "expected threshold to be nil")
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// Benchmark: count > 100 with early match (element 101 matches early)
+func BenchmarkCountThresholdEarlyMatch(b *testing.B) {
+	// Array of 10000 elements, all match predicate, threshold is 101
+	// Should exit after ~101 iterations
+	program, _ := expr.Compile(`count(1..10000, # > 0) > 100`)
+	var out any
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
+		out, _ = vm.Run(program, nil)
+	}
+	_ = out
+}
+
+// Benchmark: count >= 50 with early match
+func BenchmarkCountThresholdGteEarlyMatch(b *testing.B) {
+	// All elements match, threshold is 50
+	// Should exit after ~50 iterations
+	program, _ := expr.Compile(`count(1..10000, # > 0) >= 50`)
+	var out any
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
+		out, _ = vm.Run(program, nil)
+	}
+	_ = out
+}
+
+// Benchmark: count > 100 with no early exit (not enough matches)
+func BenchmarkCountThresholdNoEarlyExit(b *testing.B) {
+	// Only 100 elements match (# <= 100), threshold is 101
+	// Must scan entire array
+	program, _ := expr.Compile(`count(1..10000, # <= 100) > 100`)
+	var out any
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
+		out, _ = vm.Run(program, nil)
+	}
+	_ = out
+}
+
+// Benchmark: Large threshold with early match
+func BenchmarkCountThresholdLargeEarlyMatch(b *testing.B) {
+	// All 10000 match, threshold is 1000
+	// Should exit after ~1000 iterations
+	program, _ := expr.Compile(`count(1..10000, # > 0) > 999`)
+	var out any
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
+		out, _ = vm.Run(program, nil)
+	}
+	_ = out
+}
+
+// Benchmark: count < N with early exit (result is false)
+func BenchmarkCountThresholdLtEarlyExit(b *testing.B) {
+	// All 10000 match, threshold is 100
+	// Should exit after ~100 iterations with result = false
+	program, _ := expr.Compile(`count(1..10000, # > 0) < 100`)
+	var out any
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
+		out, _ = vm.Run(program, nil)
+	}
+	_ = out
+}
+
+// Benchmark: count <= N with early exit (result is false)
+func BenchmarkCountThresholdLteEarlyExit(b *testing.B) {
+	// All 10000 match, threshold is 51
+	// Should exit after ~51 iterations with result = false
+	program, _ := expr.Compile(`count(1..10000, # > 0) <= 50`)
+	var out any
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
+		out, _ = vm.Run(program, nil)
+	}
+	_ = out
+}
+
+// Benchmark: count < N without early exit (result is true)
+func BenchmarkCountThresholdLtNoEarlyExit(b *testing.B) {
+	// Only 100 elements match (# <= 100), threshold is 200
+	// Must scan entire array, result = true
+	program, _ := expr.Compile(`count(1..10000, # <= 100) < 200`)
+	var out any
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
+		out, _ = vm.Run(program, nil)
+	}
+	_ = out
+}
+
+// Benchmark: count <= N without early exit (result is true)
+func BenchmarkCountThresholdLteNoEarlyExit(b *testing.B) {
+	// Only 100 elements match (# <= 100), threshold is 101
+	// Must scan entire array, result = true
+	program, _ := expr.Compile(`count(1..10000, # <= 100) <= 100`)
+	var out any
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
+		out, _ = vm.Run(program, nil)
+	}
+	_ = out
+}
diff --git a/optimizer/optimizer.go b/optimizer/optimizer.go
index fedf0208..9e4c75d3 100644
--- a/optimizer/optimizer.go
+++ b/optimizer/optimizer.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ func Optimize(node *Node, config *conf.Config) error {
 	Walk(node, &sumArray{})
 	Walk(node, &sumMap{})
 	Walk(node, &countAny{})
+	Walk(node, &countThreshold{})
 	return nil
 }