Annual freight transport in United States
United States: Annual freight transport was 226,442 Tonnes-kilometres in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
226,442 Tonnes-kilometres
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
2nd
of 21 countries
All-time high
948,616 Tonnes-kilometres
in 1983
All-time low
226,442 Tonnes-kilometres
in 2021
Years of data
44
1978–2021
Annual freight transport in United States, 1978–2021
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Tonnes-kilometres.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual freight transport in United States is 226,442 Tonnes-kilometres, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freight transport in United States peaked at 948,616 Tonnes-kilometres in 1983 and was at its lowest, 226,442 Tonnes-kilometres, in 2021.
That places United States 2nd out of 21 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Annual freight transport in United States, year by year
| Year | Tonnes-kilometres | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 788,930 Tonnes-kilometres | — |
| 1979 | 777,129 Tonnes-kilometres | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 921,460 Tonnes-kilometres | +18.6% |
| 1981 | 926,740 Tonnes-kilometres | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 923,735 Tonnes-kilometres | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 948,616 Tonnes-kilometres | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 867,111 Tonnes-kilometres | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 892,009 Tonnes-kilometres | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 848,081 Tonnes-kilometres | -4.9% |
| 1987 | 856,739 Tonnes-kilometres | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 819,913 Tonnes-kilometres | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 706,464 Tonnes-kilometres | -13.8% |
| 1990 | 699,522 Tonnes-kilometres | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 733,100 Tonnes-kilometres | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 733,360 Tonnes-kilometres | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 654,658 Tonnes-kilometres | -10.7% |
| 1994 | 668,084 Tonnes-kilometres | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 642,892 Tonnes-kilometres | -3.8% |
| 1996 | 595,794 Tonnes-kilometres | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 510,761 Tonnes-kilometres | -14.3% |
| 1998 | 459,693 Tonnes-kilometres | -10.0% |
| 1999 | 427,378 Tonnes-kilometres | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 414,445 Tonnes-kilometres | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 400,848 Tonnes-kilometres | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 384,978 Tonnes-kilometres | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 407,214 Tonnes-kilometres | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 411,548 Tonnes-kilometres | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 384,819 Tonnes-kilometres | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 331,612 Tonnes-kilometres | -13.8% |
| 2007 | 332,950 Tonnes-kilometres | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 303,461 Tonnes-kilometres | -8.9% |
| 2009 | 286,579 Tonnes-kilometres | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 280,822 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 263,105 Tonnes-kilometres | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 229,358 Tonnes-kilometres | -12.8% |
| 2013 | 239,158 Tonnes-kilometres | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 251,801 Tonnes-kilometres | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 256,376 Tonnes-kilometres | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 250,690 Tonnes-kilometres | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 257,025 Tonnes-kilometres | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 253,457 Tonnes-kilometres | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 239,497 Tonnes-kilometres | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 230,201 Tonnes-kilometres | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 226,442 Tonnes-kilometres | -1.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 226,442 Tonnes-kilometres is above the median for high income countries, which is 14,952 Tonnes-kilometres, 15.1× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 783,030 Tonnes-kilometres | 777,129 Tonnes-kilometres | 788,930 Tonnes-kilometres | 2 |
| 1980s | 871,087 Tonnes-kilometres | 706,464 Tonnes-kilometres | 948,616 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 1990s | 612,524 Tonnes-kilometres | 427,378 Tonnes-kilometres | 733,360 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 2000s | 365,845 Tonnes-kilometres | 286,579 Tonnes-kilometres | 414,445 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 2010s | 252,129 Tonnes-kilometres | 229,358 Tonnes-kilometres | 280,822 Tonnes-kilometres | 10 |
| 2020s | 228,322 Tonnes-kilometres | 226,442 Tonnes-kilometres | 230,201 Tonnes-kilometres | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freight transport in United States?
- Annual freight transport in United States was 226,442 Tonnes-kilometres in 2021, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest annual freight transport recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 948,616 Tonnes-kilometres in 1983.
- What is the lowest annual freight transport recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 226,442 Tonnes-kilometres in 2021.
- How does United States rank for annual freight transport?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 21 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual freight transport rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.
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About this data
Freight transport by rail, road, inland waterways and pipeline.