China vs United States: Tonne-kilometers of air freight, gaps filled

China
26.17 billion million ton-km
in 2023
United States
42.76 billion million ton-km
in 2023
China rank
2nd
United States rank
1st

Tonne-kilometers of air freight, gaps filled over time

  • China
  • United States
010.0B20.0B30.0B40.0B50.0B197019962023

How they compare

United States currently reports 42.76 billion million ton-km against 26.17 billion million ton-km in China, a difference of 16.59 billion million ton-km.

That makes United States's figure about 1.6 times China's.

Across all 50 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 180 countries.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade China United States Difference Ahead
1970s 65.57 million million ton-km 7.78 billion million ton-km 7.71 billion million ton-km United States
1980s 391.14 million million ton-km 10.59 billion million ton-km 10.20 billion million ton-km United States
1990s 1.75 billion million ton-km 20.02 billion million ton-km 18.27 billion million ton-km United States
2000s 7.56 billion million ton-km 35.16 billion million ton-km 27.59 billion million ton-km United States
2010s 19.85 billion million ton-km 39.70 billion million ton-km 19.85 billion million ton-km United States
2020s 21.34 billion million ton-km 43.88 billion million ton-km 22.54 billion million ton-km United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher tonne-kilometers of air freight, gaps filled, China or United States?
United States, at 42.76 billion million ton-km against 26.17 billion million ton-km in China as of 2023.
What is the difference in tonne-kilometers of air freight, gaps filled between China and United States?
16.59 billion million ton-km, with United States ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
50 years are reported by both, from 1974 to 2023.
How do China and United States rank globally for tonne-kilometers of air freight, gaps filled?
China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 180 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Tonne-kilometers of air freight, gaps filled. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs United States: Tonne-kilometers of air freight, gaps filled. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/tonne-kilometers-of-air-freight-gaps-filled/china/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Tonne-kilometers of air freight, gaps filled
Unit
million ton-km
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
180 places, 7,600 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Tonne-kilometers of air freight with 94 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.