Annual freight transport in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Annual freight transport was 23,800 Tonnes-kilometres in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
23,800 Tonnes-kilometres
Change on year
down 4.8%
World rank
8th
of 21 countries
All-time high
67,200 Tonnes-kilometres
in 2002
All-time low
22,700 Tonnes-kilometres
in 1975
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Annual freight transport in United Kingdom, 1970–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Tonnes-kilometres.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual freight transport in United Kingdom is 23,800 Tonnes-kilometres, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% on the previous year and down 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freight transport in United Kingdom peaked at 67,200 Tonnes-kilometres in 2002 and was at its lowest, 22,700 Tonnes-kilometres, in 1975.
United Kingdom ranks 8th of 21 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Annual freight transport in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Tonnes-kilometres | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 23,000 Tonnes-kilometres | — |
| 1971 | 23,000 Tonnes-kilometres | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 23,700 Tonnes-kilometres | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 25,700 Tonnes-kilometres | +8.4% |
| 1974 | 26,200 Tonnes-kilometres | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 22,700 Tonnes-kilometres | -13.4% |
| 1976 | 25,000 Tonnes-kilometres | +10.1% |
| 1977 | 35,600 Tonnes-kilometres | +42.4% |
| 1978 | 46,200 Tonnes-kilometres | +29.8% |
| 1979 | 54,100 Tonnes-kilometres | +17.1% |
| 1980 | 52,800 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 51,400 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.7% |
| 1982 | 57,400 Tonnes-kilometres | +11.7% |
| 1983 | 58,700 Tonnes-kilometres | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 58,200 Tonnes-kilometres | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 56,000 Tonnes-kilometres | -3.8% |
| 1986 | 53,100 Tonnes-kilometres | -5.2% |
| 1987 | 52,600 Tonnes-kilometres | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 57,700 Tonnes-kilometres | +9.7% |
| 1989 | 56,200 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 54,300 Tonnes-kilometres | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 56,500 Tonnes-kilometres | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 53,800 Tonnes-kilometres | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 49,900 Tonnes-kilometres | -7.2% |
| 1994 | 50,800 Tonnes-kilometres | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 51,700 Tonnes-kilometres | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 53,800 Tonnes-kilometres | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 46,600 Tonnes-kilometres | -13.4% |
| 1998 | 55,500 Tonnes-kilometres | +19.1% |
| 1999 | 57,300 Tonnes-kilometres | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 66,200 Tonnes-kilometres | +15.5% |
| 2001 | 58,800 Tonnes-kilometres | -11.2% |
| 2002 | 67,200 Tonnes-kilometres | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 60,900 Tonnes-kilometres | -9.4% |
| 2004 | 59,400 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 60,900 Tonnes-kilometres | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 51,800 Tonnes-kilometres | -14.9% |
| 2007 | 50,800 Tonnes-kilometres | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 49,700 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 48,600 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 41,900 Tonnes-kilometres | -13.8% |
| 2011 | 42,700 Tonnes-kilometres | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 35,500 Tonnes-kilometres | -16.9% |
| 2013 | 29,100 Tonnes-kilometres | -18.0% |
| 2014 | 27,000 Tonnes-kilometres | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 31,400 Tonnes-kilometres | +16.3% |
| 2016 | 30,400 Tonnes-kilometres | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 24,900 Tonnes-kilometres | -18.1% |
| 2018 | 24,300 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 25,400 Tonnes-kilometres | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 25,000 Tonnes-kilometres | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 23,900 Tonnes-kilometres | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 25,000 Tonnes-kilometres | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 23,800 Tonnes-kilometres | -4.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 23,800 Tonnes-kilometres is above the median for high income countries, which is 14,952 Tonnes-kilometres, 1.6× the median. (16 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 23,800 Tonnes-kilometres is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,846 Tonnes-kilometres, 12.9× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual freight transport in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +42.4% | 25,000 Tonnes-kilometres | 35,600 Tonnes-kilometres |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30,520 Tonnes-kilometres | 22,700 Tonnes-kilometres | 54,100 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 1980s | 55,410 Tonnes-kilometres | 51,400 Tonnes-kilometres | 58,700 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 1990s | 53,020 Tonnes-kilometres | 46,600 Tonnes-kilometres | 57,300 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 2000s | 57,430 Tonnes-kilometres | 48,600 Tonnes-kilometres | 67,200 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 2010s | 31,260 Tonnes-kilometres | 24,300 Tonnes-kilometres | 42,700 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,425 Tonnes-kilometres | 23,800 Tonnes-kilometres | 25,000 Tonnes-kilometres | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freight transport in United Kingdom?
- Annual freight transport in United Kingdom was 23,800 Tonnes-kilometres in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest annual freight transport recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 67,200 Tonnes-kilometres in 2002.
- What is the lowest annual freight transport recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 22,700 Tonnes-kilometres in 1975.
- How does United Kingdom rank for annual freight transport?
- United Kingdom ranks 8th out of 21 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual freight transport rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Annual freight transport. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Freight transport by rail, road, inland waterways and pipeline.